The Hillman Imp project started as far back as 1955 at a time when 'Bubble Cars' often powered by Scooter engines were invading Europe and threatening the entry-level cars of the big manufacturers. In Britain the fuel shortage which followed the 1956 Suez Crisis added impetus to the search for new economical cars and resulted in both the Imp and the Mini. Parkes and Fry started Project Apex, quickly deciding on a rear engine (a la Fiat 600, Renault 4, Volkswagen Beetle), but it was decided to make something more mature than a flimsy bubble car. A 750cc Coventry-Climax alloy engine was chosen, and upgraded to 875cc for Apex. Bob Saward designed the Imp body and the car was launched in May 1963. Production was at a plant in Scotland's Linwood set up to comply with the Government's desire to distribute business expansion away from central England. MkII models were introduced in 1965 and also launched were the Commer Imp Van and the Hillman Super Imp. In the January 1967 the first sporting body was introduced as the Hillman Imp Californian and the Commer Imp Van was turned into the Hillman Husky Estate in 1967. Paradoxically, in October 1968 the Imps lost their "Mk II" designation and were revised without being called "Mk III". The range started contracting in 1970, and production ended in March 1976 after 440,000 were made.