A BIZARRE British Tribute to the USA! The Humber Super Snipe

A British car made to emulate the best that America had to offer? Seems like a very strange thing to do, after all European roads were not really suited to car from the USA. But The Rootes group, through their Humber subsidiary decided to do exactly that and make an excutive car, styled and inspired from the metal of Detroit!
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[@user-jn1tr8mo3g]

Snipes (the birds) are noted for their rapid and somewhat erratic flight, making them difficult for hunters / shooters to target them. Only a skilled marksman could shoot a snipe, and those that could became known as snipers.

[@davidboult4143]

Earlier versions had a snipe bird mascot on the bonnet. The sharp beak had a rubber beak on it!

[@yuglesstube]

Interesting!

[@rogerpritchard]

Sas?

[@anthonykennedy5324]

I did not know that. Thanks. PS I checked before posting. Thanks again.

[@paulsutton5896]

I never knew that! Thank you.

[@394pjo]

This brought a tear to my eye. My dad had one a 1963 estate reg no: 394 pjo in Old English White. He drove us around Europe in it every summer from 1968 to 1975. We went to Yugoslavia in 68 and the border guards all posed for a photo with us and the car. In ‘69 we drove to Malta in it, from the UK then that was a fuck of a journey no motorways had been built in France and only a handful in Italy then so it took a week of back roads to get to the ferry in Catania Sicily. Sad day in ‘71 when the Big Ends - or ‘rod bearings’ as they call them now - went just outside Limoges on the way to Spain. Dad still managed to nurse her on to Andorra where a local mechanic thought the Queen had arrived and joyfully stripped the engine and had us back on the road in three days letting us stay in his house while he did it. He took a photo of the car for his garage wall still believing we were related to the British royal family! I would give anything to find an Estate now. Sadly I think they’re all gone.

[@antoniotula262]

I can definitely understand the tears, but it's an amazing gift to have had a father like that and the memories you have with him.

[@user-em6vi6sj7p]

Theres an Super Snipe estate in the Stondon Transport Museum, Station Road, Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire. or at least there was the last time i visited, which was about 8 years ago

[@394pjo]

Thank you, I will google them and pay a visit.@@user-em6vi6sj7p

[@user-em6vi6sj7p]

Oh dear just checked and it seems the Stondon museum closed

[@simonelliott5956]

Great story, this is what these lovely old classics bring us, a connection with our past, often our youth and the memories of those who have passed.

[@ianmontgomery7534]

i am Australian and when I was child in the 60s my best friend's father had a Super Snipe and my Dad had 1953 V8 Ford Customline (ex police detectives vehicle). The Snipe was like a mobile lounge room and was more luxurious than the Ford but nowhere near as quick or able to tow a large trailer which we used for camping. I don't consider the Snipe to be American influenced at all. I would think PA Vauxhall would be more likely to be associated with the US.

[@alancsalt]

Same. Can't see success in any of Britain's attempts to make an "American" car. Conversely, whenever an American auto manufacturer has purchased a British one, they ruined it. The Americans and British seem incapable of compreheneding the style of each other. The Americans seem to have the same trouble comprehending European tastes. In terms of crossing the pond, Jaguar probably did best? (but not under Ford)

[@gjmob]

As an Aussie, I never considered the Snipe to be american influenced either, more like large Italian. The only British car where the design could have been american influenced is the Jaguar XJS, which is probably why it's not as popular as other Jaguars.

[@andycooke6231]

In the 1960 my neighbour was a met traffic officer, his police car was a Humber Super Snipe estate the back of which was full of cones, traffic sign and all the other traffic police car paraphernalia. Compare with the rest of the cars in the street it was huge.

[@Loveitdownunder]

Correct. I lived (before going to Aus) a stones throw from the Met police driver training school in Colindale.

[@Vince_uk]

I owned one of these in the very early 1970's It was a magnificent car, I loved it and would have one again tomorrow.

[@tonycust9247]

Had an uncle who was a mill manager and replaced his Mk V Jag with a 'Super Snob' in the mid 60s when the Jag no longer felt safe at 80! (The Jag came to Australia in 1949 when he made a trip to the 'Old Country' to replace worn out mill machinery). He said that the Humber would reach the ton if you waited long enough! 😂

[@richardwindsor60]

When I was a kid, the local timber mill owner went back to the Old Dart and bought a Rolls Royce. He created consternation when he wanted it white (OZ is a notoriously hot country) and wanted a towbar fitted so he could pull a caravan.

[@famousamoss]

Thanks for reviewing something so British and so entirely different! I have a Series IV in Australia and can’t believe the quality of engineering. When I bought it, 20 years ago, I thought it was scary-fast on its old cross-ply tyres! If you had a Humber Super Snipe in 1964; you were someone special. Tell people now that I own a Humber and they correct me…”you mean Hummer?”

[@YellowPinkie]

When I tried to insure it in my early 20s, the broker said "...a Honda what?" 😂

[@jackjacko8706]

A Mechanic said getting a roadworthy when booking it in. Insisted it was a Hummer. When I spelt it, he said , “ Well the “b” must be silent. Lol

[@jackjacko8706]

In Australia, Chrysler wanted to change the company name to “ Chrysler Rootes Australia” took a bit of persuasion to tell the Americans that it wasn’t a good idea.

[@Rob-fc9wg]

​@@jackjacko8706 😂😂😂😂😂😂👍

[@user-em6vi6sj7p]

Humbers were built in Australia at their factory near melbourne, because of the drier weather there's probably more Australian ones left than British ones? Also i think the australians called the Humber Sceptre, the Sunbeam Sceptre

[@martinclapton2724]

Obviously these were not a car designed for the sporting luxury market , which was Jaguars domain , but they aimed above Jaguar by means of quality materials used and quality of construction, much like Rover did with the P4/5 range. There was a good market in this country then , very much for established, bank managers, solicitors, esteemed doctors and the like. The later Humber Imperial was very similar with extra specification etc. Lovely car , of its type , in its day .

[@johndeacetis4707]

One of my relations had an estate version ..of singer gazelle ..a lot lit smaller ..than its rootes cousin ..super snipe

[@davedear929]

Living in Coventry where these were built i saw quite a lot of them. Those twin headlights were something else. I really fancied one but at the time i was still on a pedal bike. You can always dream. Thanks Jack.

[@froggy0162]

These were surprisingly popular here in Australia. Still see one every now and then.

[@bigyin2586]

They were the same size as the typical Australian family cars of the time from Ford, Holden and Chrysler, so perhaps not that surprising.

[@froggy0162]

@@bigyin2586 The surprising bit is that they are a bit left field, and the market here is pretty conservative. They were known though for being fairly quick in their day.

[@tetchuma]

I saw one of these driving down the tollway in North Dallas when I was 10. I thought it was a Checker cab at first, but then we passed it again and I got a better look at it. I’ve never seen one since.

[@murrieteacher]

Hi Jack, that brings back memories of childhood, that car in 1958 did the zero to 60mph in a blistering 16 secs. Slow until you realise that things like the Morris Minor 1000 and the Austin A40 and A50 were in the low 20 second times. We either forget, or were not aware that sub 10 second 0-60 mph times were very quick. The E- Type Jag had a 0 - 60 of 7.9 sec. We had the previous model that was a very different shape and they were very popular with sheep and cattle farmers here in Oz. They had a huge amount of room in the rear seats.

[@keithmoore5224]

In 1965 i had a bsa b31 350 1958 the top speed was a 75 mph down hill with a tail wind

[@jackjacko8706]

Yes. Considering Holdens with the grey engine we’re in the 22 second range to 60mph. Even my 1952 Mark IV was in the 17 seconds area.

[@fenixfp40]

My uncle had one of these (same colour) back in the early 70’s. I remember him taking us out in it. Happy days.

[@jasonrivers7518]

I had the '57-8(?), With single headlight, and the wrap-around windscreen, which really could be confused with a '55 Chev- if you squinted! I addressed the power problem, with a Chrysler Hemi 265 c.i. straight 6, 4-barrel, backed by a Torqueflite 727 & Dana 44 lsd. Basically, I transplanted the entire drivetrain, from a '73 Chrysler Valiant Charger... I must say, it went very quickly, then.

[@kimallen4132]

A lovely old girl, don't be too harsh on her as she is really a design from 1958. They were the first British car to have twin headlights from 1960 which always reminded me of the 1960's Checker cab. Chrysler did built a few V8 engined prototypes which never made it into production.

[@couttsy222]

The handling, steering, braking and ride appear to be exactly the same as standard Australian sedans (eg: Falcon and Holden) of the same era. That constant correcting of the steering wheel is what we all grew up with! The looks of the Super Snipe always reminded me of the American Checker taxi. My first job while still at high school in the mid-late seventies was at a service station where, unthinkable these days, I was a pump jockey. A local older chap had one of these Super Snipes and it was always fun when someone new was trying to find the fuel filler cap on his car.......

[@erroneouscode]

I was a few years older in that era in Oz and having driven the Super Snipe I wouldn't put them in the same basket as a Falcon or Holden, especially around the last years they were sold. The Humber Super Snipe always 'felt' heavy. As bad as the brakes were on all cars in Oz back then the Snipe 'felt' as leisurely in braking as it was in acceleration. Apart from all the British style creature comforts inside it somewhat reminded me more of mid to late 50's American type car with a 6 cylinder engine sold in Oz such as the Plymouth Cranbrook or Chrysler Royal.

[@Simon.the.Likeable]

The parents of my sister's friend in the next street were selling their green Super Snipe when I first got my licence back in the '70s. My Dad told me to forget it. He said if anything went wrong with the drive train, the broken unit (motor, gearbox, diff, etc.) would have to be crated up to be shipped off to Blighty to be repaired because no mechanic here would touch it. The car would be off the road for six months at enormous expense. Do either of you gentleman know if he was just pulling my leg or was Dad right as usual? Thanks. Oh, I ended up with an EH Holden instead.

[@user-em6vi6sj7p]

@@Simon.the.Likeable The Auto gearbox wouldnt be a problem, Borg warner 35 used in dozens of cars worldwide, even Jags which would have to have the kickdown disconnected because jag engines were too powerful for the 35

[@Simon.the.Likeable]

@@user-em6vi6sj7p Thanks for that. I really didn't know much about the mechanical aspects of motoring back when I bought my first car. I was never into it until I had a job selling truck spare parts at International Harvester at Mascot in Sydney a couple of years later. It was a steep learning curve at first but very interesting.

[@user-em6vi6sj7p]

@@Simon.the.Likeable Many spares for Humbers can be difficult to find but you have two countries that made them, each with owner clubs, UK and Australia

[@ciaranburke3243]

That's a happy car that goes down the road nicely jack imagine driving it in the sixties when most cars had tiny slow engines😀

[@robertsanders9068]

Never thought I'dd see you in a 1960's Rootes product! - especially straight after a Testarossa - Please keep this sort of content coming - pretty unique on 'the Tube'

[@MathsYknow]

The Super Snipe was renown for dominating demolition derbies back in the day, presumably due to their sturdy construction and well-protected engine in that large engine bay.

[@mrdanforth3744]

As a Canadian I was impressed with the few Humbers I saw in the sixties, especially the gentlemen's club interiors with their wood, leather, and expensive fittings. They did not seem especially American although they did have a few American inspired styling touches. They seem to resemble a Mercedes with greater refinement and without the Teutonic harshness. I am sure many well off motorists of the time appreciated the comfort smooth ride and long life these cars offered, even if the tearaways of the motoring magazines didn't.

[@jamescooley5744]

The front looks like a scaled-down late 50s AMC Rambler

[@dinsypiranha]

I own a 66 Series VA and can relate to the point and hope power steering. The slop arises from the drop link from the steering box being inserted into a moveable piston in a hydraulic ram which then moved the ram, which moved the steering arms. But if the piston is adjusted correctly, the steering isn't too bad. A great cruiser on the open road and can do up to 80mph without too much effort. The Borg Warner 35 slush box is a major mistake, but a common fitting to a range of british and australian cars.

[@YellowPinkie]

I plan to get replacement valves made; it's a poor design and this one is adjusted to the max...

[@dinsypiranha]

@@YellowPinkie Was a cheap option even then which probably explains why they were used.. Hope you're in contact with Glen Bunting from Norfolk Humbers who has lots of experience with the.

[@williamegler8771]

I have been car-obsessed for as long as I can remember and was always noticing rare vehicles. I vaguely remember neighbors of my grandparents owning two of these in West Chester Pennsylvania. They had a sedan and estate, or station wagon, both in matching dark gray. They were fairly old by that time but the owners took meticulous care of them. They eventually stopped driving and the Humbers just decayed in the garage until they were scrapped after they passed and their estate was settled.

[@mescko]

What a shame, finding a LHD one is nearly impossible now, at least outside of Canada.

[@markbennett6658]

It was definitely a thing in the 50s and 60s copying American styling. Ford and Vauxhall also went that route because of their American parentage. My grandad had a couple of Hillman Minx derivatives in the 60s and they looked like a scaled down version of this Humber. An interesting video and definitely a great fusion of English gentleman’s club and American excess👍

[@jeffking4176]

And not just British companies. Even USSR copied American style.

[@Banningburg]

And France as well, such as the Facel Vegas with wrap-around windshields and tailfins. @@jeffking4176

[@danielrussell446]

@@jeffking4176and French with the Simca Vadette and the Peugeot 404

[@julianp4787]

Wow !! That is one gorgeous car !! And the dash is both meaningful and elegant This vid got my heart beating :)

[@rabit818]

Window configuration is like Checker. It’s a good U.K./US mashup starting with the vague steering

[@nickmoore2301]

What a cracking old car, I I've just noticed how big the rear window is 😮 To be fair you can't really complain with the way it drives, she is an old girl now, it's a bit like asking your old gran to run the London Marathon wearing high heels 😊

[@baheh1801]

My dad had lots of Humber's when I was growing up. The series 3 super snipe was the first British car to have twin headlights. A series 2 super snipe was in the Tom hardy film legend. I always thought the twin headlight snipes looked like big yellow cabs on American tv.

[@clivehaynes2183]

The Bentley S3 had twin headlamps from 1963/4 and the Mk10 Jag 1961 ish. I am not sure when the Snipe 3 was introduced.

[@baheh1801]

@@clivehaynes2183 I just looked on Wikipedia it says series 111 snipe styling was announced in October 1960. Distinguished by its four headlights being the first British car to feature four headlights. To be honest I thought I was correct but I'd never actually checked it before as it was something I was told years ago at a Humber meeting.

[@user-em6vi6sj7p]

@@clivehaynes2183 late 1960, the series 1 and 2 1958 onwards only had two headlamps like the Humber Hawk

[@nigelsutton6919]

My dad (a shop manager at Currys) I think must have had a thing for the Humber Super Snipe. We had three and nearly a fourth in the late 60s/early 70s. I was very young so don't remember any tech details or even the years of the cars. The main one was dark grey with a light grey roof and red leather interior. We did a holiday to Scotland in it, from Oxfordshire. We then had an estate version which I remember using for a camping holiday in the Lake District. It made it over the Hard Knott pass too. Dad also bought another one but all I remember of that one was we broke it up, presumably for spares. Lastly my dad saw an Imperial in London but when it was delivered to us it had too many issues and was sent back. Had quite a few memories of our Snipes over the years. I think the engines were 2965cc and I don't remember any reliability issues. The only thing I recall is the sills were very prone to rust. Thanks for the video.

[@bobtheteddybear]

I owner 2 Super Snipes and an Imperial in the ‘60s for taxi and private hire work. Loved them, apart from the fuel consumption! Eventually went over to Volvo 144s

[@GordonHudson]

My cousin loved these. He had several of them and the Humber Hawk. Ex SAS. Drove his entire life without a driving licence. Hard to believe, but he never got stopped.

[@richardburton5706]

What a beautiful car, so elegant.

[@johnphaceas7434]

As someone who once owned a restored "classic" '59 FC Holden station wagon, I do appreciate the slightly wonky miniaturised - and usually much delayed - interpretations of American motoring trends by manufacturers across the reaches of the Old Empire in the 50s and 60s. This and the Ford Zephyr were prime examples of UK pseudo-Americana which made it to Australia, and I think they stack up pretty well from an aesthetics point of view today. Especially with the Jag/Rover spec interior trim levels.

[@darrellsimpson6966]

To me, a really elegant looking car. Not too ostentatious. Lovely profile. Very nice from the front and rear. Suits the twin head lights. Luxurious interior. Love the straight six. Pity about the steering . Great presentation.

[@YellowPinkie]

Steering is a reflection of what was OK in the day, probably with a bit of wear thrown in. It's within tolerance but will need work in the next year or so. Parts are unavailable, so I'll need to get something made.

[@marks-the-spot]

I haven't heard the Humber name in decades. I was raised in California and my uncle, who wouldn't own a "popular" car, had a Humber in the early 1960s. I can't recall if he owned it before or after a Hillman. He eventually moved a Volvo 122S in the mid 1960s, which was still a fairly rare sight in the states.

[@mescko]

Hearing about your uncle makes me smile. Taking my Rover P6 to a car show generally produces 3 kinds of people: 1) The typical American "Rover? Who made that?" 2) Ex-pat "I haven't seen one of these in (insert number of decades)!", and 3) American "I had an uncle that had one. He was a weirdo."

[@marks-the-spot]

@@mescko Ha! My uncle was a weirdo, too!

[@skilland]

My Father had a Snipe in black, one day I decided to use it with out his knowledge. I thought I'll just put a bit of fuel in to replace what I had used and he will never know the difference, unfortunately neither I nor the forecourt attendant could find the fuel cap, game up.

[@bunter6]

The engine was powerful for its class, it outgunned what ford/vauxhall/Austin were offering from their sizes due to it being a hemispherical head design. It had the potential to go out to 4 litres in capacity and better carburetion would have helped.

[@erroneouscode]

"The engine was powerful for its class" Perhaps by English standards with regard to what the competition were offering in the home market. However, the average driver wasn't aware or even cared about the design of the engine.

[@bunter6]

@@erroneouscode Don't quite get your meaning of "by English Standards" 137 NET HP in 1966 was decent by anyone's standards for a mass production 3 litre engine.

[@erroneouscode]

@@bunter6 1.The 137 figure is listed on wikipedia in bhp and not HP which the U.S commonly used back then to slightly inflate figures for marketing purposes. 2. Given the year involved it was more than likely an SAE Gross figure rather than a NET figure even though at that time the UK did list one or the other or both in print. But, given that other markets the Snipe was marketed to used SAE Gross figures including Australia until around 1972 137bhp gross is not that impressive. I'm sure if I bothered to look I could find mass produced engines in several other countries that matched or exceeded that. Irrespective, the Snipes major problem was weight. It was still a slow car despite having a reasonable engine output.

[@graemeday6305]

The engine was an Armstrong Siddley design. I had a Series 2, as mentioned, hemispherical head giving the impression of a sidevalve, crossflow head and would run all day at 80mph. Magnificent.

[@gazzafloss]

Good one Jack, this car bought back childhood memories. Many years ago when I was a little kid, our neighbour, an old Yorkie, (from Yorkshire of course), well he had an 'Umba, as he used to pronounce it. From memory it was pretty brand new, (Yes, a long time ago!). He was so proud of this big English car "he wouldn't have called the King his uncle". My Dad "lusted" after one but could only afford a Morris Minor.

[@gerrys123]

I shuddered when you mentioned the fuel cap. I worked at a petrol station on Saturdays when I was a lad. A Humber pulled in and the guy said to fill it up while he used the loo. We had a system where you would put the nozzle in and lock it, do a quick whip around to clean windscreen and check oil etc. while it filled. Who knew the car had had a small prang and the tail light had been replaced. Who knew they were interchangeable left to right. I heard a ruckus while I was checking the radiator and looked back to see the owned yelling about something. Yep, I had filled the boot with petrol. Honest mistake to be fair. lol

[@BillLaBrie]

Great story 😂

[@brombrom1522]

Bizarre? I see it as a good combo of American and British. I think the styling is a lot more tasteful and restrained than the equivalent American bank-manager car (Buick or whatever). Maybe there is a bit of play in the steering somewhere in this particular example? I read somewhere that the engine is a hemi that was designed by Armstrong-Siddeley, so it's not as slow as it could have been. Of course, it was never meant to be a sports car, but drive it as it was meant to be used .....

[@neilpatching7443]

Thank you Jack. When we lived in the U.K. this was my Dad's favourite car. He always called them out when he saw one on the road with us lot in the Hillman Hunter he had at the time. There was 9 of us in the Hunter BTW lol.

[@andyunwin9260]

My grandfather had one of these in a rich dark blue colour (as far as I remember as he passed in 1970). He was the MD of a steel foundry just outside Sheffield (UK) and I think that the car (and possibly a driver) were a perk of the job. I remember how luxurious it was, plus it always smelled of cigars! At the time my dad had a Hillman Minx and comparing them was like chalk and cheese but now I realise that they were both Rootes Group cars. It's great that this showed up as I was looking for videos on the Super Snipe just a week or so ago and couldn't find anything,

[@johnandmarylouwilde7882]

A friend in Perth, Australia had a Super Snipe. "Bonzer bus" he called it. I rode in it several times. Quiet, good ride, comfortable seats, had some of the good qualities of contemporary American land yachts without the bulk.

[@martinhogg5337]

Love that interior! Overall design is pretty good. A very nice car!

[@nickwebb9290]

A most enjoyable video Jack. I remember these as a young lad, think they were considered a cut above the average car, a bit upmarket, verging on posh. Far swankier than my Dad’s Hillman Minx. Am I alone in thinking it would be great if you could review more older cars like this, your take on this one was brilliant 🙏

[@mrc6301]

what a beautiful car. my uncle had one for years. absolut luxury.

[@sebastiend.5335]

Just got home from work. Typed in: Number 27 and heyyyy presto!! Another video! Simply amazing! Love it! Greetings from the Netherlands

[@lesklower7281]

These Humber Super Snipes in the 1960s were used in Canberra on what is called the Comonwealth fleet basically they ferried the politicians around Canberra and this is the largest car that Rootes Group made also there us an Imperial which has air suspension these are a very plush car and the ultimate luxury picnic tables and leather and wood

[@andrewcampbell6697]

I remember the picnic tables, sort of feature that could fascinate me at a very early age.

[@lesklower7281]

@@andrewcampbell6697 I saw a Humber Super Snipe sell for aud $12500 at auction it had a feature very rare it had a manual gearbox 3 speed and it was factory fitted it also was floor shift also in very good condition its the most amount of money l have seen a Rootes Group sell for and it made its reserve l have see 1960s Rootes Group cars sell for less than that

[@johnvender]

A friend of mine's wife had a Super Snipe in the early 80s. Only got driven in it once and I was really impressed by the ride. She liked somewhat odd English cars, also had a Wolseley 24/80 at one stage with the six cylinder engine. An amusing thing in that car was the valve radio which took a minute or so to warm up before coming to life. It was running a bit rough so she took it to a mechanic and found out it had compression in only two of the six cylinders.

[@smitajky]

My father in law had one of these. He dropped his daughter (now my wife) off to be with her horse. A little bit down the road a tailgating sand truck coming the other way swung across the road. The car was so solid it hardly dented. Tom was nowhere near that lucky. He collided with the unyielding dash and steering column. The brain damage was catastrophic.

[@markclevedon81]

Fantastic and Thank you. Humber was certainly at the top end of the Rootes stable and this era of Snipe was a well built, prestigious car. The Hawk with a 4 cylinder power plant was slightly cheaper but the Imperial with its everflex vinyl roof was more exclusive. My dad worked for Rootes in the 1960s and then Chrysler, Talbot and Peugeot until the mid 80s by which time this fine legacy existed in name only. Remember the Talbot Horizon Pullman?

[@michaelpegasiou4531]

Interior looks well nice and those seats are like armchairs,I imagine when your in it the clock goes back to black and white films and the smell of wood and leather.very nice 👍

[@toucan221]

lose steering was on par for some cars of the day, my Grandad's Jag 420G was also slack steering, I was the Humber would turn reasonably well, thanks for the drive. knowing that the suspension is that good will put the Humber at the top of my for buy an old car like this.

[@NoosaHeads]

On a '66 Super Smipe, the steering's not normally as bad as you made out. I strongly suspect a worn steering box. There is adjustment in them (one screw) but that makes the steering bind. A new box would cost an arm and a leg, which is probably why it hasn't been fixed.

[@YellowPinkie]

Nope, the steering box is spot on, it's the valve on the end of the power steering ram that is still in tolerance but won't be for much longer. I'm looking for a solution, probably remanufacture, as parts are unavailable.

[@NoosaHeads]

@YellowPinkie I think they used the same power steering as on the P5 Rover (3 litre, they is, not the 3.5 litre). Might be worth checking out because there's likely to be a greater source of second hand spares.

[@oscarsnr]

One of my first memories of being in an actual car - taxi ride to the airport. I was impressed.

[@TheHorsebox2]

Another great review. Nice to see something older, a lovely old bus. Remember them being nearly new, big and impressive.

[@robertjames6640]

Many British cars referenced American styling during the 50s and 60s and this Humber was not the most influenced. It drove like a camel and was not a fast performer but it was solid and well built. It was par for the period and American vehicles of the same time were usually as camel like but faster. And thirstier.

[@jeffking4176]

I really like the old Rootes Group cars. Unfortunately, never [ officially] imported to North America. Great looking car. Good video. 📻🙂

[@gordonmynard855]

When in my childhood my grandfather born in England spent most of his life in Australia. The Humber suited him- too many Brit cars were very small with suspensions not adapted to our roads. Rootes at the time sold many of them and most towns had dealers. He did 100k miles with no repairs. Always in daily use

[@hermoglyph2255]

I wonder if your grandfather was our next door neighbour in Sydney in the 50s? He wasn't a professional clarinettist I suppose called John Crosby-Brown?

[@gordonmynard855]

@@hermoglyph2255 No he was in Sale Vic. Shire of Avon councillor. The car was olive green with bench seat & cream upholstery, lacked power steering.

[@hermoglyph2255]

@@gordonmynard855 Ah, so there was more than one expat Brit in Oz who owned a Super Snipe. I don't remember anything about 'Uncle John's car except gathering from the way it was mentioned that a Super Snipe was regarded as a bit special. At that date everybody else in the country, apart from your grandad, drove a white Holden.

[@gordonmynard855]

@@hermoglyph2255 the white Holden was probably my father. Other Brit car here were Humber Vogue. Not a misprint a Singer badged Humber when assembled here. Wolseley 24/80 again not a misprint we got smaller sixes to match Holden engines

[@hermoglyph2255]

@@gordonmynard855 That's very interesting. Talking of white Holdens, the man whose house we were renting, whom I'll call Jim (he was an artist who'd gone off to spend a couple of years painting in Spain) had had a white Holden. On one occasion he had to go into hospital for an operation. John C - B's wife Ruth went to visit him, borrowing his car as hubby was using the Snipe. Parked in the car park at Sydney General Hospital and went in. Jim was very groggy coming round from the anaesthetic, but she stayed for a while; eventually left, and only then registered the reality of a car park that was a sea of white Holdens. Thought Bloody hell, how am I going to find Jim's car amongst all this lot? I didn't even remember to note the registration number. Hurried back in and up to Jim's ward. He was drifting off to sleep. Jim! Jim! Wake up! What's the registration number of your car? Ugh . . . Er ? WHAT'S THE REGISTRATION NUMBER OF YOUR CAR? . . . I haven't got a car . . .

[@solsol1624]

Never knew about this car, however I feel I can comment on the vague steering. I've a Mercedes 123 and when I got it first I was also alarmed at the steering, and the 123 has a very big wheel even tho it has PAS. I was driving with a death grip on the wheel and making constant corrections. But I got used to it and realised you had to be 'OK' with it in your mind. Now I drive with one elbow on the arm rest and the other on the door handle with just finger tips on the wheel (obviously I would not take a driving test that way☺). The car always passes the NCT (Irish MOT) first time so I assume it's within spec.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

It sounds like both your car and the one in the video need some minor work. Items like worn control arm bushings are often overlooked yet will give a mushy steering feel. I have driven a number of American Cars of the era and that is often the reason for so much play in the steering... I currently drive a 2007 Mustang GT that has a live axle and thus don't have to replace all those parts in the rear suspension, and yet it handles well. So I don't view a solid axle as a problem, but rather as having less problems to fix down the road...

[@solsol1624]

@@davidhollenshead4892 thanks I'll have a look, also see if the box needs adjusting. Nice car!

[@glynluff2595]

My recollection of these is that it was an aspirational vehicle for small business owners who moved on to Rover or Daimler later on. They were thirsty which meant you needed a full pocket to exercise it and were often seen in hotel venues at a weekend. They were known to be leisurely but cars of that period in that class were. I think it had recirculating ball steering but it was a refreshing change from the models that preceded it and took some of their features from the Humber staff cars of WWII. Some we’re chauffeur driven but usually they were owner driven. The price made it very good value for it was the same as the smallest Jaguar, the 2.4 and the smaller Rovers but about half the price of 3 litre saloons on the market and American sedans only quoted you a price on application. So go £1500 you had an up market car of an engine size you normally paid £3000 for. This was very much what the Rootes brothers were about. In motoring terms they were quite ‘pile it high and sell it cheap’!

[@glynluff2595]

@@Tolpuddle581 I will go with an Alvis any time!!

[@lffit]

I used to drive a black one of these when I was in the Australian Army in the Sixties, taking officers around, it was a nice car to drive; thanks for the upload

[@the5th2000]

Snipe live in wetlands. Can be near the sea or rivers, but also just poorly drained fields anywhere, as is the case where I'm from. They are a fiendishly difficult bird to shoot, perhaps the most difficult. Which is in fact the origin of the word "sniper", even though you would shoot the birds with a shotgun, not a rifle, obviously. Nice old car

[@BigFiveJack]

This is a funny video, and I believe you had fun in the Humber Super Snipe!

[@Cydney1066]

Growing up in Canada I learned to drive in a 1959 Chev. with a 3 on the tree. It was put together with all the care and skill of an 8 yr.old building an Airfix kit. There were lots of British cars around at that time and in 1964 I rode in a Super Snipe to Toronto. What an eye opener! Cruising the 401 (our version of the M1 I guess) it was smooth quiet and classy. I have never forgotten that ride. Sadly I was never able to purchase a Humber. As always I enjoyed the presentatios a great deal and look forward to the next one.

[@markmcgrath9098]

My Grandpa had one of these in Oz. Black, white roof, red leather and picnic tables. When I was a kid it was rusty, had moss in the roof gutters and was slower than a wet week. Suitably inspired, I test drove one in the early 90s for my first car and had to perform a brake/swerve/recover when bloody dog ran on the road! With no power steering it was butt puckering, there’s was more arm twirling than an Italian discussing World Cup football and much squealing from the old tires. I missed the dog, handed the car back to the seller and said ‘no thanks’.

[@neilmckay8649]

My father owned the estate version in the mid-70s, complete with split tailgate I recall. He swapped the engine and gearbox for a BMC diesel and manual - I know, terrible!

[@simonjones8111]

I remember my dad trying one out. He thought it slow and soft - he finally got a Rover 3.5 saloon, different class.

[@bobmizen1]

Thanks for that video Jack, great to see such a roomy older car of its time. I had an Austin Cambridge (1500cc) as a first car, my father had a Morris Oxford (1622cc) which I passed my driving test in, and the interior is very reminiscent of them. Regards, Bob M. South Wales

[@antoniotula262]

Lol, I just commented it reminds me of a 60s MG Magnette Saloon. The Austin Oxford was nearly identical, only with a different grill and tail lights. The Austin Cambridge had the same tail lights as the MG Magnatte.

[@ExUSSailor]

Interesting, until now, I was only familiar with the armored vehicles from Humber, like the Pig.

[@markbray2988]

In the early 70's my older brother had a Humber Hawk IV... I vividly remember him challenging me to find that petrol cap... Took me ages to suss it out.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Sweet car, even if the engine is too small. As for the steering, it was never intended to compete with the MG.

[@erroneouscode]

When Chrysler got hold of the Rootes group all derivatives of the Humber Snipe soon disappeared. The styling may have lived on a little longer in the UK without the buyout by Chrysler but it was very outdated in some markets well before it was killed off. When Chrysler acquired Rootes Group and killed off the Humber Snipe they did try to replace it with top of the range variants of the 1968 Australian Valiant such as the 'VIP' which which were not well received. That in itself would make an interesting story/video if you could find a survivor in the UK. They must be a very rare car over there now.

[@suzi_mai]

That also explains the vague, light steering, a Chrysler trademark for many years.

[@johnwiltshire1395]

There is a 1967-1968 Valiant used in a car chase in an early episode of "The Professionals"

[@erroneouscode]

@@johnwiltshire1395 That's good info. You wouldn't know what episode? Loved that show.

[@davidhayes4814]

My Dad had a Ford Zodiac mark 3 which was a fair bit cheaper and much lighter but was well spec’d and drove well. I guess that the Austin Westminster clones and the Rover P5 were more natural competitors but they were more established and were hard acts to beat.

[@john1703]

A real alternative would have been a Wolseley 6/110, not a Jaguar, but not a Vauxhall Cresta or Ford Zodiac either. You pays your money... The Imp factory near Glasgow was foisted on Rootes by the Government of the day, similar to Triumph near Liverpool. Both ended badly. The four cylinder version of the same car was called Hawk.

[@zachgeo]

I remember seeing one of these for sale in the late '80s here in the US. I seriously considered it. At the time I was driving a '57 Studebaker Silver Hawk, so it would be a newer car! But I decided that finding parts would be next to impossible (these were pre-internet days, when things were mostly done through collector's groups and clubs, and by phone calls and snail mail). I never did get to drive it, I just sat inside and poked around the engine bay (it was in one of those lots where owners rented d space to show it - they'd allow you to poke around, but they'd have to contact the owner if you wanted to do a test drive). I've always had a tinge of regret about passing it up, but I've owned plenty of other fun cars since.

[@TheEarlofK]

I can remember that a schoolfriend's father owned one of these in the late Sixties. Humbers were bought by the professional classes who aspired to own something as luxurious and comfortable as a Rolls-Royce. Certainly, my friend was quite proud of it, my brother used to sarcastically refer to it as a 'Snuper Snipe'.

[@trig1900]

My father moved progressively through the Humber Hawk, then the Snipe, then the Super Snipe. I loved all three. By the time I was old enough to drive, unfortunately, he'd already moved on, probably due to the difficulty of getting parts and service once the corporation had closed down. But I remember the ride and it was great as a kid. Plenty of room in the back and a comfortable car on a long trip, which is something you do a fair amount in Australia. Especially Western Australia. About the weight. My father came out of the bowling club one night, and four teenagers were having great fun bouncing parked cars off the road and onto the verge by bouncing their suspensions and jumping them up. He smiled and invited them to have a go at his... after fifteen minutes they gave up and were just a bit tuckered out ... lol.

[@farnthboy]

Back on the 60's a mate of mines father had a Super Snipe & I distinctly remember getting a ride in the vehicle as we went to a VFL football match in the thing. I remember getting into the back seat & thinking WOW this is next level compare to the local Aussie Holden, Falcons & Valiant's at the time.

[@danwedderburn5550]

My dear Mum god bless her learned to drive & passed her driving test in a Humber Hawk in the 60`s, same car just a lower spec. Column change & built like a tank. My Mum was only 5ft 2in. She was a trooper.

[@ryanmccormick2150]

Never seen or heard of this car before Jack! ...... I like it ! Love all the different stuff you have on the channel buddy 👌

[@UberLummox]

Older US of Aer here. Front fenders, hood...basically the whole front clip looks like a '58-'60 Rambler. Then strangely, the rest of the body is slightly rounded to the shape of the smaller Pininfarina styled late '50s Rambler American, with a side order of Checker. Cool car w/an amazing interior, but woulda been considered too weird for here. Plus it's design continuity doesn't really give it enough of a US of A flair. Likely why next to zero Humbers made it here. To be fair, I guess it wasn't really for this market? Great video, thanks!

[@adrianmonk4440]

Very detailed & succinct.

[@giantgeoff]

​@@adrianmonk4440 said it elsewhere but look at a Checker Marathon then this...

[@m7dgz]

Always liked these, one has a starring role briefly in Get Carter

[@peterstokes8631]

Hi, father had the last of the Mark series of the Hawk for many years until the 70s. I only drove it a few times, but remember the steering was much the same on it. Brakes on all Humbers are probably drums up front which was pretty standard for the time. I am just reading a history of the Humber cars post WW2 and they mention that there was a Snipe project which used a Chrysler V8. Never went beyond prototypes, but there is apparently one left which has been restored.

[@marshalllucky]

My uncle has a brand new snipe in his barn , he ran a rootes dealership that closed in the early 70`s and some of the inventory was stored in his barn and remains there to this day ! .

[@watershed44]

Wow, I wish you'd do a video about the car and the other items he has! Please!

[@marshalllucky]

Hi, a car magazine are trying to persuade him to do a feature , he is quite old and stubborn sadly..

[@Morbid_Atrocity]

Modify it for a big block Ford or Dodge powerplant! That would really americanize it. :) great video! very interesting. subbed.

[@mikewilkins3210]

I used to work with Pete Hartell, a Kent Police traffic officer. He always used to tell stories of the less than epic brakes the estate car version had, especially when loaded with Policing gear. Driving down Death Hill near Brands Hatch was unnerving as the drum brakes gave him the stopping ability of a supertanker…

[@marieravening927]

My dad had a Humber Super snipe ute, one of only two known to be brought to Australia. He bought it second hand in the 1950's. A few years ago a man told me I was mistaken and that Humber never made a ute. I went home and found a tiny photo of the family standing by our ute. He was flabbergasted.

[@darrenbridge7159]

I was lucky enough to borrow one of my neighbor's for a four hour round trip to Sydney back in the late seventies. Loved every minute of that drive. Thanks for sharing, cheers from down under.

[@nicolasmolli]

Une vraie beauté cette Humber Super Snipe, et pas du tout connue en France.

[@sebastiend.5335]

Elle est superbe!

[@danielrussell446]

Hi Nicolas it would be similar to the Simca Vadette in size

[@will4688]

Another fantastic video. Thank you.

[@stewartbrown7126]

My father bought one in the mid to late sixties, a beautiful car in it's time registration 3000 UM, great for pulling a caravan. I recall returning home from the east coast with a family friend behind the wheel, who learnt to drive on buses during WW11. She was loving the ride whilst passing everything on the Tadcaster bypass (Yorks) doing 80+, until she was reminded of the caravan on the back.

[@JeniwebMedia]

My old friend from the 70’s had an ambulance built on a number supersnipe converted into a camper van. Great camper. Under neath very basic suspension and running gear. Although all supersnipe with ambulance body. Was a wonderful camper for summer touring.

[@warrenalexander5285]

My dad has a slightly earlier model, I think 1961. He loved the car and it was certainly considered a luxury car back then. His had a manual gear box, also with a column change, plus overdrive.

[@AaronRandolphChen]

Until I saw this, I had completely forgotten about the existence of Humber altogether. What an interesting review and video. Definitely not my type of car, but it is also rather curiously interesting, at the same time. Thank you and the Humber's owner for this!

[@Gr1ff1D0]

Snipes are known for very rapid get always. They burst out of cover and take off very quickly. My family had a much earlier model of the Super Snipe in the 1950s. Lots of red leather as I recall. Interestingly when my father reached the stage when he was in the market for a middle management car, he looked at the Super Snipe again as an option but eventually opted for a Rover 3 litre. (Not the V8 version which came later). As I recall he didn’t like the way the Super Snipe drove, even though his closest friend had one. The Rover was very thirsty but a delightfully quiet car to drive and ride in. I wonder how it compares to the Super Snipe. It would be an interesting comparison, they were similar cars in some ways.

[@darolfitch8917]

Remember that most base model of American cars came with Stright 6 Cly engines. And they were no great balls of fire either. A person would have to upgrade from the base model, to get a more powerful V8 engine. Being an American, I don't get to see, a lot of old British cars. I love old British cars. I think all the woodwork on the dash boards and doors, makes them classier. Than our American cars. Don't get me wrong I love American cars as well. Thanks for the video

[@djstief8190]

Had the 56 Super Snipe. Fantastic, luxurious, and loved owning a car that had an ARMOURED CAR motor!

[@hughoshea-official]

Ahhh...that takes me back, Jack! You may recall in a recent post I told you I used to have one of these. A bloke in the Humber Club told me once he sat on 90 MPH from Perth to, um... Adelaide? Could be a tall tale. But it was a great cruiser. Thanks for the top comment recently. Keep on rollin'!

[@danieleregoli812]

Very good video Jack, so thanks a lot. I really love the old Humber! It's really the sort of car that melts my butter 😅 I always group It into the fabled trio of 1960s British goddesses: the P5 Rover, the Hawk/Snipe, and the Vanden Plas Princess. They all possessed that quintessential *wafting* element - they most certainly were not sporty cars... Although in this specific case I THINK It might be the worn out steering pinion...

[@chrisnurczyk8239]

You may think it slow & under powered, but here in the US when I was growing up in the late 60's, many family (read frugal) men had cars w/straight 6's, not V-8's, about the same displacement but w/single carbs. Not much difference. No blinding acceleration, but stump-pulling torque that helped in hauling around a whole family in town & suburbs, w decent mileage (for the times). The styling reminds me of AMC cars from this time period.