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Sunbeam Imp

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PATR8

PATR8

Jedi Knight
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I am not an expert on Sunbeams but this week end while out at Harrisburg I came across this Sunbeam Imp in my hotel parking lot. It looked like a really cool very little car. I waited around hoping to talk to the owner but he showed up.
Ok, I can not figure out how to attach the pic... I will work on it
 

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Nice! (and so practical with today's fuel costs too).

Rootes Group made both Sunbeam Imps and Hillman Imps (same car....just "badge engineering").

There were tuned and hotted up versions that were sort of like rear-engine Mini-Coopers. Like the Minis, they were used in rallys and club races.
The 875 cc engine in Imps was derived from the the famous Coventry Climax engine. A twin carb version was very desirable.

These cars also donated their mechanical bits to many other small "cottage industry" Brit-cars. One of our members here at BCF ("racing girl") has an Imp-powered Ginetta.

Racing Imp
fastof_1073082501_sunbeam_imp.jpg
 
The "Sunbeam" Imp you saw was likely a humble Hillman Imp, but they were sold here under the Sunbeam brand name.

There aren't very many of them around, I actually don't think many were ever sold over here when new.

Plus what Aeronca said...

Here's a photo of a Sunbeam Imp (North American-spec) that I saw at Carlisle Import Nationals 2003:

123973034_66a499838e.jpg


https://static.flickr.com/44/123973034_66a499838e_o.jpg
 
It actually had Sunbeam on the front of the car but it could be a clone, I am not that familiar with them. was a cool little car, be a great commuter
 
If your interested in one , Tony Barnhill on the MG forum was given one not too long ago, dont know if he's taken possesion of it yet.Great little commuter car.
 
It would be a fun little car, any idea where he is and if he had plans for it?
 
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