1937 Humber 18

This motor car is being sold as part of an overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to the lower rate 5% import tax if the car is to remain in the UK & purchased by a private individual. The 5% is calculated on the final selling price. For example, if the car sells for £2,000, then £100 is added, making the total amount payable of £2,100.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable.

Lastly, there will be a nominal administration fee of £250 for processing the NOVA application, and payable direct to the shipping company. A completed and processed NOVA will provide you formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK and thus allow you to register the vehicle with the DVLA

In common with the majority of cars in this collection, this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for view and inspection at our HQ near Abingdon and we will be delighted to show the car to you and/or your appointed engineer.

The RHD manual 1937 Humber 18 Saloon we have with us today has black and red paintwork and the rare addition of landaulette arms.

The badge affixed to the front bumper declares it to be a 1937 Snipe, but the original chassis/engine numbers tally with those for the smaller engined (2731cc) ‘18’, which wasn’t called a Snipe.

Either way, there’s a plaque inside the engine bay that states that the current engine is a replacement. We don’t know what it is.

We have no history or service record for this car. As far as we can tell, the car became part of the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in 2012/13.

We know that it was in or around Darlington in 2012 (that’s the location of the Post Office from which it was issued its last UK tax disc).

We know that the odometer read 52,222 miles in 2007 and that, today, it reads 56,772.

We are assuming from the chunky off-road tyres the car is wearing that it was being prepared - or at least considered - for a vintage car rally, perhaps the Peking to Paris, or some other overland adventure for brave people who know how to use a ring spanner.

The fact that the tyres look fairly fresh suggests that they were never used in anger, and certainly not to cover the 9,000 miles of the Peking to Paris challenge.

The bodywork, however, looks like it may well have been on a rally or two beforehand.

As with the other cars in this vendor’s collection, we haven’t been able to start or drive it and, consequently, our opinions are confined to the car’s cosmetic condition.

We have turned the engine by hand and can state that it is not seized.

The condition of the bodywork and interior put this car in the ‘project’ category.

That said, the undersides look surprisingly strong and, if the engine and mechanicals prove to be in decent working order once the car is recommissioned, then this could yet be a rewarding car to restore, own and enjoy.

The black and red bodywork is free of any major dinks, creases, dents or folds.

This is a solid, serious, hand-crafted piece of British automotive history and everything about it seems weighty, purposeful and considered.

You wouldn’t want to drop any part of it on your foot.

The shut lines are relatively consistent and even. Three of the doors slam home with weight and certainty. The o/s/r door doesn’t want to open at present.

Most of the chrome is in fairly reasonable nick, although there’s some discolouration to the grille and areas of spotting and foxing elsewhere.

The paintwork is, variously, cracked, scratched, pitted, flaking, scuffed, split or otherwise tarnished pretty much wherever you rest your gaze.

There is also significant bubbling in places, particularly on and around the wheel arches and where the bodywork meets the running boards.

The wheels seem to be in decent condition.

Elsewhere, there is superficial rust in evidence under the chrome in places surrounding the windscreen and other windows. Much of the rubber trim around the windows and lights is cracked or perished.

All things considered, while there is no doubt a fair amount of attention to be paid to the bodywork, there appears to a reasonable level of solidity and integrity to it in most areas.

The palatial interior is very much of its time, very original and, for the most part, has very much seen better days.

The first thing you notice is that some seriously voracious moths have been at work in here.

The carpets are threadbare and have turned to dust in many places. So, too, have the fabric elements of the door cards, the parcel shelf and the headlining.

The leather seats have fared rather better and are largely free from any irreparable damage.

Some of the wood on the dashboard and door cappings is good, some less so. The lacquer has lifted and peeled here and there.

As we haven’t been able to start the car, we can’t attest to the functionality (or lack of it) of any of the car’s switches, dials, knobs, levers, toggles or buttons.

The boot contains a spare wheels and is fairly solid looking, if a little shabby.

From what we can see, the undersides are relatively sound and solid. There’s a good coating of wax/bitumen, though, so we can’t vouch for what may be underneath.

Either way, you’ll want to come and see for yourself.

The engine and engine bay appear to be clean and dry and, as far as we can tell, everything is in its right and proper place.

The car comes with no history, no service records and neither an MoT certificate nor a V5.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

We haven’t been able to start or drive the car so our understanding of it is somewhat limited.

There is plenty of work to be done here, for sure, but perhaps less than there might first appear.

There’s every chance it could go on to give its next owner many happy years of ownership.

Provided, of course, that the car’s engine and mechanicals prove to be in good working order.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £2,000 - £4,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.