Hillman Imp engines

This has been a fascination of mine from the age of seventeen when I got my very first car, it was a Balmoral Grey 1963 Hillman Imp.

Click on the images to enlarge them.

Since those early days I have built so many Imp engines that the numbers are lost to me.

Many have been the standard 875cc some have been the larger 998cc, one of which I raced here at the Killarney Circuit just outside  Cape Town.

Roy

Car restorations in Hout Bay, South Africa

I am able to restore cars such as the Imp to any standard, including sprint and race plus engine rebuilds.

My main speciality is the 1963 to 1973 Hillman Imp and its cousins.

Cli.ck on the images to enlarge them.

This red 1967 Hillman Imp Californian coupe is my own car, it has been in progress now just short of two years and while other works were happening.

The car is now a daily driver and can be driven if required.

Imp 875cc engine rebuilds are a special part of what is on offer.

Many parts are ex stock, others are Imported from my many suppliers.

Imp front disc brakes are also possible.

Engine rebuilds, the one on the left is a 998cc block.

Cylinder heads are ex stock.

Total body works can also be done.

Roy

Building our Optimist kit in the USA

We recently sent three Optimist kits to a sailing school in America.

It looks like they are off to a very good start with reading our detailed builders manual!

Roy

Genuine Bruce anchors for sale

I have two real Bruce anchors for sale, both used but undamaged.

One is the 20 kg size  and suitable for quite a large vessel, the other is a 5kg size and would suit a small to medium sized boat.

The price is R8000 for the larger one and R2500 for the smaller one.

Please beware of imitations of which there are many.

I have used a Bruce anchor on all my yacht cruises and never had an issue with dragging once.

The anchor is possibly the most important part of your safety equipment when cruising.

Contact me for further details.

Roy

Basils Optimist kit building

This second one will go faster than the first one we supplied, Basil has a third to do as well.

https://youtu.be/a6F-zWTDAoM

More on the finishing when we have it.

Roy

Optimist dinghy sail for sale

This one was made by North Sails and  has been used a few times, I was told in an international regatta.

It can be purchased for R1500 ( about U$100)  and is supplied complete with its North Sails bag.

The picture shows a similar sail and on an Optimist that was built from one of our CNC kits..

The sail is in Hout Bay, South Africa and can be posted to most places?

Roy

Wood / Epoxy as a boat building material?

This issue gets kicked around from time to time and often falls finally on the boats resale value and worth?

The problem is that we never really know the truth until we try and sell the boat?

Recently a Dix 43 that was built in a plywood/epoxy method was placed on the market, it took a number of months, then the prospective buyers arrived.

Some may have been  interested in the boat due to its condition, as even after sixteen years in the water the boat still looks as you can see in the picture above.

 

The boat found two possible buyers and within the same week, the first to place his deposit became the buyer.

 

One guy flew down from Richards Bay at his own expense, he was totally knocked out by the design and the quality of build.

 

 

Of the four main possible buyers not one questioned the fact that the boat was built from a wood/epoxy system, not one made a lower offer and the boat sold at its full asking price.

 

So the next time I am asked about the resale of a similar construction built boat, I will suggest that it is not the material the boat is made from but how it has been  built and then maintained?

 

The buyer was recommended to have a survey, one of the capes well known boat builders did the job.

The in the water survey showed that there was no area with a moisture content higher than eight percent. The surveyor later did a Skype call to the buyer and recommended that the boat be purchased.

 

Roy

 

Picture a gaggle of British Seagulls

If such a thing exists that gaggle may look like the picture.

 

Some are quite alive and some are sleeping and waiting for parts.

 

 

We recommend a new Villiers type coil, this one is some sixty year old now and even if it supplies a spark to start with it can fail at any time?

Allow about R1900, plus 20% Duty and 14% Vat?

Restoration and labour charges are available on request, supply the engine number and some pictures of your motor please.

Roy

 

 
 

Philips AP Mk8 GPS display

This works fine, the remote antenna does not.

So either the display is for sale or I am wanting a replacement antenna?

Contact me for details.

An update and many years later, as I first posted on this subject way back in 2016!

As a way of a test I set the GPS up and tried what was once a faulty antenna out, to my amazement the set started to work and has been running for around six months now.

I assume that the small antenna had a moisture ingress and that stopped the unit from functioning, then left in my office for a few years its dried out?

Note, I have some B&G Network repeaters and a GPS Plus connected to it, the best reading on there goes as low as 1.0 right now it reads 1.4.

Looking at ten sats, using five so good enough for a 2D fix

The date is out permanently and cannot be entered into the GPS. Right now the B&G GPS shows me Wed, 14th April 04, when the actual date is Wednesday 29th 2023.

So the Leica Mk8 is no longer for sale!

Roy
 

B&G ACP1 autopilot for sale

Simply the best when it came out I have an ACP1 autopilot control and a Network Pilot to control it with.

 

 

I also have the more powerfull ACP2 PCB (circuit board) if the upgrade is needed?

 

There are a number of the daisy chain wires and end plugs to suit, plus a HRF (heading reference unit) to indicate the rudder angle.

 

 

 

 

Contact me for prices etc.

 

Roy

 

B&G Network repeaters for sale

Brooks and Gatehouse make some of the worlds best navigation systems.

There is a large collection of such instruments now for sale.

There is a mix of the later Network digital too.

 

The Network system can be used with the Hornet 4 system.

 

The Hecta depth sounder matches the Hornet 4, both are the Rolls Royce of such systems.

 

 

This Network speed transducer also gives you water temperature, it has never been fitted, the skin fitting was installed but never used.

 

Contact me for a complete list and prices etc.

 

Roy

 

The Optimist dinghy boat kits

We have sold many of these over the years, our very first order was for five of them, this was increased to eight and for the one yacht club.

We expanded what we offer and now do the Harken deck kit, Marlow lines and also the North Sail.

 

The Harken and Marlow line kit with a North Sail will be delivered to a customer in the next few days.

 

Roy

 

Dix 43 sailing with the HBYC Admirals Sword fleet

The storms of the week before calmed down and Sunday was calm and with a light breeze.

A Dix 43 in wood/epoxy construction was also out in the bay, sailing her own course, she left the Admirals Sword fleet well alone.

 

The Dix 43 was launched January 17th 2000, proof enough that such builds can be a great success and over the period require little by way of attention.

 

Roy

 

Hillman Imp for sale in Cape Town, South Africa

An Imp that I owned may be for sale?

The car is in fine condition with a quality paint job.

The engine has new pistons etc, plus the sport series 180 cylinder head and twin Stromberg carbs.

It also has front disc brakes.

The car is a 1967 model.

Please advise if you know of anyone who may be looking for such a car?

Regards

Roy

The picture shows a similar set of Imp discs we supply.

Imp Californian on the road again

This is true and in more ways than one.

I took a drive up to the Apostle Battery, its near Llandudno.

This was a very important gun position in WW2, manned by ladies (manned?) they had 9.2" guns with a range of around 33 miles.

 

 

This is I assume the lead into a store for the cannons shells?

 

 

Yesterday the car was loaded onto this trailer and taken to the motor trimmers for the new carpets and head liner .

 

Roy