The fleet gets a touch of class

[wuvvum]

Introducing my latest purchase.

 

 

It's a 1961 Humber Hawk Series II, and I picked it up this afternoon from Kent. I was fed up with buying supposedly solid old cars and finding that they needed a shedload of unexpected body work, so I decided to spend a bit more (well, OK, a lot more) and get something solid. And it looks like it's worked - had a quick poke around when the bloke met me at the station and a more detailed poke when I got it home and it all looks very sound, with decent underseal to hopefully keep it that way. It had one owner from new until the chap I got it off bought it last year, and it's never really been restored - it's had work done, but only what was needed to keep it in reasonable condition. And it's just how I like my cl*ssics - tidy and presentable but with enough patina and little imperfections that it looks genuine and I'm not afraid to use it. Interior is pretty good too, and it even has its original radio, although I haven't managed to get it to make a noise yet.

 

 

Mechanically it all seems shipshape apart from the fact that first and reverse gears are noisy - but it's got more than enough torque to pull away in second. It's got a four-speed column shift with overdrive on top, which is a godsend - it's amazingly relaxed at 70mph for a car whose top speed is nominally only 8mph faster than the Minor's. It's not a fast car by any stretch, but it has loads of torque and keeps up with the traffic no problem at all, even on the motorway. Handling is, erm, as you'd expect from a large heavy '50s design on crossplies, so I was in no danger of falling asleep on the way home, especially being as windy as it was today, but it's a charming meander rather than a dangerous dive for the nearest rut like my old Vanguard used to do. Engine bay is also as it should be - not covered in oil, but not looking like someone's been at it with a toothbrush either. It managed the 150 miles home without missing a beat, although I think it really needs super unleaded (with Redex) rather than the normal stuff as it did run on for a second or so when I switched it off after pulling into my driveway. It's not the most economical of engines, but it's not hideous either, and the car had £20-'orth of juice in it when I picked it up, which is a rarity where my purchases are concerned.

 

 

It seems to get a pretty good reception on the road too - almost everyone seemed to turn and look at it as they passed me (or I passed them), and I got a friendly toot and a wave from two chaps in a 1969 Bristol who overtook me on the A12, a flash of the headlights and a thumbs up from a young bloke in a VW 411 going the other way and a surprised look and wave from a family in a Snipe (same shape) going the other way on the A140. Overall I'm pretty pleased with it, even though it's by far the most expensive classic I've ever bought (although the P6 will probably run it close once that's finished).

 

On another note, this is a question for anyone into trains - was there something going on this morning on the line between Ipswich and Shenfield? There seemed to be an unusually large number of trainspotters along that stretch.

[Milford Cubicle]

Great buy wuvvum, it is indeed a classy-looking machine. I've always admired the lines of these old Humbers

[dollywobbler]

Crikey, nice buy. Needs some black/white plates though. Wonder if it has been victim of number plate thieves?I've only driven an Auto (actually an S2 Super Snipe) so how's the column shift?

[shite_meister]

The miserable shit that I've just been made redundant from (ooh get me) had one of these for sale, mouldy, musky and generally not that nice, think he got somewhere in the region of £4k for it, silly twot bought it jumping with joy saying it'd only done 5,400 miles from new...then a bloke came in and said "oh yeah-thats my dad's old taxi"

 

I wasn't mad keen on the manual column shift-how do you get on with it?

[pogweasel]

Now that looks very special. Nice one!(ps, now get yourself a fat-faced angry-looking woman to sit in the passenger seat throughout any 'display' period at classic car shows - It's a hot look)

[monzaE]

Great choice. Proper old car that. Go on, show us where the petrol cap is please?

[wuvvum]

Wonder if it has been victim of number plate thieves?

Not exactly - the original owner's son kept the plate for sentimental reasons when he sold the car. You're right though, it does badly need black & silver plates.

[wuvvum]

I wasn't mad keen on the manual column shift-how do you get on with it?

I have to say it's not the best column shift I've experienced. It's fine on the move, but pulling away there were a couple of times I found reverse or fourth instead of second. It's also back-to-front compared to the column shifts I'm used to, with first away from you and up rather than towards you. I'm sure I'll get used to it though.

[wuvvum]

Go on, show us where the petrol cap is please?

 

Yes, I know, it needs a wash - I'll get on it tomorrow, weather permitting.

[wuvvum]

(ps, now get yourself a fat-faced angry-looking woman to sit in the passenger seat throughout any 'display' period at classic car shows - It's a hot look)

LOL. Maybe there's a niche there - hiring out fat-faced angry-looking women to single blokes who attend car shows.

[michiel]

Damn, that is one fine car.

[Guest]

Top work Wuvvum, that looks like a minter! I was expecting a knackered old Leganza or something (so I'm quietly disappointed).

[Ratdat]

Fabulous! Ye olde English executive transport. You need a pinstripe suit, bowler hat, umbrella and a copy of the FT when you exit one of those. And probably a pipe too. That looks like a superb buy.

[garethj]

That's a nice old thing, I much prefer cars that aren't messed with

[GrumpyCat]

Off Topic.

 

This may be the train they were waiting to see...

 

http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-easterling---160509.html

[wuvvum]

That'd be it. Shame it was running so late - I was at Liverpool Street at 12.15 so had it been on time I would have seen it pull in.

[STUNO]

Perfect. Used to sit in the back seat on one exactly the same on the way from school. The farmer owner rolled his own ciggies at the wheel and spat out the loose tobacco over the lovely dashboard. That made me cringe at the age of 14 to see the dried up bits!

[seth]

Beautiful!

[Spottedlaurel]

Wow, that looks fantastic! Please bring it to the next Angel get-together.

[retrogeezer]

Very, very nice indeed. These things never used to do a lot for me but I can now really see how lovely this and the Super Snipe's are.Top buy.

[AnthonyG]

Absolutely lovely - my dad had a new one in 1966, before my time I'm afraid!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Stunning. I've always been partial to a Hawk or a Super Sniper since my Sunbeam Rapier days.If you're anywhere near Banbury, there is a 1962 Hawk in a scrapyard called Smiths of Bloxham.

[pompei]

IM REFLCTED IN UR CROME