IMPISH TALES

With regards to Issue No. 348, New Zealand Classic Car. Brian’s excellent ‘letter of the month’ regarding my Cooper Imp.

Brian is correct, Ian Cullen was a great bloke and we were very pleased with our restoration. I spoke to him many times. This story is interesting: he explained to me that he wrote to Rootes Group telling them he was fitting the Imp motor to the Cooper 500. Ian went ahead and did a great job, installing the motor vertically, before a letter arrived from the Rootes Group saying that on no account to stand the motor up, as it was designed for the Imp car and had to sit on its side. All these years used in competition, North Cape to Bluff, the 890cc motor has been outstanding. Moral of the story; never listen to the manufacturer.

Colin Waite

Thanks, Colin. In fairness you did ask us to make sure we didn’t say anything likely to offend.

On the Selling Trail: A Driver’s Story, A ’60s–’80s Backcountry New Zealand Saga [New Zealand Classic Car, Dec. ’19 Issue No. 348], it was noted that Vauxhall’s 3.3-litre six was no ‘great balls of fire’. Although it was one of the larger capacity engines of the late ’60s / early ’70s English sixes, here’s a comparison of interest:

I’m not sure how these compete with Australian Gm/ford offerings? Of course weight is a big factor which was a drawback for BMC’S C-series. An Alvis-engined Austin-healey anybody?

Yours faithfully, Croydon Parry London SW4 7AE

Thanks Croydon. Nice to know we are causing readers to muse even on the other side of the world.