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Old 16th February 2021, 18:26   #1
DRC66
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Default 40 years ago this week .......

The Linwood car assembly plant near Glasgow ceased operations after assembling nearly half a million vehicles, most famously the Hillman Imp. 6,000 men and women lost their jobs.

The Imp is looked upon quite favourably in classic car circles these days. I remember my father had one in the early ‘70’s and an Avenger which was also assembled at Linwood.

I fear the same fate awaits Jaguar employees following their recent EV announcement.


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Old 16th February 2021, 18:39   #2
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Who gives a hoot about the 6,000 souls, it’s ok we will all be driving around in our electric range rovers saving the planet, probably manufactured overseas like the Jaguar ipace is already.

An old mate of mine “worked” at Linwood from its early days on the Imp lines. The stories he tells me of the skiving and real shoddy workmanship are the main flavour of the conversation, plus all the stuff that went out the back door. It was doomed from the start. Johnny cash comes to mind.

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Old 16th February 2021, 18:43   #3
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The Imp is looked upon quite favourably in classic car circles these days. I remember my father had one in the early ‘70’s and an Avenger which was also assembled at Linwood.
I remember hiring an Imp in icy weather. It took off like a rocket but would neither stop nor steer with no weight on the front!
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Old 16th February 2021, 18:54   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DRC66 View Post
The Linwood car assembly plant near Glasgow ceased operations after assembling nearly half a million vehicles, most famously the Hillman Imp. 6,000 men and women lost their jobs.

The Imp is looked upon quite favourably in classic car circles these days. I remember my father had one in the early ‘70’s and an Avenger which was also assembled at Linwood.

I fear the same fate awaits Jaguar employees following their recent EV announcement.


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The Imp was o.k. but a pig to get the engine out.

My boss had a new Avenger and the amount of remedial welding work required to the spare wheel well had to be seen to believed. Earlier stuff was a bit better quality wise but the Tiger (Holbay) etc., was at the limit for the suspension employed at the time.

Kev
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Old 16th February 2021, 19:15   #5
Lovel
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The Imp was o.k. but a pig to get the engine out.

My boss had a new Avenger and the amount of remedial welding work required to the spare wheel well had to be seen to believed. Earlier stuff was a bit better quality wise but the Tiger (Holbay) etc., was at the limit for the suspension employed at the time.

Kev
I’ve just finished rebuilding my imp engine and box, the engine/box assembly installation is easy. Some wooden pallets and packing and it’s in fitted or removed in a jiffy, no need for hoist etc. Now for the tappet shimming thats another thing with the engine fitted.
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Old 16th February 2021, 19:49   #6
Rogue
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The Imp was o.k. but a pig to get the engine out.

My first car but the easiest to get the engine out of if im honest! Bell housing bolts and unbolt the crossmember then wheel the engine out on a trolley jack
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Old 16th February 2021, 20:21   #7
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I remember changing a thermostat on one late one night, had to be done from underneath as was at the back of the engine. I lost count of how many time I tried to get the bolts back in. Luckily it didn't leak and I managed to get to work on the Monday. Sadly it failed its MOT a few months later on terminal rust.

I have fond memories of it but also a few bad ones, it decided to stall one night on my way to the then girlfriend and it refused to start, no RAC cover or anything else so I walked the rest of the way in the rain. I arrived late and she was so angry she would not speak to me so I walked back and thought I would give it one more go, yes you guessed it fired up straight away so I drove it home.
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Old 19th February 2021, 08:09   #8
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My brother had an Imp for a year or so and that handled OK after he put a kerb stone under the front bonnet. He bought it for £5 from a scrapyard. Every panel was a different colour and dented but it drove well. Eventually the engine failed with a cracked block (trying to get the head off) so he took it back to the same scrapyard and bought a Plymouth Fury Estate as he fancied something a little (!!!) bigger.
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