Hillman Imp was apt tribute to car workers

The car which made Paisley’s Linwood Road famous was set to become part of the town’s heritage... officially.

A 15-year-old Hillman Imp was to be handed over to a local councillor as a museum piece, we reported in the mid-1980s.

And the politician in charge of Renfrew District’s historical collections said:“It will be a tribute to the workers who made it all those years ago.”

A Paisley garage, Goudies, had the car for some time, waiting for a Renfrew District Council plan to take it from them being confirmed.

Linwood councillor Jim Rutherford was to accept the car from garage boss Richard Courtney.

Councillor Olga Clayton, convener of the arts and leisure committee, which controls the area’s museums, said:“This was originally Jim’s idea.

“He wanted there to be a memento in the area to the people who worked on Linwood’s cars for so many years.

“That is why he will accept the Hillman Imp.”

The one problem the council faced was where to keep the car.

Councillor Clayton added:“It will be too big to go to Paisley Museum.

“So, it is more likely it will be displayed somewhere in the area where it was built.

“That would be quite fitting.”

Mr Goudie, of Goudies, said:“The car was run very carefully by an old gentleman, before the wife of one of our directors got it and ran it for many years without a hitch.

“She was loath to part with it in the end.

“That shows how good a car the Imp was.”