Humber Question

JPSmit

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• Oct 21, 2007

• #1

I have a line on what appears to be a Humber Imperial - no idea of year or even really condition at this point

any one have any experience or thoughts at all? I know they are rare, apparently the Imperial is the Pullman without the divided window glass

thanks all

 

Adam58

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• Oct 21, 2007

• #2

Just from a quick look up, it appears that the earlier ones were based on the Pullman and the laters ones were varients of the Super Snipe. Parts apper to be available through Rootes Parts. Neat looking cars! Try these sites for more info:

https://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/1145/
https://www.motorbase.com/profiles/vehicle/picture.ehtml?i=1139;p=341824401

https://www.motorbase.com/profiles/vehicle/picture.ehtml?i=1157;p=271125739

https://www.rootesparts.com/id107.htm

That was fun! Thanks for leading me down the path! Adam

 

P

Paul Johnson

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• Oct 22, 2007

• #3

No connection to these folk, but they are in the business of orphan cars and drive Humbers. Friendly people with an impressive supply of pieces and knowledge.

https://www.kipmotor.com

 

Steve

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• Oct 22, 2007

• #4

Humbers themselves were extremely well-built, quality cars. The sheet metal is pretty heavy-duty. Nice cars, and very rare over here.

 

Sherlock

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• Oct 22, 2007

• #5

So you're thinking of buying the one out in Ottawa (that was mentioned on BritCarTalk), I'm wondering what year of Imperial it is... As there were different variations that are quite distinct from each other...

I would think that within the British Saloon Car Club (maybe even here on BCF?) there is someone who could at least take a photo to know for sure, or are you up for a road trip?

 

TRMark

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• Oct 22, 2007

• #6

I think they are neat looking cars. I took this photo at ECAIP (English Car Affair In the Park) last year in Victoria BC. Lots of sedans show up at car shows in Canada.

 

OP

JPSmit

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• Oct 22, 2007

• #7

Sherlock said:

I would think that within the British Saloon Car Club (maybe even here on BCF?) there is someone who could at least take a photo to know for sure, or are you up for a road trip?

Click to expand...

I'm actually in Ottawa even as we speak - hope to drop by tomorrow on the way out of town ... I've got the camera

 

Sherlock

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• Oct 23, 2007

• #8

On the topic of Humber photos, here is my photo of a Super Snipe I spotted this summer, an interesting variation on the standard car shot, no one on Flickr seems to like it... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

I'm curious to see what kind of Imperial it is...

 

OP

JPSmit

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• Oct 23, 2007

• #9

I like - I once picked out a BMC van (that we've discussed elsewhere on this board - it ended up back in Britain - because I drove past a row of RV's for sale and one had fins. "one of these things is no like the other" says Sesame Street. - thanks

 

Sherlock

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• Oct 23, 2007

• #10

You mean this one?

Al Guest at one point owned two of them, he probably still has this one in the photo, but I do recall that he sold one of them back to England...

Where is the forum post you're referring to? I'd love to find it...

 

Simon TR4a

Jedi Knight

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• Oct 23, 2007

• #11

Hi Sherlock! I have very fond memories of a Humber Super Snipe, and have always thought them a very classy and dignified car in a Rover sort of way. An Imperial must be quite rare and would make a nice wedding car (in white), so you might even get it to pay its own expenses.

If not, you could smoke a pipe, carry a brolly on the passenger seat, and cruise to a gentleman's club. Lovely!

Do they play cricket in Calgary? There are some pitches about 20kms from where I live, its nice to go down and watch a match on a sunny afternoon, the clubhouse has tea and lemonade.
Simon.

 

Steve

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• Oct 23, 2007

• #12

Here's a different kind of Humber entirely:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Mak...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Sherlock

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• Oct 23, 2007

• #13

There's your next collector car Steve... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

So any updates J.P.? We're all waiting...

 

OP

JPSmit

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• Oct 23, 2007

• #14

Sherlock said:

So any updates J.P.? We're all waiting...

Click to expand...

Well, went to see, first of all, not an Imperial - actually a Pullman - it has the divider window. It was WAY beyond my skill level. Hood was new, as were hood sides. Passenger fender was perforated - drivers side was worse (and in the car) Engine block in back (you can see it) pistons spread throughout. Couldn't find the tranny but it might be there. all in all a daunting project.

 

OP

JPSmit

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• Oct 24, 2007

• #15

Sherlock said:

You mean this one?

Where is the forum post you're referring to? I'd love to find it...

Click to expand...

https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/u...true#Post205504

 

OP

JPSmit

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• Oct 24, 2007

• #16

found this too - (without hijacking my own thread) - in a scrapbook at a church I was visiting - borrowed it to scan.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10772705@N05/1727871936/

 

78Z

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• Oct 24, 2007

• #17

Neat car but massive project from the look of the pictures. I'd let someone else restore that one.

 

Sherlock

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• Oct 25, 2007

• #18

It appears that Big Al Guest has sold the BMC Motor Coach (based on that thread you pointed out).

Al often took that distinctive vehicle to many of the Ontario British car shows when I lived there from 2000 to 2003, it almost became commonplace to simply see it there at an event (for such a rare truck) that I took it for granted.

I didn't really know Al personally, as such, so have no idea what has happened to his fleet since I moved back to Alberta. I did check out his website, but it appears to have not been updated for a number of years - https://www.big-al-minimover.com/index.htm

One of his other trucks he owns (still owns?) is this neat LHD Austin K8 truck (yes, they sold these new in Canada back then, late-1940's):

 

OP

JPSmit

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• Oct 25, 2007

• #19

I've never seen the truck - only photos, I do know the bus went back to England - I never actually saw it restored either - we were in Florida when all this transpired

 

OP

JPSmit

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• Oct 26, 2007

• #20

Thought the Humber Club might be interested, sent an email and got this reply,...

It looks like this car came to Canada, as did many Humbers, as the transport for an Ambassador. As far as I know there was no formal export of Pullmans of this era.

"Turning to the car and your pictures, these cars are quite sought after in the UK where they were scrapped in their hundreds at the time of the Suez fiasco in the late 50's. Nobody wanted cars at that time that only did 12-15mpg!

As you say some work has clearly been done but a lot remains to be tackled. Most of the parts are still available for this model either as rebuilds, remanufactures, or just plain good secondhand. It certainly looks to be a good buy at $300 for anyone with a yen to rebuild a quality car of that era."

looks like it might be possible to esptablish the provenance