1967 Humber Super Snipe VA Sedan

Description

From the time of its launch in the 1950s and throughout the 1960s, Humber's Super Snipe typified the solidly upper middle class English luxury saloon - big, solidly made and nicely appointed, they were usually driven by bank managers, stock brokers and the like. The first monocoque Super Snipe arrived in 1958, the new body shared with the four-cylinder Hawk, and was also sold in both estate and limousine configurations. Powered by a 2652cc six designed by Armstrong-Siddeley, the engine was bored out to a full 3-litres in 1959, with the addition of Girling disc brakes up front to cope with the extra urge. The so-called Series 3 model announced in Octoebr 1960 saw the front-end styling considerably modernised, with a longer nose and quad headlamps. The styling may have reflected the Trans-Atlantic tastes of buyers in the early 1960s, but the interior remained staunchly British, with plenty of wood and leather to keep traditionalists happy. Minor improvements continued with the Series 4 of launched at the 1962 Motor Show and the ultimate Series 5 version arrived on the scene two years later, with six-light side window treatment and a flatter roofline. More significant changes took place under the bonnet, with a revised cylinder head tuned by Harry Weslake and twin Zenith Stromberg carburettors helping to push the power output up to 137.5 horsepower, while a fully synchromesh transmission was a big improvement. Power steering and automatic transmission were both introduced as popular options, along with revised suspension and better sound insulation. Humbers were also built in Australia at the Port Melbourne facility - the first overseas plant established by Rootes - with local models usually released several months after their UK counterparts. The earliest Super Snipes proved popular with local farmers, thanks to excellent ground clearance and rugged suspension, while later cars were altogether more sophisticated machines, more at home on the motorway, often seeing duty with police forces around the world. Although production of the Super Snipe finished in England in 1967, the car remained on sale in Australia for a few more years, while Humbers also performed well in the Redex reliability trials and even raced at Bathurst on several occasions.