Monte Carlo Hillman Imp rally car fails to sell

The car took part in several races including a televised rally cross event in 1967

A car that took part in the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally has failed to sell at auction.

The specially modified Hillman Imp had been expected to fetch £50,000 at the auction in Chippenham.

The car was built in 1966 by the Rootes Group, which had bought the Hillman name.

Owner Mark Tudge said he was "genuinely not disappointed" and said he was "strangely relieved and looking forward to driving the car home".

Mark Tudge said he hoped to put the Imp up for auction again later in the year

Mr Tudge, from Malmesbury, who bought the car in 2013, said: "I was half expecting it. It's a very special car and it probably needs to go to a more specialist auction - this is a general automobile auction.

"What can I say? It loves me, it doesn't want to leave the family."

The Imp was manufactured in Linwood, Renfrewshire, as a rival to the Mini, but never gained as much popularity.

Just under 500,000 were sold before the final model rolled off the production line in 1976.