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HillMan Motor Cars |
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Imp history
Once upon a timeIn 1955 a small car project was begun, not so much to come up with an economy car in the Suez Crisis days (like the Mini), but to provide an idea of what sort of affordable car could be made and what its performance would be. Parkes and Fry proposed a 2 adults - 2 children car, that could do 60 mph and manage 60 mpg (which made aerodynamics a priority). Looking at the competition (Fiat 500, BMW 700, Citroen 2CV) and considering costs, they opted for a rear engine. Other aims of the team included that the small car be fun to drive. No bubblesAfter having been presented with two prototypes, the Rootes board members (used to Hillman or Humber solid, well-made quality cars) made it clear they were not interested in any bubble-car of sorts, nor in a design that cut costs at all costs. At the same time they appeared willing to go ahead with a Rootes small car, but it had to be a proper motor car with a.o. a water-cooled four-cylinder engine. It should be able to compete with the small Fords and BMCs, including the Mini. Proper motorAt the time Coventry Climax were building an aluminium alloy
engine that Tim Fry thought might fit, so he wrote them to get
the installation drawings. Coventry Climax co-operated and Fry
succeeded to fit both it (and a radiator) into the tiny
engine compartment. More proper stillAfter a few visits to Bob Saward's styling department, the
Apex was quite sophisticated by the end of the 1950s. The shape
owed much to the Chevrolet Corvair. Praise the gearA gearbox, cased in aluminium, was specially designed to match the lively engine, with synchromesh on all four gears (unlike the 1959 Mini). It had the third and fourth gear set rather high, to reduce noise and improve economy. The new transaxel was technically advanced. At that time, it may have been the best gearbox ever produced, and it still does not have too many equals. One more for the roadIt was launched on schedule: a neat, refined little four-seater for £508 (or £532 for the De Luxe). The TeamBy this time the team that was on the project consisted of
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