Humber

[Dark61]

Apologies if this post is not in the right place.

Took the Hound for a sniff at the local Antiques place and was rather taken with this nice looking (to me anyway) Humber ? - (couldn't read the name on the side). I hadn't seen the arrangement with the spark plugs going in the top before.
Pedals felt good.
cheers,
D

[pop058]

Looks like a Humber "Super Snipe", early 60's is my guess. Very nice model, but don't recall any engine info

[Lionelgee]

Hello Dark and Paul,

There used to be an antiques place set off the left of the road just past Gympie as you were heading towards Brisbane. The calling card for the place was a pair of matching Humber Super Snipes that were kept in mint condition and always positioned either side of the main entrance to the business.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[incisor]

poor mans rolls royce when i was a lad...

lots of local business owners had them including a mate of my dad, who had an absolute pearler, that i used to make a bob or two cleaning, from time to time

was such a nice car to ride in...

[rangieman]

poor mans rolls royce when i was a lad...

lots of local business owners had them including a mate of my dad, who had an absolute pearler, that i used to make a bob or two cleaning, from time to time

was such a nice car to ride in...

Yes poor mans Roller;)
A very nice driver and passengers car indeed the Super Snipe is.
Id have one in a heart beat:)

[BathurstTom]

Humber super snipe series 5 or (more likely) 6 (designated Va). Twin CD carbs. Before WW2, Rolls Royces were considered poor man's Humbers according to many. Good for 130 km/h all day...

Tom.

[bsperka]

Cross flow hemi head, hence the spark plug placement. Similar spark plug layout to Riley 2.5, which was also a cross flow hemi engine.

[loanrangie]

My best mate at school when i was 5 his dad had a Super Snipe, i remember the beautiful wood grain thru out the car and the drop down trays on the back of the front seats and the lounge like upholstery of the seats.
It was the first automatic car that i can recall, my mates parents took us to the drive-in in it to see The Life Of Brian thinking that it was a good religious movie - his dad was studying Theology at the time :o.

[JDNSW]

As others indicate - cross flow head. Not at all uncommon - Peugot 203,403,404 etc, Citroen D series, Jaguar, Lea Francis, etc etc.

John

[mick88]

The local Ambulance Service here had a couple of them converted to ambulances back in the 1960's. They were sold off in the mid 70's. The ambulance officers who used them had a lot of praise for their ride, performance and handling, etc. The Humber was obviously a well made motor vehicle for it's day.




Cheers, Mick.

[Dinty]

Smythes Funeral services had one here where I live, fortunately for me I didn't get a ride in it , cheers Dennis ;)

[Pickles2]

Yes, in its day, the "Snipe" as they were sometimes referred to, was a top level motor car, well beyond the reach of most.
This one looks original, and do I see an A/C compressor on the front driver's side of the engine.
But jeez, looking at the engine bay, and the paint, whilst it looks to be "all there", there'd be a hell of a lot of work to restore it.
Pickles.

[strangy]

Humber Super Snipe.
3litre, twin su cabs.
Hemi head.
Humber were part of the "Rootes Group" which was bought by Chrysler.
Chryslers iconic Hemi x flow Head has its origins here.
Disc brakes up front and a 3 speed auto.
Beautiful ride.
Our family had a gorgeous black 67 model and remember Dad doing 100mph on a number of occasions.
Still have an ex police "special" with overdrive .

This one is series5 probably 65 or 66

[loanrangie]

Just reading some website and apparently Chrysler built some prototypes with a 318 fitted :cool:, a bit like Jensen Interceptor forerunner.

[Pickles2]

Just reading some website and apparently Chrysler built some prototypes with a 318 fitted :cool:, a bit like Jensen Interceptor forerunner.
"Jensen Interceptor"?...Now there's a REAL car, but it'd have to be the "SP" version, with the 7 Litre engine!!
Pickles.

[Lionelgee]

Yes poor mans Roller;)
A very nice driver and passengers car indeed the Super Snipe is.
Id have one in a heart beat:)


G'day Rangieman,

Well for a couple of hearbeats and around $15k this one could be yours - no association with the seller ... https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Humber-Super-Snipe-1966/OAG-AD-14117918/?Cr=0

Nice photographs of the interior too shown in the description

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Pickles2]

What a MAGNIFICENT example,...Haven't seen one as good as that for around 50 years,.....it is a lot of car for $15K.
Pickles.

[pop058]

Humber Super Snipe.
3litre, twin su cabs.
Hemi head.
Humber were part of the "Rootes Group" which was bought by Chrysler.
Chryslers iconic Hemi x flow Head has its origins here.
Disc brakes up front and a 3 speed auto.
Beautiful ride.
Our family had a gorgeous black 67 model and remember Dad doing 100mph on a number of occasions.
Still have an ex police "special" with overdrive .

This one is series5 probably 65 or 66

some pics please :)

[BathurstTom]

Humber Super Snipe.
3litre, twin su cabs.
Hemi head.
Humber were part of the "Rootes Group" which was bought by Chrysler.
Chryslers iconic Hemi x flow Head has its origins here.
Disc brakes up front and a 3 speed auto.
Beautiful ride.
Our family had a gorgeous black 67 model and remember Dad doing 100mph on a number of occasions.
Still have an ex police "special" with overdrive .

This one is series5 probably 65 or 66

Yes my father had a few of these. He Had a very early mark 2 Pullman (about 1949) in 1970. I can remember that he he could fit the whole U10 soccer team in in the days before seat belts. He had a Hawk and then a series 3 and a series 5. Later I bought him a series 5a for 50c at an auction in the 80's. Don't laugh, I drove it home - it went very well. In the Snipes my dad regularly drove at around 80mph.

Tom.

[vnx205]

My father never got to own one, but I remember that when I was primary school age, he dreamt about owning one because he said it would be great for towing our 18 foot caravan.

I suppose the model he would have been dreaming of at that time would have been a Mark III or IV.

I now know why he thought it would be so good for towing the van. 4.1 litres must have had pretty good torque.

[strangy]

some pics please :)
Will do. You will need some patience, I need to get Dad to get some pics.

[Carnut1100]

Love the old Humbers....and the Super Snipe has always been my favourite.
Never had one, although I was part way through a restoration on a Humber Vogue Sports (spruced up Hillman Minx body with Sunbeam Alpine running gear...) when it was taken out by the 2013 Dunalley bushfire...along with my Morris Minor van.
I'm a sucker for old Pommy cars, but the Rootes stuff is the cream of the crop!

[Dark61]

Come up and have a look at it Mate - he likes a deal. Its just round the corner from me. I'll shout you a Coffee.
Cheers,
D

[Roverlord off road spares]

My Bro in law had a couple, he used to rave on about them, then he also raved on about his CM Valiant Charger, and now he raves on about his Disco 1 V8 ( he would probably rave a bit louder if he let me replace his busted vacuum advance unit, but he reckons it runs fine the way it is)

[Pickles2]

Love the old Humbers....and the Super Snipe has always been my favourite.
Never had one, although I was part way through a restoration on a Humber Vogue Sports (spruced up Hillman Minx body with Sunbeam Alpine running gear...) when it was taken out by the 2013 Dunalley bushfire...along with my Morris Minor van.
I'm a sucker for old Pommy cars, but the Rootes stuff is the cream of the crop!
I remember the Vogue Sports, it had some nice Smiths instruments.....but would it not have more in common with the Sunbeam "Rapier" rather than the Alpine?
However, whilst I ain't no expert on the "Rootes Group", I was always taken with the somewhat later Sunbeam Rapiers, Mk. IV I think, the early body shape, with the 1725cc engine,....haven't seen a good original rust free example for a very long time indeed.
Pickles.

[ATH]

I had 2 Humber Hawks at different times back in the late 60s. Great cars which went well with a huge back seat which was very important for me in those days...... :o
AlanH.

[FV1601]

My favourite Humber style!
Not sure whether the top half is Hawk or Snipe, bottom half is all Humber as well.
Rich.

[Don 130]

My favourite Humber style!
Not sure whether the top half is Hawk or Snipe, bottom half is all Humber as well.
Rich.
I reckon the original looks better and more practical.
Don.

[FV1601]

Well spotted Don, don't think too many would make the ID.
(Of course, if I was a pedantic Bugger I would say that your pic is plated as a Commer, but I'm not, so I won't....)
Rich.

[Don 130]

Well spotted Don, don't think too many would make the ID.
(Of course, if I was a pedantic Bugger I would say that your pic is plated as a Commer, but I'm not, so I won't....)
Rich.
As a roots group vehicle they were variously referred to by both names. It seems they didn't really do that well in service.
The Humber 1 ton CT Truck in Australian Service by Paul D. Handel (http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/othervehicles/humbertruckph_1.htm)
Don.

[FV1601]

All Australian Army delivered trucks Chassis Plate were stamped Commer, although they were referred to as Humber One Ton in Aussy service paperwork.
Yes, Don, top article by Paul, they had been pretty much ignored since demob. I must declare a rather large interest (about 4 ton) in these vehicles, and so apologise for the slight thread Hi-jack.


NB, the modified Humber's bottom half was eventually restored to it's full
glory, I don't think the top half was.
Rich.