Humber Super Snipe
1938–1967 · Girling front discs from October 1959 · and the first British car with four headlamps
The senior Rootes car. Two dates decide most parts: October 1959 for the brakes, October 1964 for the glass.
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About the Humber Super Snipe
The name goes back to 1938, when Humber put the Pullman’s four-litre six into the Snipe chassis and body — a car that then spent the war as a staff car. The Mark I to III of 1945–52 run a 4086cc side-valve six at 100bhp; the Mark II of 1948 widened the track and added variable-ratio steering, and the Mark III of 1950 brought spats over the rear wheels and a Panhard rod. The Mark IV of October 1952 went overhead-valve: 4138cc and 113bhp, with overdrive optional from 1955 and an automatic from 1956.
The unitary Series cars from October 1958 are the ones most customers have. The Series I uses a 2651cc overhead-valve six based on an Armstrong Siddeley design, 112bhp; 6,072 were built. Series II, October 1959: the engine goes to 2965cc and 129bhp, and Girling 11.5in front discs arrive with 11in rear drums — that brake specification then carries right through to the end. Series III, October 1960: four headlamps and a revised full-width grille, making this the first British car to fit two pairs. Series IV of October 1962 brought a 16-gallon tank, a Borg and Beck diaphragm clutch, the snipe bird badge on the grille and opening rear quarter-lights. And Series V, October 1964: a flat roofline and rear window, six-light side windows and a larger, taller windscreen, with a Weslake-tuned head, twin Zenith Stromberg 175CDs and 137.5bhp. Glass and seals split at that October 1964 change — the same month the Hawk changed the same way.
Humber Super Snipe — specification & changes within the model
- Brakes
- Girling 11.5in front discs with 11in rear drums, from the Series II in October 1959, and unchanged through Series III, IV and V. Drums before that — though the Series I drum specification is not documented.
- October 1964 — the glass breakpoint
- Series V: flat roofline and rear window, six-light side windows, a larger and taller windscreen. Windscreen, rear screen and side glass all split there. The Hawk Series IV changed the same way in the same month.
- Four headlamps means Series III or later
- The Series III of October 1960 was the first British car to fit two pairs of headlamps, with a revised full-width grille and a lower bonnet line — and a nose lengthened 3.25in to clear an air-conditioning pulley.
- The unitary series
- I Oct 1958, 2651cc 112bhp, 6,072 built · II Oct 1959, 2965cc 129bhp, Girling front discs, stiffer front anti-roll bar, eight-bladed fan, 7,175 built · III Oct 1960, four headlamps, 7,257 built · IV Oct 1962, 132.5bhp, 16-gallon tank, diaphragm clutch, snipe badge, 6,495 built · V Oct 1964, 137.5bhp twin Strombergs and Weslake head, flat roof, all-synchromesh, 3,032 built.
- The earlier cars
- 1938–45 four-litre six, 79mph, WWII staff car · Mk I–III 1945–52 4086cc side-valve, 100bhp; Mk II Sept 1948 wider track and variable-ratio steering; Mk III Aug 1950 rear spats and a Panhard rod · Mk IV Oct 1952–57 4138cc overhead-valve, 113bhp, overdrive from 1955, automatic from 1956.
- The Imperial
- From late 1964, the same basic specification and performance as the Super Snipe with a vinyl roof, reclining front seats, automatic and Hydrosteer power steering standard, electrically adjustable rear shock absorber settings and a separately controlled rear passenger heater.
- New Zealand
- Super Snipes were assembled in New Zealand by Todd Motors — the Rootes and Chrysler importer that later became Mitsubishi New Zealand — at Petone.
- Not claimed
- The Series I brake specification, and earth polarity.