More than just a passing fancy
ECOMMERCE CONTENT MANAGER AT FARMERS, JO RENFREE HAS HAD A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH LANCE, HER HILLMAN IMP
IT IS MY DREAM TO HAVE A MASSIVE SHOWROOM-LIKE GARAGE FILLED WITH CLASSIC CARS. LANCE WOULD TAKE PRIDE OF PLACE IN THE CENTRE.
Tell us about your Hillman Imp?
Lance is a 1967 Mark II Hillman Imp, manual with an 875cc motor. He was imported from England and assembled by Todd Motors in NZ. He has a red roof, white body and red leather(ish) interior. My dad bought the car for me as a reward for passing School Certificate. He’d first offered up a car as a bribe to my sister the year before as she was giving the exams zero attention. Unfortunately, she didn’t pass and didn’t get the car. The following year I was sitting the exams and, being way nerdier than my sister, there was no bribe offered. When I passed, my sister, still annoyed at her lack of a car, raised that I should get one — which would also give her a transport solution. Of course, I agreed — and we went on a relentless campaign until Dad gave in. One Saturday afternoon in 1989, he arrived home with Lance. Dad considered Hillman Imps to be the most under-rated car made and over the years had owned a few. He had found Lance sitting for sale in a yard not far from where he worked. The cost was $300 — a bargain.
Is this your everyday drive?
Until I left Dunedin in 1996, Lance had been my everyday car. His size meant he was perfect for fitting in small parks around the University of Otago, where I had been studying. The fact that his heater never worked made it challenging in winter, along with the icefrosted windows, but I never considered that to be an issue. If I wasn’t walking, I was happy. When I moved to Auckland, I bought a Toyota Starlet, another magnificent car and, unlike Lance, ridiculously reliable. Now Lance is my weekend car.
What do you like about Lance?
Lance is the coolest looking car in the world. He’s been described as a glass house on wheels, but for visibility, I’ve never had another car come close. He handles just like a go-cart so is a huge amount of fun to drive.
Have you made any changes?
Dad was a mechanic and rebuilt Lance four times. The first was in 1990 when some maniac drove through a give way and ploughed into Lance and me. Luckily Lance is built like a tank, so I was not hurt. Lance, however, had some panel damage on the right-hand side, so was written off. Dad bought him back from the insurance company for $100 and rebuilt him. The second time I overheated him, the motor blew up and he required a new engine. The third was for my 21st. Dad did an entire rebuild and repaint (same colours). The fourth and final time was in 2009. Lance had been sitting in storage in Dunedin and Dad said I needed to decide to sell or bring him up to Auckland. No brainer, I was never going to sell, but after 13 years in storage he needed a lot of work.
My parents had retired, and Lance got Dad’s full attention. He had rusted, required yet another engine and lots of additional parts. Dad must have spent hundreds of hours on the job and Lance had never looked better. What made this even more special was that my Dad had been fighting cancer.
Lance also required a major engine overhaul last year when I didn’t drive him for most of winter. I thought a good run would fix that, but we got 100m down the road and he just stopped. My husband’s good friend, Stu Ashby at Aero Automotive, did a phenomenal job repairing him and he’s now running perfectly.
Do you think you’ll ever sell?
Lance is way too special to me.
Does anyone else drive Lance?
Nope, no way, if anything happened to him I would never forgive that person.
Any other vehicles in your garage?
My husband’s Mercedes and my VW Golf GTI. It is my dream to have a massive showroom-like garage filled with classic cars. Lance would take pride of place in the centre.
How does this vehicle suit your personality?
I think Lance is a representation of it. Fun, quirky, happy and downto-earth. Lance doesn’t really fit with my lifestyle, he’s not made for Auckland traffic, has no seatbelts in the back to take the kids and their friends to sports, but he makes my life happier.
How many people can you fit into Lance?
I once had eight people in Lance, going from The Gardies to The Cook in Dunedin, clearly not responsible driving, but I was sober. Usually though, I only have Emma or Alex (my daughters) and me; but can easily fit four.
Do you have a personalised plate?
Briefly considered it, but Lance was taken, so there was no point.
What do you always keep in Lance?
Tow rope, jumper leads, spare tyre and my mobile phone.
Manual or automatic?
Manual for open roads but automatic for Auckland traffic. I travel the Southern Motorway to work and back every day — much easier in an auto.
Who taught you drive?
The AA taught me to drive. I still marvel at my teacher’s patience..
Your most memorable road trip?
When I was 16, my friend and I drove to Wanaka from Dunedin for New Year’s. Lance had been playing up a little and Dad had said it was a 50/50 whether he’d make it. He made it, although it did take more than four hours. The highlight was stopping for a Jimmy’s mince pie in Roxburgh. Unfortunately, he had to come back from Wanaka on a trailer.
Craziest thing you’ve done in Lance?
I once slept in Lance while out on a car rally. Wasn’t the best night sleep, but his back-seat folds down so much better than you’d imagine.