Humber Sceptre MK1 - the most beautiful car Humber ever made?

[@markzehetmeier195]

Love the sheep casually walking past and the number plate is EWE 😃🥰

[@idriveaclassic]

FINALLY SOMEBODY NOTICED 💗

[@idriveaclassic]

Comment pinned. Well done mark.

[@multislipful]

Well spotted - I really enjoy that sort of detail - and you beat me to it! The car is a great and original looking example too.

[@peterriggall8409]

I think they were coming out to check out Steph’s hat. 🤣

[@LadyAnuB]

@@idriveaclassic Steph, I noticed them before the ad played but I am watching this over an hour after its release. (I had to walk my dog) 😛

[@dickybird9613]

lovely and clean on the outside can not believe the interior is not as clean

[@peterward3965]

1965 I was 8yrs old, dad purchased new Humber sceptre. Wow as a young kid the dash looked like something out of an aircraft cockpit controls. Loved it.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Perfect outfit. You look like the lady who first got the car. Smashing hat and coat coordinated with the car.

[@maryrafuse3851]

Please forgive this question from Canada. Is Steph a presenter for either BBC or ITV? She is a real talent and she knows so much about cars. Impressed!

[@idriveaclassic]

Aww Mary you’re too lovely! I am just a mere office worker by day. Nobody special xx

[@tz6414]

Definitely one of the best car review channels for classics.

[@DavidGross-bb9qz]

Please, JUST an office worker. These are great videos. BRILLIANT!!

[@chrishyde1216]

@@idriveaclassic I disagree. You are very talented at presenting and know your cars.

[@timjones143]

Now, now. It's a cliche, but we are all "special."

[@Uswesi1527]

The design of that HUMBER should be taught in schools of arts ! Thanks

[@SBCBears]

Engineering, too. The mechanical and manual controls are understandable, accessible, inexpensive, reliable and easy to repair or replace.

[@daviemaclean61]

My mum had one of these, very much second hand by the time it came into our family. The main thing I remember is the number of children (pre seat belts) we could fit in coming home from school!

[@michaelnagle9231]

When I was stationed at RAF station Fairford in 1961 I had a 1949 HUMBER SUPER SNIPE. Excellent vehicle. Really loved the luxury

[@cliffwheeler7357]

I was an apprentice mechanic when we looked after a brand new Humber Sceptre owned by a chap who ran the local fish and chip shop, (business must have been good 😂.) Although we were an Austin main dealer, we also serviced or repaired various other manufacturers vehicles. This was a good way of comparing the competition with the Austin’s which made up the majority of the vehicles we worked on. I have recently discovered your channel and find it to be extremely enjoyable.

[@bucko321]

Can you remember the views of other members of staff regarding the Humber.

[@briandawkins984]

Curious, I never noticed before this Humber has a bit of resemblance to a Studebaker.

[@BeautifulBadandBizarre]

Can’t decide what I love best - the car or your fabulous outfit! Thoroughly enjoyed this - what a stunning car! And it was lovely to see Kev! Looking forward to the next video!

[@idriveaclassic]

Aww thanks so much for watching!!! Kev loves popping up in a video or two 😂

[@BeautifulBadandBizarre]

@@idriveaclassic so it seems - bless him! 🤭 xx

[@BeautifulBadandBizarre]

@@xxxxxxxx3476 ohhh haha no I’ll leave the fabulous cars to Steph! But I do fancy a pink Cresta!!! 🤭 Terence Morgan was a true talent! Thank you x

[@brianwillis9673]

Beautiful car and that dash is stunning.

[@gaufrid1956]

Couldn't ask for more, Steph! A beautiful old Humber, hikers on the hill, and sheep at the beginning of the video. Magic!

[@ellarson1]

Best matching outfit of the year so far… the car is nice too. :)

[@andyarmstrong1493]

Love the way your outfit matches the car. I'm sure this not an accident. Well done.

[@colinpratt3399]

My uncle had the Vogue version of this and that was column change with the bench seat at the front. It was such a lovely car to travel in. Good video.

[@TheClockwise770]

The Singer Vogue if I remember rightly had an elegant walnut surround dashboard and leather seats. Personally I preferred them but don't tell Steph

[@ABCXYZ-vm5rv]

The Humber Sceptre was the luxury version of the Hillman Super Minx and better Singer Vogue. Its replacement in 1967 was the new more boxy Humber Sceptre that was the top model of the new range of saloons being the Hillman Minx/ Hunter and Singer Gazelle/ Vogue.

[@dsgb]

Hi Steph. I recently discovered your channel and have been avidly watching your extensive back-catalogue. I appreciate the style of your videos and the effort you put into presenting the cars. Your refreshingly honest, chatty style puts many professional car review KZbinrs to shame. Keep up the good work. 👍🏻😀

[@idriveaclassic]

Aww thanks so much ❤️❤️

[@seanburke5686]

couldnt agree more .

[@brianpearson8782]

Reminds me of a simplified life. Even your fashion stirs a familiar life long time ago. Thank you

[@charlesb7019]

Love your videos and I especially love your outfit in this one! The hat totally makes it!!

[@ciaranmurray6623]

Another excellent video Steph . Credit to the owner for keeping the humber in top class condition.

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Have to agree that the Mk1 Sceptre is probably the most stylish Humber ever with a fascia that wouldn’t look out of place in an Aston Martin of the same period. Greatly video as usual Steph

[@idriveaclassic]

Why oh why are we all go bonkers for Ford when Rootes made actual works of art.

[@KiwiStag74]

Hi Steph. Back in the late 80s, I had a mate who owned a '63 Sceptre MkI. This baby was a light grey over a deep wine red, with red interior except for the black dash. When he got it, the engine was tired and the front was fairly hammered as the previous owner used to take it offroad Green Laneing.....yeah, I know, right! Young fellas and old cars in the 80s.... Anyway, he got hold of it and I fell in love with its shape - even with its poor battered face. The dashboard with its auxiliary dials reminded me of one of my previous cars - a 1965 MkI Cortina GT - and as you say, she was a lovely car to ride in. This car had a prototype engine according to the numbers on the block - a 1640cc unit. As it was tired (and after 122,000 miles, I wasn't surprised), we pulled the engine and stripped it down. She was then bored to 60 thou over (the ridge in the bores was terrible), given a mild tweak on the cam lobes and was reassembled with new everything internal, although I have a feeling the pistons weren't for the 1640 and he had to find pistons and conrods that suited by measurement rather than off-the-shelf. However, he got the crank and pistons balanced and spent a lot of money making sure it would not do him wrong. Then the little car had the overdrive unit reconditioned and the interior tidied back up and we put it all back together with a lot of laughter one sunny summer's weekend. He also treated it to a big birthday and gave it a pair of 40mm Weber carburettors, a set of extractors and a free flowing exhaust with one muffler and a resonator that gave it a definite bark. That little engine just pedalled it along beautifully with never a hesitation on a hill. The altered camshaft gave it a mild lope at idle, but with it kicking in around 2500rpm, you could pootle the car around town without the wee car drinking like Olly Reed.....which it certainly did when you asked the cam and the Webers to show their stuff! After six months or so, he decided it needed cosmetic work, so sent it to a panel beater.....who unfortunately ripped him off royally. The bloke said he could get the front to look immaculate as he had a donor car he could use. I said to my mate that I would be rapt to get a chance to fix its face, take care of the small amount of rot in the doors and get it prepped before he took it somewhere to get it painted, but he wasn't to be swayed. The panel beater cut the front inch or so off the guards and removed the entire nose cone, replacing them with the face off a Singer Vogue - not a Sceptre. Now, the Singer has different lines on its face and a totally different set of front trim pieces and they aren't interchangeable. So....the nose of a Singer is what he got......but wait, there's more! The panelbeater then took liberties with the colour and decided that the bodywork wasn't up to snuff and that lighter colours would be better for the car - especially below the centre bodyline.....so he painted the roof Toyota Corolla white and the beautiful deep wine red was changed to.........Ford light Powder Blue. I could NOT think of a worse combination to stick on a car that still had red under the bonnet and a red interior! He never even bothered to do the door openings, so you still saw the original grey and red when you opened it up. I didn't know whether to be livid or mortified, scream or cry when I saw the result.....but he never argued with the panelbeater bloke or did anything about it except pay the bloke and drive away. He lost interest in the car after that and try as I might, he would not sell it to me, so it sat in the open, under the trees, outside his flat for several years until the moths ate holes in the substandard bodywork and that beautiful engine seized. I still pleaded with him to sell it to me, because I wanted to restore it to what it should have ben done to and drive it myself. A few weeks after I last asked him, I went round and saw it had gone. He had sold it for scrap. Never even kept the new carburettors he'd bought for it. Such a sad ending for such a magnificent vehicle.....so I was very glad to see the one you drove and know they are still out there! All the best

[@shaneadams3600]

Thanks Steph for another great video. I have to admit it's hard to not get distracted by the scenery during your drives. The Pennines around West Yorkshire are gorgeous.

[@petemaxwell1136]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video it brought back good memories. I've loved Humbers since I was little boy when my dad had a 59 hawk. Well presented car and video and you have a lovely voice. Thanks.

[@antonyhughes4702]

I had one in about 1977/8 it was just a cheap but cool car, put a rod through the block on the way back from a Cheap Trick gig in Brighton!

[@markhinde6187]

Love the car, love the outfit, great post

[@richardarcher3435]

I would go further and say it's one of the most beautifull cars Britain ever made, along with the Vauxhall Cresta PA. I was dead jealous when I was kid that a mate's parents had one (Humber) and loved to catch a ride in it. Gorgeous design. Brings back memories sitting the back like that.

[@mikebirkett010]

Ah, I can smell it now, my mum had a Super Minx. No one but her liked it, no power steering and she was five foot tall, but she loved it.

[@jamessergeant2136]

Your outfit is perfect for the car! Congratulations

[@notrut]

I wish my Grandfather was alive to see this ... Utterly Fabulous ... love the Gold paintwork. Thank You!

[@jamesstasiak]

Love you, Stephanie x

[@kruger-3522]

God I love Steph in that fur hat!!!!!!!!!!!

[@pauldavies6037]

Ewe and the car are looking great nice to see the Yorkshire country side Steph in the summer

[@tonyinit8488]

Car is a real beauty. Your outfit looks stunning next to it too Steph ! 👏

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you! I’ve had this in the wardrobe since the fat days. I chanced it fitting and I’m so glad it did.

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

Have faith in your own will power . And you will find you can achieve almost the impossible .

[@richardautenzio8117]

I never had one of these but always liked them. My parents had two rapiers in the 60' which they bought on my recomendation, as I drove them the most. Today I still have a 1963 Hillman Super Minx convertable which I have owned for 45 years. Rootes made some very good cars but after the Hunter they just seemed to fade away.

[@nigden1]

A mate of mine started as an apprentice at a Lookers dealer in 1965, I remember him telling us lads about working under supervision on a Humber Sceptre, he said it was a gorgeous car, and it sure was.

[@knitterscheidt]

very smart outfit indeed Steph! Humber never made it here to the States...shame, well you said you're a saloon girl and you definitely look in your element...great job and attention to the details!

[@bobgorman9481]

I remember those Kangol Magnet seat belts (non retractable), they were always getting tangled ,and stuck outside the doors flapping in the wind !

[@Wiltshire-observer]

My word Steph, amazing outfit ! - loved the colour coordination with the classic car …❤

[@TalesFromTheBlahSide]

in that outfit and that car you could have been one of my mum and dad's friends from 1965! excellent theming.

[@nrgcarrington]

Loving the hat! More West End than Pennines though! :D

[@blackpool321]

Fab car and fab outfit Steph .

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you. Love this suit!

[@sietse9920]

Yeah! You look stunning Steph 👍. Great you matched the dress(colour) to the car 😂😂

[@joshalmat2806]

Steph’s videos are excellent, and its so nice to see the old cars… really takes me back to my childhood…. In fact I was born in 1964, so this car would have been new when I was a baby. I will say, Steph did make me titter when she said, “if you had lots of passengers with you on a trip, no need to worry as in the boot you have 16 feet of space” 😮… not sure if I would put my extra passengers in the boot, even in 1965!!

[@lanctermann7261]

I had a Rootes group car, a 1965 Sunbeam Alpine! They were definitely superior to BL vehicles. I bought it jn Florida, then took it to Iceland. The heater was sort of lacking, but it never left me stranded. This Humber is beautiful. What I like about British cars is it is apparent that they were made by human beings, not a machine

[@philmuskett265]

Welcome to Marsden. The EWE number plate couldn't be more appropriate!!

[@11carbuff19572011]

Another great test drive of a 1960s classic vehicle, Steph. I first came across the recirculating ball type steering system when I read the 1970 Observer's Book of Automobiles, the first of a new re-styled edition compiled by the Olyslager Organisation, the publishers of the Motor Manuals series of which I have 18 of them in total, including the one for the Rootes Group medium-sized range, the Super Minx, Vogue and Sceptre (#78). The publishers of that humble little pocket handbook, Frederick Warne & Company Limited, teamed up with the Olyslager Organisation in 1970 to re-style the contents in that little book and put in more technical stats to go with the descriptions. Great stuff Steph.

[@setter501]

Oh I love the OB of A! I have a collection 1961 to 1972! ❤

[@11carbuff19572011]

Yeah. I've been collecting the back catalogue of the OB of A since as far back as the late 1970s, I have purchased back issues that I missed when I either had them originally when they first came out or borrowed from my local library since via Amazon.

[@patrickjohngallagher]

Great piece to camera Kevin Hirst!

[@macclesfieldufosociety5490]

Hi Steph, absolutely brilliant presentation. I felt as though I was sitting in the car with you. I had a Humber Sceptre Mk2 Auto which was wonderful. I hope somebody kept it going as your Humber owner has done.

[@jamesgudgeon4868]

In Australia we had The Humber Super Snipe 10:34 😊

[@Mighty_Cat_Mods]

This and the Rapier really are the most beautiful cars ever made. Always lovely to see one.

[@michaelbacon561]

I read somewhere some time ago that this model was originally intended to be a Sunbeam, hence the similar grille on the MK 1s. Because it was a 4 door saloon rather than a 2 door pillarless coupé, a last minute decision to badge it as a Humber was made!

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

Brilliantly planned Steph! Not only is your outfit coordinated to the car, but you even have the sheepish theme going on! Ewe really are a star! 😄

[@dieselfan7406]

LOVE your hat!

[@douglasfur3808]

Your outfit is perfect. Kinda shows up the car 'though😊.

[@rjs1138]

It never ceases to amaze me how Steph's outfits match the cars she reviews. Her wardrobe must be...extensive 😅❤

[@idriveaclassic]

Oh it’s ridiculous. I must have over 300 outfits and they’re pretty much all catalogued so I know what I’ve got and where it is.

[@rosiemason-rk4cm]

The nosering & the big holes in the earlobes kinda let 'the look' down if I'm honest 😕

[@johnpoile1451]

Very , Lady Penelope, Parker must be on camera.

[@ducatobeing]

This takes me back to being a ten year old. My parents bought a 64 Mki in 1970. It was a wonderful car and I would have one in a blink.

[@joeseeking3572]

Now that's an outfit Steph :) Have not seen that hat for years.

[@idriveaclassic]

Haha it’s a favourite for poor weather but matched this outfit so well it couldn’t stay home.

[@russelllambley8224]

Love how your dressed accordingly to the colour of the car 🏁

[@antonymorris7044]

Great video steph.amazing how u dress to match the cars x

[@DennisMerwood-xk8wp]

Greetings from New Zealand Steph. Bet we have more sheep than you!😄

[@DrPangloss]

The adjustable warning lights (main beam, indicator etc) don't actually turn off the light but give a bright or dim setting for daytime or night time driving (dim for night time and brighter for the day)

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

Nevertheless a thoughtful addition at the time .

[@DrPangloss]

Absolutely, not just Humbers but lots of Rootes cars of that period.@@xxxxxxxx3476

[@iandave6282]

I'm a bit confused by the panel light switch, I thought that was to test them?

[@julianlyons711]

Great vid . always well presented and good content you do a great job complete with retro outfits

[@michaelbressette2599]

Canada Here, I love your Video's. I would love to visit Your country its absolutely beautiful & Breathtaking. The vehicle's you have shown are spectacular. I cant remember the last time I saw British Car in Canada, the last time was when I was a kid & I loved them then. Waves From Canada. Oh, before I forget, I love the outfits you wear in each episode you match the cars you drive, I love the detail. Thanks :)

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

You look absolutely stunning. Thank you for being so dashing marvellous.

[@awolwakefieldyorkshire]

Same colour and model as my school friends father back in the 60's. I used to marvel at the shape and just stare at it. Fantastic cars and i remembered my friends father always saying "shut the door gently" My friends father sadly let it go and bought an Audi 100LS, then sold that and bought a Triumph Dolomite Sprint in racing green and black vinyl roof which was also a fantastic car.

[@aliZoso]

Never owned or driven one, but always liked the style from when I can remember them back in late 60s to early 70s.

[@pauljackson6593]

Lovely car brings back memories. I used to go in my uncle’s car when I was about 10.. he bought new in 1965 . I still remember it clearly.

[@stevecarter4129]

Really enjoyed this video. They were above average for their day with as you say several items that were sold as extras on many cars of the day. I have had a few of these. I still own one that I bought in 1977 and ran it of several years as my everyday car. It did rot very badly & I took it off the road in 1984 to carry out a total rebuild, which included 3-new wings bonnet & boot. I did loads of welding, but it stood in a leaky garage for several years & I now have to strip the body for a respray. I loved driving it & cant wait until I get it back on the road.

[@desthomas8970]

I had a B reg, absolutely loved it. A real bird puller.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Love the outfit. A very unique channel from t.v. decades gone by. A lovely drive over the Pennines, in a beautiful classic car.

[@leeosborne3793]

That's a really nice looking car, loads of nice details on it. Seems like it has a lot of character and the design is fantastic.

[@Vince_uk]

Another car I always loved Steph and they were something very special and classy back in the day. Well presented Steph

[@wimweender1306]

utterly brilliant scene 😅

[@johnshepherd2666]

Love this car ...it had so many features ...I also love the larger models....hope you do a drive in those

[@brucemcintosh5898]

I remember the Rootes factory in Linwood Scotland from when I was a lad. Beautiful car.

[@paulmarsh5673]

Great car my Dad had one from nearly new . Metallica BRG and light green leather . Taught me to drive in it ( didnt know I had been driving 2 years so had to stall a couple of times) Lovely car cruuse on the new M62 at 70mpg . God bless him his baby . I bought it off him 6 years later. Loved the speedo strip.

[@robertdean3507]

Wow this evokes a few memories, my Dad had 2 Sceptres back in the 70s early 80s. You never appreciate what's in the driveway till you're a little older.

[@Dan_druft]

My dad had the 1966 Singer Vogue estate new as a company car which looked just like this car from the front.

[@Onthemove6801]

My girlfriend and I had planned to get married in '66 but split up in '65 so in '66 I spent all the money I'd saved on a brand new Mk2. Lovely car apart from the fact it went through door cills like there was no tomorrow. I cured it by having the car steamed and undersealed and the lower sections injection Waxoiled. The overdrive on 3 and 4 worked a treat, far more positive than on my VX4/90 that followed it.

[@123rtheo]

Dad had a mark 1 then a mark 2 absolutely brilliant cars as a kid I remember the headlights being amazing.

[@fluffybadger9832]

I may be wrong but I think it had an adjustable steering column as well, only in & out, not the angle. This was carried on to the Arrow bodied Sceptres as was the little flip up covers on the dash lights.Personally I prefer the Mk2 Sceptre, mainly because it had the 1725 cc engine.

[@idriveaclassic]

I think a bigger engine would’ve added some pizzazz but I’m not here to moan 😂

[@nickmoloney9820]

My dad had a Mk2 it was very flash 2 tone metallic paint twin carb 1725 engi e with overdrive reg HOF 105 L

[@setter501]

Yep, my 2nd car ever was a 6 year old mk2 long gone now but I still love her, I was only 20, to me she was like a small XJ6! Fabulous Car, I'd happily have one again! ❤

[@mdshonkkc]

What a visually stunning video! Beautiful car, beautiful location, and of course, the beautiful host! I'm from the US and everything I know about classic Humbers is from your videos. So informative. Thanks!

[@clayauslewis4236]

Second thing I noticed. Firstly, your very complimentary outfit and then I noticed the numberplate and the sheep doing a photo-bomb! Then I see your response, finally somebody noticed! I love the subtleties introduced and your sense of humour! BTW a very nice video to boot!

[@davidsauls9542]

You Look Fantastic ! I love it when you dress in period outfits. Your knowledge of each car is amazing and your inviting personality always brightens my day. We love you in the USA.

[@JohnWellings-mz2ue]

Great channel. Yes lovely old humber, beautiful vehicle. Shame there's only 100 left

[@ColinGarner-h1t]

Gorgeous car , my Uncle had one of these as a company car .

[@RobertSmith-di5ll]

absolutely love the period dressing and choice of cars

[@yogiguitar1]

lovely car ! there was one on my road when i was growing up. my dad had a red and white minx . there was a two door one that was on my road that looked really sweet

[@garymackley-smith]

That's a beautiful car. High spec for the time. Love the colour.

[@idriveaclassic]

I’m just obsessed with it

[@gary1705]

WOW !! you look 👀gorgeous💐 in that outfit and so does the car ❤✔

[@markalton2809]

I had one of these, it was a beautiful car to drive.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

An excellent review as always Steph. A rather beautiful car and was nice to see Kev again.

[@LadyAnuB]

As an American, this car says Checker Cab mixed with English car stuff 😅

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

I've once sat in the back of a Checker cab , in Los Angeles round about 77 . It was a rattler , and probably soon destined for the scrap yard . Whereas with any luck , this fine example of the once capable British motor car industry , will probably outlive all of us , if luck's on it's side .

[@markhealey9409]

Checker cabs were still on the NYC streets throughout the 80s,& into the 90s( if my memory servese correctly)

[@BigAmp]

Sounds sweet, nice car and very well driven too.

[@MatthewJBrown]

The exterior styling is so 1958 American with the dual headlights.

[@dembydish]

Thanl you for your dedication to classic cars and bringing your passion to those new to the concept. Your dedication is exemplary and much appreciated 👍.

[@hungryboy424]

Great video, love the sheep keeping an eye on you ! 😉

[@stuartalexander336]

I quite agree, a very beautiful car. I think the Humber Super Snipe was at least as good but had more room and condsiderable more power and was more comfortable which was very useful on long journeys.

[@setter501]

Hi Steph, Great vid, ok so I'm an old bloke but back in the day, 1972 infact I was 20, I bought a beautiful 66 mk2 quite similar, she had rediculously low genuine 4000 miles on her she was my 2nd car ever(1st was my dad's 63 Victor FB which I learned to drive in ❤) I bought her from an eighty five year old retired Rootes Executive! He couldn't drive anymore, She was like a brand spankin new car! I paid him 350 quid for it, an absolute bargain, she had a couple of scratches the old boy had done on his gate post but easily fixed by a mob in Reading beautiful job, then I had her Ziebarted and a nice Motorola cassette radio fitted 4 Speakers! 😱 😊 Was a 1750cc and I changed out the old Solex carby for a much better Weber as one did on that engine! 😊Beautiful in metallic blue with light blue upholstery and that gorgeous black aircraft dashboard ❤ I still Love her even though long gone! Very fond memories! My mate from Portsmouth was so impressed, he bought same model but a 67! Love Em Thankyou ❤

[@NoosaHeads]

I was around at the time. My dad used to drive big Fords (Zephyrs and Zodiacs). Even in 1965 - as a 14 year old) the Humber just looked like a Minx in drag. Didn't encourage any teenager to have a poster of it in our bedrooms, BUT a nice shiny Zodiac in silver grey or metallic sand was something you might have a poster of. The Himber was a car that an accountant or shopkeeper might own. No secret agent or police detective would have driven one. Being in a Cooper S 1275, with Minilites, wooden steering wheel, and halogen driving lamps (which cost a lot less, ie about £850) would have been far more acceptable. Ever see anyone pull off a bank job in a Humber Sceptre? Naaa- didn't think so.

[@plunkervillerr1529]

The sheep add so much to the atmosphere, the car is nice as well. Keep them coming Steph.

[@ashleyvincent4098]

I didn’t notice you using the overdrive which was an important feature of the car at the time! I had a rather tatty mk2 and two nice Arrow series Sceptres in the 1970s - great cars in their day!