I had 11 Imps and love all of them!!1 1293 cooper S which I liked as well but not as much as the Imp had loads of success in comps with them Miss my Imp's Now have a rally prepared Appendix K Saab 96 2 stroke!!
I think the Imps earn their respect better, considering nearly all of the Imps in this race run 998's compared to the mini's almost 1300's, they're doing bloody well for themselves, plus they sound so much better, oh and they're rear wheel drive
@@Jamesibbotson875 That's right, I forgot that they were 1275..marvellous what 55 years can do for the memory I should have read the Bible instead of smoking it.,
If it helps, a friend of mine was returning home in his Imp after a few beers, when a police panda car came up behind with blue light flashing. Fearing he might fail the breathalyser, he sped off, and even though there was no traffic at that time of night, he easily lost the cop car by shooting through a maze of side streets. The panda was an Escort. I had an Imp and it easily burnt off Austin 1100s despite its small 875cc engine. Just a pity that Rootes launched it before it was fully sorted giving it a bad name, otherwise it would have outsold BMC cars hands down. One last thought, I went on a touring holiday in my Imp, covering 900 miles in a week on 18 gallons of petrol, and I didn't spare the horses.
Glad to see you're still into Imps ten years later. Yes I've seen you hooning it in your dark blue racer! Very spectacular. I would guess the car that failed on the restart broke a final drive donut. Did that twice myself and that was just driving a 998 on the highway :D
Agree though it is a pity that both never really reached their potential during their production runs, in the case of the Imp (amongst other things) it could have even possibly received a 1250cc OHC Coventry Climax developed engine intended for the stillborn Rootes Swallow project, which would have effectively blown the 1275cc Mini away.
On a smooth dry track I am not surprised the Imp wins, with much better traction, like a 911. On a loose rally surface, the Mini wins, especially in snow.
Back in the day, privately entered imps would win against all the financial backing of the works ford cortinas/escorts and bmc minis. I've driven all except a lotus cortina. A well set up Imp in the right hands is untouchable, 300CC down on the mini and 600cc down on the escorts and cortinas.
Back in which day? As I recall in '67/'68 the Cooper Car Co. Minis had it mostly their own way, even against the enlarged (1150?) Fraser Imp that was in the up to 1300 class. But who was ahead was always down to homologation.
My fiend Sid had two he campaigned back then. I had a 1074 "mini" and the Imp was really "stout". Before "Honda and Toyota these little guys were something to watch.
I think it is just great that people put effort into racing these old favourite little cars that used to b so common place!
I had 11 Imps and love all of them!!1 1293 cooper S which I liked as well but not as much as the Imp
had loads of success in comps with them
Miss my Imp's
Now have a rally prepared Appendix K Saab 96 2 stroke!!
The Imp was a tragedy really, such a sweet little engine and I think they got the looks just right.
I think the Imps earn their respect better, considering nearly all of the Imps in this race run 998's compared to the mini's almost 1300's, they're doing bloody well for themselves, plus they sound so much better, oh and they're rear wheel drive
How are the minis 1300? Are they late model ones? I thought 1100 was max,or have these got 1100 engines bored out?
@@bartholomewchuzzlewit4356 I would guess they’re running 1275 blocks bored out
@@bartholomewchuzzlewit4356 I would guess they’re running 1275 blocks bored out
@@Jamesibbotson875 That's right, I forgot that they were 1275..marvellous what 55 years can do for the memory I should have read the Bible instead of smoking it.,
👍
If it helps, a friend of mine was returning home in his Imp after a few beers, when a police panda car came up behind with blue light flashing. Fearing he might fail the breathalyser, he sped off, and even though there was no traffic at that time of night, he easily lost the cop car by shooting through a maze of side streets. The panda was an Escort. I had an Imp and it easily burnt off Austin 1100s despite its small 875cc engine. Just a pity that Rootes launched it before it was fully sorted giving it a bad name, otherwise it would have outsold BMC cars hands down. One last thought, I went on a touring holiday in my Imp, covering 900 miles in a week on 18 gallons of petrol, and I didn't spare the horses.
BLMC made the same early release mistake with the Maxi gearchange system. When will the industry learn that customers are not testers?
Glad to see you're still into Imps ten years later. Yes I've seen you hooning it in your dark blue racer! Very spectacular.
I would guess the car that failed on the restart broke a final drive donut. Did that twice myself and that was just driving a 998 on the highway :D
Had 5 Imps and no Minis back in 70s. Loved them - so entertaining to drive. Always fancied a late Davrian (Mk7/8) and still want one even now.
Look at the other videos on my channel, we've got a Mk8 Davrian
James Ibbotson
Thanks for the link. So rare but so fanciable.
+88thetruth88 I bought that Mk8 Davrian from James' Dad in January. Not on the road yet though - still lots I want to do to it and so little time.
Agree though it is a pity that both never really reached their potential during their production runs, in the case of the Imp (amongst other things) it could have even possibly received a 1250cc OHC Coventry Climax developed engine intended for the stillborn Rootes Swallow project, which would have effectively blown the 1275cc Mini away.
On a smooth dry track I am not surprised the Imp wins, with much better traction, like a 911. On a loose rally surface, the Mini wins, especially in snow.
I'd take this over F1 any day.
Back in the day, privately entered imps would win against all the financial backing of the works ford cortinas/escorts and bmc minis. I've driven all except a lotus cortina. A well set up Imp in the right hands is untouchable, 300CC down on the mini and 600cc down on the escorts and cortinas.
Back in which day? As I recall in '67/'68 the Cooper Car Co. Minis had it mostly their own way, even against the enlarged (1150?) Fraser Imp that was in the up to 1300 class. But who was ahead was always down to homologation.
You are absolutely correct. minis won absolutely every competition they entered and Imps never won anything.
69waveydavey Not what I said at all.
even though technically the imp was the better car
My fiend Sid had two he campaigned back then. I had a 1074 "mini" and the Imp was really "stout". Before "Honda and Toyota these little guys were something to watch.
I miss my Imp, I bought Ron Aspinwalls 'Poppy' and rebuilt it, never got a chance to rally it though :(I'd love another one.
My dad rallyed the Imp in Finland, late sixties.
Awesome thanks for showing bro. atb from NZ
Not completely an Imp versus Mini race. There was an Austin A40, Ford Anglia, possibly a Triumph, and a coupe car ( I don't know the make).
Its an Auto Union 1000s 2 Stroke , 1960s I Think
We should link our footage together. Thanks for posting another perspective.
Pocas personas saben lo buenos que son estos vehículos, económicos y muy bonitos.
Brilliant cars still to this day.
BMC VS Rootes group, would like to see Sunbeam Alpine VS MG..
Doesn't anyone remember Peter harper in the rallycross important he was untouchable!!
the imps could rev to 9000 rpm reliably which made up for the cc
Get Your Shims out mate ;o)
Den jeg hade kørte på to hjul 16000 remp 1,4 der var toptunet
straight outa linwood ;) smaller engine and still faster
De hade kun sete røven af min den var fra 1960 år
minis rule