Hillman Imp Californian in red

The red was easy, it was once a white car, Rootes Car Co paint code 108 but when the car arrived with me it had been changed to red and red its been ever since.

I decided to spray the car myself, its a challenge to get a good standard of  finish, what you see is gloss off the cun. I will later wet sand it with 1200 grit water paper, then power polish it with a Makita polisher and lambs wool mop.

The car is now forty eight years old (48) but still on its original 875cc  bore and pistons, I checked out the crank and bearings, all looking like new and with the original Rootes supplied bearing shells.

The cylinder head and camshaft are sport, with a 310 lift camshaft and twin Stromberg 125cd carburetors fitted the engine will give 55 bhp which is more than enough to do 100mph or around 160kph.

The roof and the other side of the car will be done next.

Attention to detail, the re made sticker covers the seat belts fitted to the car.

The roof still requires painting, the car can be driven and the cars original seat belt is now fitted to the car.

Click on the image for a larger picture.

Smile!

Roy

Hillman Imp Californian, making space

This rare 1967 Imp Californian is now being reassembled and as I apply the new paint, this makes more space and allows a new task for the week to be undertaken.

This one door took more than a half day to hang, yes it came off the same car but with the hinge pins worn and bent, the reason was that the door was a tight fit when it left the factory on the 3rd of February 1967.

With new 6.85mm high tensile pins refitted the door was again tight so it needed shiming at the hinges.

Making the plates and fitting took the time, 2.4mm at the top and 1.2mm at the bottom, its fine now and the door can be fitted with its window glass.

I never said this would be easy!

A few days later and now with the vent light and wind up window glass fitted.

Roy