April 1966
The Mark I 875 Saloon had an all glass
fibre four-seater body with the low compression 875cc, 34 b.h.p.
engine and transaxle assembly from the Rootes Commer van. The rear
mounted, water-cooled engine behind the transaxle drove the rear
wheels. It had a 4 speed and reverse gearbox and independent suspension
on all wheels. The main front down tube incorporated a leading arm
with a fully floating front brake back plate and the whole assembly
was designed to lean the front wheel over when the steering was
turned. Tyres were 12" x 5½", with 8" hydraulic
brakes, a 6 gallon petrol tank and conventional 12 volt lighting/starting.
To keep the overall weight down, the body had 
non-opening rear side windows and a rear
window in Perspex whilst the front seats were small, thin, tubular
affairs padded with foam. The standard Imp instrument binnacle was
mounted directly onto the glass fibre dash. Optional extra's (offered
as "extra's" to help keep the weight down) were a spare
wheel, a heater/demister and a roof mounted suitcase.
Length 10' 8", width 4' 7" and height 4' 3".
April 1967
The 875 Ranger Van was introduced. A van version of the Saloon with a lift up tailgate, no rear side windows, single drivers seat in the front with aluminium side partitioning and 40 cu. ft. of goods carrying capacity on a flat rear floor extending into the passenger compartment. A single wing mirror was fitted - by law - to the right hand front wing. Once again, bodies were only supplied in primer and painting was offered for another £10.00. Optional extra's were still the spare wheel and the heater/demister but now the front passenger seat had to be paid for! (This was always an unpopular "extra" and appears to have been fitted as standard almost straight away.)
March 1968
The Mark II Saloon had an identical mechanical specification, but the body featured a restyled front with a larger opening bonnet, rectangular headlamps, combined sidelights/flashers and a front grille concealing the heater air intake. Windscreen washers and a heater became standard fittings.
875 Mk.1 / Ranger Van Chassis Number Range: Q/8/50001 to T/3/52038
875 Mk.2 / Ranger Van Chassis Number Range: T/3/52039 to V/2/53441
875 Mk.1 and Ranger Van Production = 2.037
875 Mk.2 and Ranger Van Production = 1,403
Total 875 Production = 3441 (including one factory Estate prototype)
