IT was launched in the optimistic swinging 60s and promised cheap car ownership for the working family.

But just 13 years later Scotland's last attempt to mass produce cars – the Hillman Imp – collapsed amid tales of faulty design and acrimonious industrial disputes.

Tomorrow marks 50 years since the first Imp rolled off the production line at the Rootes Group's purpose-built car plant in Linwood, Renfrewshire.

It is thought about 11,000 workers were employed by the firm over the life of the site.

And to mark the occasion a rally of 50 classic cars, including a host of Imps, are expected to turn out at the site of the plant, which is now the St James Business Centre.

John Workman, who owns the centre, said: "50 years ago on May 2, 1963, the Duke of Edinburgh launched the first Imp and this whole complex.

"This is the last remaining Rootes building in the UK. We are going to unveil a plaque to the Imp and the other cars made here, the Hunter the Husky and others.

"Andrew Cowan, a Scots rally driver who won the 1966 London to Sidney marathon road race driving a Hillman Hunter, is coming along."

The business centre was converted and is home to 50 businesses, but keeps a link to its past.

The centre was the administrative building of the complex and hasn't changed much in the past half century.

Production of the Imp ceased in 1976, but the Renfrewshire plant limped on into the 1980s when mass redundancies in 1981 heralded a bleak time for Scots industry.

The cars however, have a worldwide following of avid fans. Even Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker used to own one.

Former Evening Times reporter John Quinn drove a Hillman Imp in a 100-car-strong cavalcade to Lisbon in May 1967 to cover the Celtic v Inter Milan European Cup final.

The first ever Hillman Imp was driven off the production line by Prince Philip. The same car is now in Glasgow's Riverside Museum.

Mr Workman added: "It's remarkable the affection people have for the cars.

"There are 1300 members of the Imp Club who have about 2000 of these cars. There's just under 4000 registered still with the DVLA.

"The plant was very important to Renfrewshire. About 11,000 worked here over the life of the plant, 4000 at any one time.

"They paid high wages for unskilled labour, and it was an important part for setting people up in life.

"Of course it disappeared in the early 80s and it wasn't all rosy. There were strikes, but there were strikes all over the country.

"People who are coming to talk to me now about working at Rootes are talking to me about the positives.

"There's generally a good atmosphere."

Imp owner Hugh Liddle, 41, from Kirkintilloch, will be at tomorrow's rally.

Mr Liddle said: "I've had umpteen Imps. I think the Imp's always been the underdog.

"It's a fantastic car, but always in the shadow of the Mini."

Stewart Crawford, 75, of Paisley, worked at the plan in the finance department between 1962 and 1969.

Mr Crawford said: "I remember it as a wonderful time there, everything was new. It was a great adventure and opened up Paisley to the world.

"The cars have a very affectionate following now and it's worldwide."

ewan.fergus@eveningtimes.co.uk

IT was launched in the optimistic swinging 60s and promised cheap car ownership for the working family.

But just 13 years later Scotland's last attempt to mass produce cars – the Hillman Imp – collapsed amid tales of faulty design and acrimonious industrial disputes.

Tomorrow marks 50 years since the first Imp rolled off the production line at the Rootes Group's purpose-built car plant in Linwood, Renfrewshire.

It is thought about 11,000 workers were employed by the firm over the life of the site.

And to mark the occasion a rally of 50 classic cars, including a host of Imps, are expected to turn out at the site of the plant, which is now the St James Business Centre.

John Workman, who owns the centre, said: "50 years ago on May 2, 1963, the Duke of Edinburgh launched the first Imp and this whole complex.

"This is the last remaining Rootes building in the UK. We are going to unveil a plaque to the Imp and the other cars made here, the Hunter the Husky and others.

"Andrew Cowan, a Scots rally driver who won the 1966 London to Sidney marathon road race driving a Hillman Hunter, is coming along."

The business centre was converted and is home to 50 businesses, but keeps a link to its past.

The centre was the administrative building of the complex and hasn't changed much in the past half century.

Production of the Imp ceased in 1976, but the Renfrewshire plant limped on into the 1980s when mass redundancies in 1981 heralded a bleak time for Scots industry.

The cars however, have a worldwide following of avid fans. Even Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker used to own one.

Former Evening Times reporter John Quinn drove a Hillman Imp in a 100-car-strong cavalcade to Lisbon in May 1967 to cover the Celtic v Inter Milan European Cup final.

The first ever Hillman Imp was driven off the production line by Prince Philip. The same car is now in Glasgow's Riverside Museum.

Mr Workman added: "It's remarkable the affection people have for the cars.

"There are 1300 members of the Imp Club who have about 2000 of these cars. There's just under 4000 registered still with the DVLA.

"The plant was very important to Renfrewshire. About 11,000 worked here over the life of the plant, 4000 at any one time.

"They paid high wages for unskilled labour, and it was an important part for setting people up in life.

"Of course it disappeared in the early 80s and it wasn't all rosy. There were strikes, but there were strikes all over the country.

"People who are coming to talk to me now about working at Rootes are talking to me about the positives.

"There's generally a good atmosphere."

Imp owner Hugh Liddle, 41, from Kirkintilloch, will be at tomorrow's rally.

Mr Liddle said: "I've had umpteen Imps. I think the Imp's always been the underdog.

"It's a fantastic car, but always in the shadow of the Mini."

Stewart Crawford, 75, of Paisley, worked at the plan in the finance department between 1962 and 1969.

Mr Crawford said: "I remember it as a wonderful time there, everything was new. It was a great adventure and opened up Paisley to the world.

"The cars have a very affectionate following now and it's worldwide."

ewan.fergus@eveningtimes.co.uk