1960 Humber Super Snipe

This fifth generation of the Super Snipe ended up having 5 different Series, with today’s example being a Series III. Announced in October 1960, the Series III Super Snipes were the first British cars to fit two pairs of headlights. The car’s floor structure and suspension systems were highly modified from the previous Series in order to improve the car’s high-speed stability. The front of the car received a lower hood line to increase visibility out of the front windshield. Furthermore, the nose of the car was brought out 3.25 inches further to allow for optional air cooling, a feature highly requested in the North American market, unsurprisingly. The overhead valve straight-six engine was given improved bearings, a quieter fan that also provided better cooling, and a redesigned lubrication system.

The black paint on this Super Snipe is actually smoothly applied and looks great. Unfortunately, this Snipe is a bit rougher around the edges than most. The chrome around the car is fair, most of the pieces are straight and free of dents, but on the flip side most of the pieces are scuffed or have scratches. Furthermore, all of the chrome door handles have some degree of pitting/bubbling occurring on them. There are also a number of bubbles in the paint at the top of the hood near the windshield. Window trim around the car seems to have corroded and dripped onto the paint in some areas. One area is the driver’s door towards the front of the car, but the most noticeable area is on the rear door on the driver’s side. There is a considerable amount of damage in the paint separating the rear door and rear quarter panel behind it. More of this type of damage can be seen on the driver’s rear quarter panel as well as the rear door on the passenger side. The ‘B’ in the ‘HUMBER’ logo written across the hood is missing. The Snipe’s hubcaps are clean and look good attached to Ling Long tires, which appear to have a decent amount of tread left, but new tires are always recommended.

Regardless of the exterior condition, the inside of this Super Snipe is fantastic. Red leather and carpeting as far as the eye can see pairs brilliantly with the black paint and appears to be in great condition. Beginning with the seats, both the front and rear benches look immaculate. The front bench has some minor marks that can likely be removed, but the rear bench still has plastic covers on. Both benches look fresh from the upholsterer, and neither has holes or tears. The carpets are also quite clean, match the seats, and lay flat in their respective positions. However, there are a couple stains around the central tunnel. Moving up from the floor, the leather panels on all four doors are clean but each has a flaw. The driver’s door pocket is starting to sag, both passenger side doors each have 1 or 2 minor stains, and the driver’s rear door has scuffs in both the leather and carpeting, and the door handle inside is showing minor signs of bubbling. The wooden inlays at the top of each door panel look excellent, as are the inlays mounted in front of the rear bench. Unfortunately, the wooden dashboard is not the same ideal condition. Clean from a distance, a closer look at the dash inside this Humber reveals that the wood is delaminating. Left untreated for a few more years, this could turn into some serious cracking on the beautiful wood trim. The glass on the tachometer has cracked, but all other gauges are clean and easily readable. The black Bakelite steering wheel is in good shape, but the Humber logo in the center has a crack in it. Both of the sunshades hang properly, and although there is a minor stain between them, the white headliner is both tight and clean.

We are happy to report that this Humber Super Snipe hides no major damage beneath it. The frame and floorboards are solid, the exhaust has very little discoloration, and all suspension components are tidy. Under the hood, little changes. Everything is clean, there are numerous chips in the paint inside the engine bay, but aside from a battery nothing actually appears to be missing.

After analyzing the documents available to us, we believe the seller acquired this vehicle in June of 2012.

The Humber Super Snipe is a unique and obscure British compact. Produced from 1938 to 1967, the car slowly evolved over a period where car designed changed dramatically from year to year. This in turn allowed for a car with old-world styling to grow and modify itself over thirty years with newer and newer technology. This specific Super Snipe has its fair share of bumps and bruises around the outside, but that more than balances itself out with the quality seen inside the vehicle. The car certainly needs some TLC, but it won’t take much to get this car ready for competition, making us highly confident that this Super Snipe will have little issue reaching its $6,000 - $10,000 estimate.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BIDDERS

It should be noted that 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’.



Please note that the title for this vehicle is in transit.