Sunbeam Stiletto

The Sunbeam Stiletto was a sporting coupe version of the Hillman Imp, listed from 1967 to 1972. It was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1967 as the car that showed the Imp coupe bodyshell, which is similar to the standard body but has a more shallow-raked windscreen and rear window that, unlike those of the saloon, cannot be opened. The attempt at a more sporty design did not translate into better acceleration or top speed figures, and the aerodynamics of the standard saloon are actually slightly better. When Chrysler acquired the Rootes Group in 1968 the whole Imp range was revised, with a redesigned instrument panel and steering wheel, except for the Stiletto. The Imp itself was the small rear-engined economy car that Rootes built at its purpose-built Linwood plant in Scotland, and a Hillman Sonic or Stiletto convertible was produced for Chrysler Australia by Eiffel Tower Motors of Dandenong.