1969 Sunbeam Imp Sport in Weybridge, Surrey for sale

Phone: For sale by auction on Saturday 07 June 2014 with Historics at Brooklands, Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit, Weybridge, Surrey, Call 0 When Rootes launched the Hillman Imp in 1963, the Coventry-Climax derived engine was a dream come true for tuning specialists. It made sense for Rootes to build their own performance version to tackle the Mini-Cooper. The result was the Sunbeam Imp Sport, launched in 1966. Externally it was identifiable by different badging, chrome trim and a slatted engine cover. Inside there was a full length dashboard, carpet, extra gauges and better trim. The most important difference, however, was in the engine bay as a Twin side-draught Strombergs replaced the single Solex. There was a higher lift camshaft, bigger valves and improved cylinder head design. An oil cooler was fitted as standard equipment as were extractors. The brakes were improved by fitting a servo. The radiator was of a larger capacity and many components were strengthened to handle the increase in power output from 42bhp at 4000rpm to 55bhp at 6100rpm. It may not sound much, but in a lightweight car with amazing handling abilities, the result could put a grin on the face of any driver. This 1969 Sunbeam Imp Sport has been restored to the highest standards over a period at least five years at the end of the 1990's by an employee of McLaren F1. The rebuild was completed as a fast road car but included a lot of racing components, the engine has been fully rebuilt which included fitting an Andy Chesman 998cc block and pistons, sport valve springs, competition cam followers, stage three ported and polished head with enlarged valves and all of the engine components have been lightened and balanced. This car is fitted with racing clutch, high pressure oil pump, gas flowed Stromberg 150CD Carburettors, large bore exhaust manifold, enlarged radiator, electric fan, uprated starter motor and alternator. The suspension has also been up-rated to competition specification including Montecarlo road springs, Spax adjustable dampers, Rotaflex couplings and performance Superlite wheels. The list goes on and on. The vendor purchased the car in 2008 with a view to completing the car to be used in historic racing, he removed the interior and repainted the metalwork, fitted a full roll-cage, racing seat, full harness racing seat belt, towing points and the door roundels. He believes that all that is now required is a cut-out switch and a fire extinguisher system. This Sunbeam Imp Sport is finished in Kristral Tuerkis metallic green and is supplied with a V5C registration document, MoT test certificate which expires in September 2014 and original handbook and file of invoices. To build this car today would cost in excess of three times the estimate and this Imp represents a cheap way into historic racing or after fitting a new interior, creating a very fast reliable road car.