Holiday pal’s Imp pair is preserved
Many years ago, while holidaying in the West Country in his Hillman Imp, Tim Sears stopped to consult a map. A local, upon hearing the Imp engine, asked if he needed help – it turned out that he had a large collection of the compact Hillmans.
From this a friendship grew, and Sears made yearly visits. After the man’s death, his family was keen to see the cars restored so asked Sears and members of the local branch of The Imp Club for advice.
Sears purchased two cars from the collection, a 1967 Polar White Super Imp that had been off the road since 1989 and a Capri Blue Commer Imp van that was unused since 1985. The van was in a poor state and needed to be trailered away, but the white Imp, OGJ 775E, was tatty yet very original and needed no welding.
Rather than transport it the 200 miles back to Hampshire, Sears was determined to drive it home. He spent some time in the summer holidays getting the car up to scratch, noting down the work that needed to be done and the spares required to make it roadworthy. At the end of October, he and his daughter Demelza returned in her Imp. They spent nearly a week rebuilding or replacing all the parts necessary, and by the Saturday the car ready for the road.
Sears’ friend Bryan arrived with a Ford Transit Tipper to retrieve the van, and the trio convoyed home without drama.
“There was a lot of interest from fellow motorists waving, honking their horns and filming on their phones,” says Sears. “The Super was a real treat to drive and the Transit coped with carrying the van rather well, despite some strong winds. The Imp has since been handed over to a new owner and is used as an everyday driver.”
Sears is now about to start work on the Commer van.