Classic ROOTES GROUP cars 1940s - 1970s | Original Photographs

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Hi, thanks for watching, a full list of the several hundred videos on the channel is here: kzbin.infovideos OCC classic merchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop OCC Channel Membership now open!!! See the JOIN button for details OCC Patreon: www.patreon.com/OldClassicCar Channel homepage: kzbin.info/door/KaTg9fPUvmUQi94FcnDbrg If there are any petrolheads that you know that might find this kind of thing interesting, please pass on one of these links, thanks!

[@paulbroderick8438]

When Coventry was England's Detroit! The Humber Super Snipe and the Humber Imperial were true classics. Great collection, thank you.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@DB0310]

Very enjoyable, I grew up in Ireland in the late 50's/60's. Great to see the husky and minx. The music is perfect and the photos speak so much of the past.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Pleased that you found it interesting

[@bobspeller2225]

Rootes car are really interesting and very well built, My Dad had many Rootes models excellent. All the best Bob

[@michaeltreadwell777]

That was brilliant Rick. I do love these videos of still photographs - so much to observe in the back ground too. I had a 1973 Hillman Hunter, and swapped it for a 1972 Humber Sceptre. Both lovely cars, but obviously the Humber had a lot more 'oomph' ! My sister started her driving life with a 1964 Hillman Imp, then had various Hunters and also an Avenger. Roots cars seemed very reliable back in the day. Great memories revisited today - thanks. Take care 🙂

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks yes the backgrounds can be very interesting, it's certainly no hardship spending ages putting these together

[@johnd8892]

At 23:14 that would be a Hillman in Australia. The smallest Humber we got was the Humber Vogue after Australia ditched the Singer and Sunbeam makes. New Zealand import laws encouraged Humber badged Hillmans as make imports were limited so Rootes had the advantage if more makes of the same were available. Might have Humber, Singer and Sunbeam versions as well as a Hillman version of the Minx in New Zealand as a loophole in their import laws. In Australia just a few makes chosen to simplify marketing etc. So Australia by about 1962 limited Morris to smaller cars, Austin to larger and the Wolesley six cylinder 24/80 until 1966. Then later again the Leyland Marina and Leyland P76.

[@moyadapne968]

Thanks for this. My '38 Humber Imperial, and my Mk2 Sceptre weren't there. The '49 Hillman changed to hydraulic brakes. In New Zealand, the '67/68 Hillman Minx was called the Hillman Hunter. Fast car. 0 to 50 in 7.2. nz.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

The '38 wouldn't be in as this is for late 1940s-onwards cars, thanks for watching! PS there are a number of Rootes/Humber etc videos on here now.

[@terrykelk12]

Just want to say the Hunter GLR539N at 22.08mins is highly likely to be a Holbay Hunter due to the fact it's got the twin headlights, rostyle wheels and vinyl roof, as an ex Rootes group mechanic I used to own a gold example before emigrating to NZ. Great photo's well done

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Interesting, thanks Terry

[@billmago7991]

I owned a 1964 Humber Vogue in storm grey in 1984 . The starter motor failed and when you're newly married $$$ was scarce so both my wife and i used the crank start for 3 months. It was an easy starter ,my mrs said she attracted a lot of interest from the old timers willing to help but being an independant type of girl always thanked them for the offer but could manage it herself.

[@colinmuddell9672]

Lovely photos of the various classy Gazelles! At 02:40 my two l.h. photos were taken at Mousehole harbour, Cornwall. Note my trendy jeans! The r.h. photo was taken (I think) on a Singer Owners Club rally, treasure hunt or meet at The Blue Lagoon Cafe, probably somewhere in Middlesex or Hertfordshire. It advertised itself as a roadhouse catering for motor club rallies. Maybe someone old enough might remember it? Excellent collection of photos, as usual!

[@ricksampson6780]

Long live the Humber Super Snipe!!

[@Aztec73]

I sure love these old cars.❤😊

[@OldCarsNewVan]

Great collection and format. I have to give you credit, these style of slideshows did inspire me with my latest posting 'cars of my childhood' - plagiarism is the greatest form of flattery 😂

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Cheers, I just try and mix things up a bit with these uploads

[@Vince_uk]

I always liked Rootes cars, they were so classy. I bought a 1963 Humber Super Snipe twin headlights in 1972 and it was a magnificent machine. 3litre straight 6. I was in the company car club at the time and we stripped it down and repainted it and it has been the only car I have sold I made a profit on. Two guys from Portsmouth travelled up and bought it. The Humber Imperial was a sublime car and one I would gladly have today. I passed my driving test in 1971 in a Hillman Imp. A late friend of mines father was MD of a shipbuilding company in Wallsend and he always had a Humber Sceptre. A wonderful collection of photos RJ.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks Vince, it sounds like you need another Humber on your driveway

[@stephenricketts7764]

A great set of photos there of Rootes Group cars. Some look like new others sadly beyond repair it seems. Always nice to check the background too in these collections. Thanks Rick for putting this together. 👍👍

[@roberttaylor6295]

I really enjoy these videos that evoke so many memories of happier times as I rny 8th decade! In the very early '50s when I was nobbut a lad my faming uncle had an SM, the biggest and strangest memory of which was that he had a furniture caster fitted to the accelerator, and a few years later he painted it one of the barns with a brush! And Father Derek owned a Husky that he took several of we servers out for Lakes walks in it, for which he cast off his cassock and had long shorts underneath to gather some 'D;'. A friend of my parents also took us to see Satchmo at the Batley Variety Club in his California which was rarity Finally I co-drove a then rapid Rapier in '70s.fallies. Thank you for the motoring memory trip and let's have more! I still follow your show visits but Harley has been so well tutored by you, and is so enthusiastic that I also follow his exploits. Again thanks! Rob

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Glad you liked it, thanks for following our stuff! There are lots of uploads featuring these older photos on here now

[@Bezart34]

What an excellent collection. Rootes Group produced fantastic cars. As a car-mad kid in the 1960s / 70s, I was always amazed at how many different badgings and styles they produced. The style of reg. plate SX60-30 (7:54) of the LHD Hillman Super Minx, I'm fairly certain is Sweden, at the time when they changed from driving on the left to driving on the right. A Swedish acquaintance told me that prior to the changeover, many cars were produced as LHD. If anyone has more info.......

[@helenlloyd6564]

I loved the marques of Rootes. Humber, Hillman, Singer and Sunbeam. They made very stylish cars. I have owned a 1963 Hillman Minx Mk 111/3 and a 1974 Hillman Avenger Grasshopper green 😮. I liked watching but my all time favourite was a Humber Pullman. I would love to own one 😊.

[@rtman29]

Another lovely compilation, Rick. Took my driving test, and passed 'first shot', in Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1970 in my uncle's circa-1954 Hillman Minx Mk. VII. I loved your 'trunk route' quip at 30:22! Very droll! Locations at 5:02 & 25:11 are definitely NEW ZEALAND, not Australia. Location at 30:41 could be Singapore or elsewhere on the Malay Peninsula. Although I stand to be corrected on that point.

[@andrewsnoozy]

They were all Hillmans in Australia, we did get the Humber Hawks and Super Snipes, still occasionally seen. The badged Humber's was across the ditch in New Zealand. Thanks for showing.

[@allanriches9381]

The Rooted cars were and still are classy

[@paulrobinson7206]

Maybe in NZ Hillman’s we’re badged Humber but not in Australia. My late wife’s first car was a Hillman Husky and we went on our honeymoon in 1967 in a 1600 Hillman Super Minx. We had have a small number of base Hillmans badged as Humber Spectres, just a little more walnut and floor change but very few for the extra dollars Paul

[@RaviPillay-r7f]

They were all over south Africa great cars indeed 🇿🇦

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Yes they certainly sold all over the place

[@ourcoloredpast1766]

I'm from NZ. In the Rootes' era, cars needed import licenses, which limited the volume of each model that could be imported. Rootes stretched their volume by importing essentially the same car as the Hillman Minx and Humber 80. We had both. PS - I learned to drive in my parents' 1955 Minx, 1969 and 1973 Hunters were my 1st and 2nd cars until I got a 1975 MGB. The 55 Minx was a better quality car than its price point might have suggested.

[@brandywell44]

@7 minutes; A welcome touch of glamour indeed.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

:-)

[@tomday7309]

Great selection of photos. I really like the ones with the owners/family included. I have so many "car" photos from our family's albums, but they are all American cars going back to the first Model T's. I'm not including the Renault 12 I owned as it is the only outlier!

[@oldclassiccarUK]

If I ever do a Model T "original photos" upload I'll let you know!

[@21stcenturyozman20]

What a great parade of Rootes cars! The first car in my life was Pater’s 1948 Minx. As was typical of small British fours at the time, it wouldn’t pull the skin off a cold custard! New South Wales (AU) rego WM585. Pa replaced the Minx with a 1949 Vanguard diesel, NSW rego CV750. Although it had plenty of torque (basically a Ferguson tractor engine), it maxxed out at 55 MPH (5 MPH past Pa’s usual maximum speed when he was in a hurry). The damn right-hand column gear shifter was a mongrel thing: every time one changed gear, one’s knuckles copped a grazing from the open quarterlight. Other Rootes cars in my life included an Audax Minx (with that ghastly Smiths electric auto box), a series V Super Snipe, and a 1960 Commer van. Regarding the photo @ 5:02 - Mitsubishi Sigma (better known here as a Smegma!) to the left of the little Humber, and a Chrysler Valiant (or Charger if it's a 2-door) to the right - you state that the photo was taken in Australia, but those number plates resemble nothing I’m familiar with from any Aussie state, and I’ve been number-plate conscious since the early 1950s). Was the photo possibly from NZ? We didn’t get that small Humber in Oz.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Could well have been NZ judging by other commenters, thanks for watching!

[@louisboshoff9142]

Thank you for the Rootes Group car pics 40's to 70's. Intersting to me as not that many came to South Africa. The Australian pic of the Humber looking like a Minx reg CJ4139. You did not comment about the other two cars, and I can elaborate for your interest. For info, on the left is a Mutsubishi Galant 1600 or 2000. Sold as that in South Africa and likely in Australia as well, or could ve badged as a Chrysler. On the right is a car from Australia which was also sold in South Africa. Styled by Chrysler Australia. The Valiant VH series this one painted in orange. In Australia it had a straight six engine, partly developed in the USA and the design completed in Australia in the sixties, the engine that is. In South Africa it had an American engine from the 60's. A 60 degree slant six manufactured in South Africa by Chrysler here. The Valiant is a large 70's car and the Mitsubishi late 70's to early 80's. The Valiant was not sold in the UK while the Mitsubushi may have been. Thanks again.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks for the info!

[@davidtaylor351]

The picture is actually from New Zealand. As the number plates are the old black NZ plates. Dating from the mid 60s to the late 80s. And the Humber 80 version of the Minx, was created by the NZ builder and distributor of Rootes, Chrysler, and Mitsubishi vehicles. Todd Motors. For the simple reason. - That back then, under the import licence rules. By creating a seperate Humber model. And selling it alongside the Minx. They could import more components. Thus build and sell more cars. Plus there were tax incentives linked to local content levels. So even though you were importing more components. Nevertheless, the higher local content....Meant only importing what you needed. Not full ckd packs. And the Singer and Sunbeam versions / brands were also available in NZ.

[@BazzMann48]

Australian Hillman Minx Significant models produced by Rootes Australia included the following: The Humber Vogue was assembled from 1962 to 1965 Hillman Minx - assembled from 1946. Humber Super Snipe - assembled from 1953. Sunbeam Mk III - assembled circa 1955 Sunbeam Alpine - assembled circa 1955 Humber Hawk - assembled to 1964 Singer Gazelle - assembled from 1957 to 1961 Hillman Super Minx Humber Vogue - assembled from 1962 to 1965. Hillman Imp - from 1964

[@jeffking4176]

Humber Super Snipe with the dual headlights has always been a favorite. I also like those “Aero”(?) style cars. Not exactly stylish, but clean look. Great photos. 📻🙂

[@oldclassiccarUK]

The "Arrow" series was the name for the boxy three-door saloons of the late 60s onwards, thanks for checking this one out

[@NeilBarratt]

P 1593 would be from one of the British Caribbean islands. Several of them used the P prefix to denote a privately owned car as distinct from a taxi.

[@johnd8892]

At 5:03 , those do not look like Australian standard number plates. I would suggest New Zealand where that mix of cars would also be sold. The orange one looks like a 1971 Chrysler Valiant or Charger from the time when Chrysler took over the Australian Rootes group but fairly soon replaced Rootes connection cars with Mitsubishi sourced one like the car on the left. Likely a Mitsubishi Sigma.

[@Al-vb6js]

It is NZ

[@johnvanstone5336]

The foreground music is a little loud I think !

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Noted, thanks for watching

[@borderlands6606]

The cricket commentator Richie Benaud had a 1963 Sunbeam Alpine he was very fond of. Unfortunately he crashed the car in 2013, writing it off. Apparently Benaud was a notoriously bad driver, and colleagues refused to get in the car with him.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Oh dear

[@captaccordion]

Just a little correction on a location. The photo at 5.02 is actually in New Zealand. In Australia, Hillmans stayed Hillmans and didn't get rebadged as Humbers. However the Singer Vogue of the 1960's did become the Humber Vogue in Australia. The car on the right is a Valiant from Chrysler Australia from about 1973. That's only 5 years after it was possible to buy a Humber Super Snipe VA in Australia with Chrysler badges on the lower wings. Interestingly, Chrysler Australia toyed with a V8 version of the Super Snipe, probably to the point of a prototype. The car on the left probably dates the photo more accurately, being a Chrysler Sigma from 1980-ish, this being more or less a Mitsubishi Galant. On the photos in general, of course you post what you are sent, but notably absent were early Snipes and Pullmans and the very entertaining to drive (because of abysmal handling) Commer COE vans. Also the proportions of Singers and Sunbeams seemed very high to my Australian eyes. Would British eyes concur with that? Cheers.

[@davidtaylor351]

Yes the cars have the old black NZ number plates from the mid 60s to the late 80s. In NZ the Sigma was marketed as the Mitsubishi Sigma. And it is likely the Aussie Valiant was NZ assembled. As most Valiants sold here were assembled by Todd Motors. They were the NZ importers and assemblers of all Rootes Chrysler and Mitsubishi vehicles. In earlier times. They produced Humber badged versions of the Hillmans, alongside the Hillmans. Because, under the old import licencing rules. By creating a separate car model. It enabled them to import more components. Thus, build and sell more of, essentially the same car. Plus there were tax incentives that applied to local content levels. Most NZ assembled vehicles were around 35 to 40 % local manufacturing content. Some were a little higher.

[@davecap2641]

Great photos, but why do I never see photos of the Stilleto Imp on any Utube channel??

[@oldclassiccarUK]

They're a rare sight now, I have featured them in a few show visits over the last few years (but don't ask me in which videos that happened!!!)

[@davecap2641]

@@oldclassiccarUK Thanks for the prompt reply

[@borderlands6606]

The NZ Humber 10 probably wasn't that colour. It seems to be a faded negative, as most things in the shot are magenta. I'm guessing brown or ruby for the original.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Could be! This was scanned from a photo developed in the era but could well have faded over time

[@barryhill1044]

What about that old classic of yesteryear The Hillman California “ ? 🥳🥰

[@oldclassiccarUK]

I don't think I have any in-period photos of the Minx Californian right now, a preserved example features in a couple of my recent show videos though (Gawsworth Hall, Tatton Park). Thanks for watching.

[@dennis38y]

“ Trunk route “ !!!!

[@erichlausch9886]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Three.stud.wheels.hillman.husky❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jan4004]

Very nice those recognizable photos and situations and with clear commentary with support of loud, shrill music. That music doesn't belong and detracts from the whole. What a pity.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Glad you liked the photos, although I dont think the music was particularly loud or shrill.

[@jan4004]

@@oldclassiccarUK When your spoken word is drowned out by music of any kind, it's distracting. So disturbing that at least I don't watch your presentation. Be glad I told you. Many don't tell you and don't watch your videos anymore!

[@The4preston]

it's a shame what happened with Rootes. The build quality of their cars was the best among the UK-owned companies. Sadly that seemed to work against them, as British car buyers have a masochistic streak :/

[@oldclassiccarUK]

There'll be another Rootes-specific video coming along to the channel, so please keep an eye open for that one!

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Hill man.husky❤❤❤❤❤australia

[@CDeBeaulieu]

Would have preferred the pictures in chronological order.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

In some cases it wasn't possible to pin down an exact date on a given car, sorry to have disappointed

[@milehighclassics]

Can I get a mug

[@oldclassiccarUK]

An OCC mug? why of course: www.redbubble.com/i/mug/Old-Classic-Car-logo-transparent-background-by-OldClassicCar/145628373.9Q0AD

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Tiger.sunbeam.❤❤❤❤❤❤