Marque: Humber - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand

Humber

The origins of the Humber car company date back to 1868, with Thomas Humber’s bicycle building business. The firm was later involved with producing the three wheeled Pennington, and Humber motor tricycles, quadricycles and cars were built. In 1901 came a 4.5hp model, powered by a De Dion engine and featuring a steering wheel plus shaft drive – both innovative features which were ahead of their…

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Humber Humber Sceptre (‘Arrow’ Range)

RATING:

8 / 10

PRICE: £400 - £3000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1967-76
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon; Five-door estate
Engine:
Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1725cc 82bhp
0-60 mph:
12+ sec
Top Speed:
100+ mph
MPG:
22-35mpg

Yes, it was badge-engineered but the ‘Arrow’ range Humber Sceptre was a stylish sports saloon providing pace, space and luxury for a lot less than a Rover 2000. Although Arrow range was launched in October 1966 it wasn’t until September 1967 that the Sceptre joined the ranks with a twin carb 1725cc engine and had host of standard fittings including overdrive, black vinyl roof, ‘spoked’ wheel trims, classy walnut interior cappings and comprehensive instrumentation. The swish estate was a logical addition but should have been launched years before its 1974 date. It featured a built-in roof rack and mock wood trims along the flanks. A decent sports classic that’s still cheap.

Humber Humber Hawk (From 1957)

RATING:

6 / 10

PRICE: Saloon/estate: £400 - £4000+; Touring Limousine: £500 - £5000+

Fast Facts

Produced:
1957-67
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon; five door estate Touring Limousine
Engine:
Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 2267cc 73bhp
0-60 mph:
20+ sec
Top Speed:
85+ mph
MPG:
20-25mpg

Much more modern in concept than their predecessors, the unitary construction ‘New Hawks’ from 1957 were lower and had a sleeker appearance. The wonderful Touring Limousine version featured a winddown glass partition between the front and rear seats. Powering all variants was Humber’s proven four-cylinder, 2.3-litre overhead valve engine giving respectable performance and economy. Today these large Humbers are ideal classics for those seeking space and luxury at a price much, much cheaper than an equivalent Jaguar. During the1960s Hawks were equipped with an all-synchromesh gearbox and - at last!- disc brakes.

Humber Humber Hawk (To 1957)

RATING:

6 / 10

PRICE: Saloon/estate: £500 - £3500+; Touring Limousine: £750 - £5000

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Fast Facts

Produced:
1945-57
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon/limo; five-door estate
Engine:
Mk I/II/III 1946-51: Side-valve in-line four-cylinder 1944cc 56bhp; Mk IV/V 1951-54: Sidevalve in-line four-cylinder 2267cc 58bhp; Mk VI, VIA, 1954-57: Overhead valve four-cylinder 2267cc 70bhp
Top Speed:
70-80+ mph
MPG:
20-25mpg

Imposing, conservatively styled (incorporating Humber’s unmistakable vertical radiator grille) and well-built, the Hawks of the late 1940s/early 1950s are also smoothrunning, spacious and comfortable, if not especially fast. Versions built from 1945 to 1950 were powered by old hat side-valve 1.9-litre engines; the capacity was then increased to 2.3-litres, but in the summer of 1954 an overhead valve engine was installed (in the new Mark VI) with optional overdrive. Estate car versions (introduced in late 1955) are particularly roomy, as are the wonderful Touring Limousines. All variants were discontinued during 1957 to make way for new ‘modern’ Hawke range.

Humber Humber Sceptre (1963 To 1967)

RATING:

8 / 10

PRICE: £500 - £3000+

Fast Facts

Produced:
1963-67
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon
Engine:
Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder Mark I: 1592cc 80bhp; Mark II: 1725cc 85bhp
0-60 mph:
Mark I: 18 sec; Mark II: 13 sec
Top Speed:
Mark I: 90+ mph;Mark II: 98 mph
MPG:
23-30+ mpg

It may have been a Minx in posher clothes but the Sceptre was one of the most competent sporting family saloons of the 1960s and a useful shot in the arm to the staid Humber name. The compact Sceptre (differing slightly from the Super Minx on which it was based), was instantly recognisable by its four headlamps and sloping rear roof line. Under the bonnet was Rootes’ 1592cc engine with high compression ratio and twin Zenith carbs, giving 80bhp. Overdrive was standard. Mark II Sceptres (from 1965) had more powerful five main bearing 1725cc engines, with an aluminium cylinder head and a twin choke Solex carb. A BMW 3 Series of its day perhaps?

Humber Humber Snipe & Super Snipe (To 1957)

RATING:

10 / 10

PRICE: Super Snipe: £750 - £5000; Imperial and Pullman Limousine: £1000 - £7000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1945-57
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon; Pullman Touring Limousine
Engine:
Super Snipe Mk I/II/III and Imperial 1946-52: Sidevalve in-line six-cylinder 4086cc 100bhp; Super Snipe Mk IV and Imperial 1952-54: Overhead valve in-line six-cylinder 4138cc 116bhp
0-60 mph:
16-21+ sec
Top Speed:
80-90mph
MPG:
13-19

Large, luxurious and capable (if thirsty!), with spacious, opulent interiors. Any of these magnificent Humbers will draw an interested crowd, wherever it goes. All are rare, yet still relatively inexpensive. The post-War ‘Mark I’ Super Snipe arrived in 1945 with Limousine variants for 1949. The Mark III of 1950 incorporated minor changes but the Mark IV (1952 to 1956) had redesigned, wider bodywork, a larger boot, independent front suspension and a new overhead valve engine. Long wheelbase Pullman Limousines were built from 1945 until1954; luxurious Imperial versions of the Super Snipe between 1949 and 1954. Stylish if stodgy upper-crust classics.

Humber Humber Super Snipe/Imperial (From 1958)

RATING:

8 / 10

PRICE: Super Snipe: £750 - £5000; Imperial: £1000 - £7000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1958-67
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon; five-door estate & Touring Limousine
Engine:
(All ohv, in-line six-cylinder) Series I 1958-59 2651cc 111bhp; Series II/III 2965cc 121bhp; Series IV 1962-67: 2965cc 124bhp (129bhp from October 1964)
0-60 mph:
14-18 sec
Top Speed:
95 - 100 +mph
MPG:
14-25+ mpg

Topping the Rootes line-up, the new unitary constructed Super Snipe models (from October 1958) are highly underrated. Are a poor man’s Jag, all were comprehensively equipped and superbly furnished, with leather upholstery, pile carpets, walnut trims and folding picnic tables. The new range was powered by a 2.6-litre engine, instead of the old 4.1 sidevalve used in the previous cars with a larger bore 3-litre was used in Series II versions (from 1959). Hailed by the makers as ‘One of the world’s most luxurious cars’, the new Imperial (based on the Super Snipe) arrived in October 1964, with bodywork by Thrupp and Maberly.

Humber Sceptre, Singer Vogue, Sunbeam Vogue

Fast Facts

Produced:
Humber Sceptre Mk.1 1963-1965/Mk.2 1965-1967/Mk.3 1967-1976 Singer Vogue 1725 Series IV 1965-1967/Series V 1967-1970/Sunbeam Vogue 1970
Engine:
1592cc S4 OHV 78.5 bhp @5500 rpm/1725cc S4 OHV 85bhp @5500 rpm
0-60 mph:
1.6 15 secs /1.7 14 secs
Top Speed:
1.6 91 mph /1.7 90 mph
MPG:
1.6 26 mpg/1.7 23 mpg

The original Humber Sceptre of 1963 was actually envisaged as a Rapier replacement – hence the radiator grille.The original, sleek style was replaced by the fashionably boxy ‘Arrow’ series Sceptre in late 1967 and continued until 1976. The 1725cc same engine was also available in the similar Singer Vogue from 1965 before the demise of the Singer marque in 1970. Of all these upper crust Hillman Hunters the best value are probably the Sceptres, offering Rapier performance with a Cortina 1600E-style cabin and much lower prices – but don’t forget the rare Hillman GT (69-76) and the Holbay tuned GLS; Chrysler’s own ‘Lotus Cortina’.

Humber Super Snipe (1958-1967)

RATING:

8 / 10

Fast Facts

Produced:
1958-1967
Engine:
2665cc S6 OHV – Series I-II/2965cc S6 121bhp @ 4800 rpm OHV Series III-V
0-60 mph:
13 secs
Top Speed:
100 mph (3-Litre)
MPG:
25 mpg (3-Litre)

The estate-car derivative of the Super Snipe was launched in 1958 and, as with all early ‘Series Super Snipes’, is distinguishable by its single headlamps and ‘egg-crate’ radiator grille. The tailgate is horizontally split, in line with the Rootes Group’s transatlantic leanings. The 1959 Series II brought welcome front disc brakes but it was still slightly underpowered and so in October ‘60 Humber launched the Series III with an Armstrong-Siddeley designed 3-litre engine and (pioneering) quad headlamps. The Series IV replaced this in 1962 and Series V with standard PAS and twin carburetors debuted two years later A. three-speed column shift always fitted as standard but o/d and Borg Warner automatic were very popular options. As a British prestige estate , it is virtually without peers.

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