In front (twin headlights) the Singer Chamois Sport and
right behind it the Sunbeam Imp Sport.

After the tuning firms like Hartwell's had had a go at the Imp's eager engine to produce road-going quick Imps, Rootes left it quite late to produce their own sporting model. It took about two years to develop it, but finally...
October 1966 saw the birth of both the

The grown-up's answer to Scalextric

Downunder, in Australia and New Zealand, the Sport was called a Hillman Imp GT.

from an advert:

Features

Performance. Luxury. Economy. Easy to handle. Precise in control. Safe. Smart. 55bhp. Top speed up to 90mph. 36 to 43 mpg.

875cc engine of aluminium die-cast construction, with a new cylinder head
• Strengthened pistons
• Twin Zenith/Stromberg 125CD carburettors
• High lift camshaft
• Large inlet and exhaust valves, double valve springs
• 4-branch exhaust manifold, twin outlets to silencer
• Air filter with renewable paper elements
• Engine oil cooler
• High-speed fan belt
• 4-speed all-synchromesh gears
• Large, selfadjusting hydraulic clutch
• Rack-and-pinion steering
• Instruments include 100mph speedo, ammeter and water temperature gauges
• Routine servicing only every 5,000 miles.

The block, crank and transmission needed no changes. But the cylinder head was completely new. It had reprofiled ports and water passages, larger inlet valves (1.27 instead of 1.18"), double valve springs, and a high lift camshaft. Not only that, but there was carburation by twin horizontal 1.25" choke Zenith-Stromberg carburettors, a four branch tubular exhaust manifold, and an engine oil cooler mounted behind the engine, close to the rear deck. All these Sports had their engine lids slatted with 'Venetian Blind' to aid oil and water cooling.
To deal with the high temperatures, the exhaust valves were made of a very tough alloy: 28/30/4NS
The head design was slightly altered to make for better cooling around the valve seats.
Carburation was set rich over 4,000 rev. so as not to have a weak mixture at speed -- again to protect the exhaust valves.

Special accessoires: seat belts; Smiths' Radiomobile etc.

Colour schemes:
• Signal Red with black upholstery
• Ming Blue with blue upholstery
• Polar White with black upholstery
• Polar White with blue upholstery
• Lincoln Green Metallic with black upholstery
• Golden Bronze Metallic with black upholstery

	Sunbeam Sport   (Chrysler UK Ltd. press photo R 66884)

Rootes News : a monthly newspaper for Rootes employees, 1966, Oct. - no.3
frontpage
Big welcome for the new models : London/ Paris debut of Hunter Vogue, Chamois and Imp Sport

REVEALED to Press and public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show, the new Hillman Hunter and the Sunbeam Imp Sport were received with an enthusiasm which augurs extremely well for the future.
The following week the new Singer Vogue and Imp Chamois models were also given a very enthusiastic reception.

From the crisp, modern styling to their performance on the road, few technical details were overlooked by critical motoring journalists. And all have given the new models their full approval.

When the Sunbeam Imp Sport made its bow, journalists were quick to assess its quality and the particular market for which it is intended.

• [...]
• "It will appeal to more discriminating young motorists who seek something beyond mere performance", says The Times, adding "... this racing and rally developed Imp is a real hustler - yet as smooth and quiet as some 2-litre saloons".
• "... Acceleration is considerably improved and the 0-60 m.p.h. figure is below 18 seconds", comments John Langley, of The Daily Telegraph.

With the approval of a critical Press added to the warmth of public interest in the new cars shown at Paris and London, there can be no doubt that there is a brilliant future in store for these models.

In October 1968, with the designation of the Mark 2, the trim of the Sunbeam Imp Sport was downgraded to Super Imp style. Although the instrumentation was more up to date, the ergonomics of the older car were superior.
The name Sunbeam Imp Sport was replaced in April 1970 by Sunbeam Sport. It would gain the same front styling and trim as the Stiletto in September 1970.
Its production would continue until the end of the Imp-era: March 1976.
From October 1966 until March 1976 some 10.336 Sports were produced.

In 1973 the Imp Sport came out tops in a group test (Motor 1973, June 2) against some more modern opposition of those days.

Varying Sports

The differences between the most usual Sports:

	Hillman GT - spot the badge next to the fake grill, not on it. (Chrysler brochure)