Hillman Imp
Scotland's answer to the Mini, with its engine in the boot.
The story
The Rootes Group built a brand-new factory in Scotland for the Imp. Its light alloy engine came from a Coventry Climax fire-pump design and loved to rev. Early cars had teething troubles that hurt its name, but it was a sweet-handling little car.
Inside
Plain and airy, with a folding back seat. The rear window lifts up like a hatch so you can drop shopping in behind the seats.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
It was the first mass-produced British car with an aluminium engine block.
Meanwhile, in 1963
The Great Train Robbery made headlines, Beatlemania took hold and Doctor Who began.
Best-selling single of 1963: She Loves You by The Beatles
Before you buy a 1960s car
- Check the sills, floorpans, wheel arches and the bottom of the doors for rust.
- Ask for any old MOT certificates, service records and bills.
- Parts for popular cars are often available from specialists, but trim and body panels can be hard to find.
General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.
Rivals of its day
Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.
See the real thing
These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.
Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.