28/4/2008Museum in search for classic Hillman to be part of exhibition
THEY were once seen as Scotland's answer to the Mini and Volkswagen.
For 13 years during the 60s and 70s, more than 400,000 Hillman Imps were assembled at the Rootes car plant at Linwood.
The "Hillman baby" - as it was dubbed - developed an iconic status as one of the success stories of Scotland's dying manufacturing industry.
Now curators at the Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life at Coatbridge are looking for an Imp to be one of the main exhibits when it reopens
John Quinn sets off for Lisbon in his Hillman Imp, a car wanted by Summerlee Museum, left in September after a major facelift.
Body panels for the cars were pressed at Linwood, using steel manufactured at Ravenscraig and rolled at the Gartcosh Strip Mill.
Museum bosses say finding a Hillman Imp is part of their bid to bring back to life the area's rich industrial heritage.
Summerlee appeal officer Jim Francis said: "The popular family favourite had real character - both on the road and on the race track.
"It would make a great addition to the museum, especially as Lanarkshire's skilled engineers helped to create this motoring Icon.
"It was also a real people's car, owned by ordinary families. It deserves its place at Summerlee.
"If anyone has one, or knows of anyone who has a Hillman Imp hidden away and would like to see it displayed in all its glory, I would urge them to step forward.
"Their generosity would make a marvellous addition and be greatly appreciated by everyone involved at Summerlee." "He said any donation would be recognised by name in the new redeveloped museum.
Prince Philip drove the first Hillman Imp off the Rootes production line in 1963.
And Evening Times journalist John Quinn drove a special green and white car across Europe to Lisbon for Celtic's 1967 European Cup triumph.
By the time the last Imp was built in 1976, the Linwood plant had been taken over by Chrysler, amid mounting problems in the car industry.
If the museum succeeds in its quest, the car will become one of its major exhibits.
A winding wheel from the former Cardowan Colliery at Stepps has already been renovated and is to take pride of place.
There will also be a replica of Scotland's first iron boat, The Vulcan.
And the social history exhibits will include a stone pediment from the former Co-op building in Coatbridge, and the Airdrie Football Charity Cup.
The museum's 18-month facelift was funded by £10million from the Lottery, the European Regional Development Fund and North Lanarkshire Council.
A special appeal was launched to try to raise an extra £1m.
Mr Francis added: "The Friends of Summerlee Appeal is gathering great momentum.
We have now soared past the £300,000 mark, and to trace an original Hillman Imp would be an added bonus.
For 13 years during the 60s and 70s, more than 400,000 Hillman Imps were assembled at the Rootes car plant at Linwood.
The "Hillman baby" - as it was dubbed - developed an iconic status as one of the success stories of Scotland's dying manufacturing industry.
Now curators at the Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life at Coatbridge are looking for an Imp to be one of the main exhibits when it reopens
John Quinn sets off for Lisbon in his Hillman Imp, a car wanted by Summerlee Museum, left in September after a major facelift.
Body panels for the cars were pressed at Linwood, using steel manufactured at Ravenscraig and rolled at the Gartcosh Strip Mill.
Museum bosses say finding a Hillman Imp is part of their bid to bring back to life the area's rich industrial heritage.
Summerlee appeal officer Jim Francis said: "The popular family favourite had real character - both on the road and on the race track.
"It would make a great addition to the museum, especially as Lanarkshire's skilled engineers helped to create this motoring Icon.
"It was also a real people's car, owned by ordinary families. It deserves its place at Summerlee.
"If anyone has one, or knows of anyone who has a Hillman Imp hidden away and would like to see it displayed in all its glory, I would urge them to step forward.
"Their generosity would make a marvellous addition and be greatly appreciated by everyone involved at Summerlee." "He said any donation would be recognised by name in the new redeveloped museum.
Prince Philip drove the first Hillman Imp off the Rootes production line in 1963.
And Evening Times journalist John Quinn drove a special green and white car across Europe to Lisbon for Celtic's 1967 European Cup triumph.
By the time the last Imp was built in 1976, the Linwood plant had been taken over by Chrysler, amid mounting problems in the car industry.
If the museum succeeds in its quest, the car will become one of its major exhibits.
A winding wheel from the former Cardowan Colliery at Stepps has already been renovated and is to take pride of place.
There will also be a replica of Scotland's first iron boat, The Vulcan.
And the social history exhibits will include a stone pediment from the former Co-op building in Coatbridge, and the Airdrie Football Charity Cup.
The museum's 18-month facelift was funded by £10million from the Lottery, the European Regional Development Fund and North Lanarkshire Council.
A special appeal was launched to try to raise an extra £1m.
Mr Francis added: "The Friends of Summerlee Appeal is gathering great momentum.
We have now soared past the £300,000 mark, and to trace an original Hillman Imp would be an added bonus.
I quite vividly remember visiting Helensburgh on a day trip with my family in August 1977. We were at some amusements on the seafront when I saw around 50 Hillman Imps drive past in the direction of Rhu. I suppose a group of Imp owners had organised a memorial of some kind. They are quite distinctive small cars, in fact one drove past me only last week. It's probably unlikely that there are as many as 20 still roadworthy in Scotland though.