At a recent auction hosted by Manor Park Classics, there was a car that caught my attention when browsing the online catalogue.
The car is a 1967 Hillman Imp Californian, registration PHR 247F, and I think it is special because it has been used very rarely. In its more than five decades of life, it has covered just 464 miles.
A Fastback From Scotland
The Hillman Imp Californian was introduced in January 1967 as the more stylish sibling in the Imp family. Built at the Rootes Group’s Linwood plant in Scotland, the Californian took the clever engineering of the standard Imp and gave it a sharper, more contemporary look. The fastback rear window and cleaner roofline made it feel distinctly more grown-up and arguably more European in character.
Underneath, though, it retained what made the Imp such an interesting car in the first place.
Mounted at the rear is an 875cc all-aluminium four-cylinder engine, derived from a Coventry Climax fire pump unit. It features an overhead camshaft, which was an advanced piece of engineering for a small British car of the mid-1960s, and it’s water-cooled, unlike many of its rear-engined counterparts. Power output was around 39-42bhp, delivered through a four-speed manual gearbox. Performance certainly wasn’t eye-watering, but the Imp’s light weight and independent suspension gave it a reputation for sharp handling and surprising agility.
Built in 1967
According to DVLA records, PHR 247F was first registered on 31st December 1967. The “PH” prefix tells us it was issued in Surrey, placing its early life in the south of England.
The chassis plate shows B401006507HC0, identifying that the car was built by Rootes (Scotland) Ltd, Paisley. Colour code 86 corresponds with the green that the car still wears today.
What makes this particular Imp so rare, though, is its odometer, which shows 464 miles.
The Auction Trail
In July 2004, a Forest Green Imp Californian matching this chassis number appeared at a BCA auction, showing just 40 miles on the clock. The catalogue described it as having been purchased new in 1968 by an eccentric aircraft engineer and stored for most of its life. It was reportedly unregistered with the DVLA at that point and lacked registration documents, appearing under the plate MDP 248F.
By 2017, the car surfaced again, this time at H&H Classics, where it was described as covering just 82 miles from new. It sold for £20,700 including premium, which is obviously a strong result that reflected just how unusual it was.
In 2023, it appeared again, this time, with 464 miles under its belt. A modern V5C was issued in September 2023, but the DVLA still recognises its original registration date as December 1967. There are no MOT records on file as the vehicle “hasn’t had its first MOT”, which aligns perfectly with long-term storage and historic exemption.
The mileage and history are incredibly consistent and logical. The chassis number matches across documentation, and the Rootes Archive Trust certificate confirms the build details.
This looks to be a completely genuine 464-mile Hillman Imp Californian.
An Actual Time Warp
Cars described as “time warp” examples often turn out to be heavily restored or cosmetically refreshed. However, that isn’t the case for this one.
Everything appears completely original and as it was when the car first left the factory. The interior, engine bay, paintwork, everything seems to be exactly as it should be.
In today’s classic car market, originality carries a lot of importance. Restorations are admired, but untouched survivors are becoming more sought after as they become rarer and rarer. I like this type of car because it shows us how these cars actually left the factory and how they were meant to be.
Hillman Imp
The Hillman Imp was an ambitious project for Rootes. It was technically forward-thinking, cleverly engineered, and a brave attempt to compete in a rapidly evolving small-car market. The Californian variant added a touch of style to that already ambitious plan.
Most Imps lived hard lives. They were affordable, everyday transport, so many of them fell victim to rusting or ended up being modified.
Finding one that has covered just 464 miles in nearly six decades is a pretty special thing.
If you want to get a feel for what life was like in the driver’s seat back in 1967, the new owner of this stunning little car will be able to show you.
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