Lot details
Registration No: DAR222F
Chassis No: B301002951HC0

The Stiletto is the sporty version of the Imp, the Rootes Group's innovative small car devised to take on the Mini. The new small saloon was launched in 1963 and built at a brand-new factory at Linwood, Scotland. It was co-designed by Michael Parkes, a development engineer for Ferrari, and one of its most notable features was the all-aluminium, high-revving overhead-cam engine mounted at the rear, based on the lightweight Coventry Climax racing engine. The Imp also boasted all-independent suspension, plus access to the luggage tray behind the rear seats via the opening rear window - a very early hatchback. An improved MkII version appeared in 1966, which did away with such oddities as the pneumatic throttle control. Sharp rack and pinion steering makes these true driver's cars, with a sprightly turn of speed thanks to a light weight of just 1560lbs. The Stiletto, introduced in 1967, is distinguished from its lesser brethren by a sloping coupe rear roofline (on these the rear window doesn't open) and quad headlights, while it used the Imp Sport engine, producing 55bhp at 6100rpm and giving 90mph and 0-50mph in just over 10 secs. About 8900 were made.

This Polar White Stiletto, with the sporty additions of a black roof and spoked steel wheels, retains its original twin red coachlines (all other body colours had white lines), and was acquired for the private Lake District collection only in August 2005. Like all the vehicles therein, it was believed to be running as it entered the collection, but may need recommissioning and is sold strictly as seen, with V5C Registration Document.