Highlights

Believed to be the only Humber Snipe 80 saloon left on the road in the UK
Comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration over 14 years, with photographic record
Extensive documentation and period literature included
Highly evocative period interior with picnic tables and original instruments

The Appeal

Humber stepped into the '30s with inimitable confidence. In 1931, The Rootes Group had taken over the somewhat hard-on-cash enterprise and were intent on pulling it out of the Depressive spiral they had encountered after the First World War. Immediately they began with a burst of cash, introduction of familiar Hillman concepts and parts and, perhaps most importantly, a raft of marketing.

Rootes were utterly excellent at the gift of the gab, and the Humber Snipe positioned itself enviably. A big car like this was usually an expensive undertaking, especially in a small-car dominated market that had emerged in the '20s, but thanks to the sheer amount of resource they now had available Humber managed to price the Snipe competitively - while packing in plenty of innovations from their new groupmate marques.

"Such Cars As Even Humber Never Built Before", so went the headline - and it proved pretty accurate. These were an exceedingly handsome, surprisingly well-priced saloon for the well-to-do, and went on to become one of Humber's defining offerings. The Prince of Wales even picked it up for his tour of the West Indies in 1931.

This remarkable example may well be one of the only roadworthy ones of its type in the UK, and was subject to a comprehensive restoration by one of its previous keepers. It carries a wealth of period paperwork and a rather beguiling period cabin that's impossible to ignore.

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The History and Paperwork

Registered in March 1933
Supplied to E. O'Sullivan in Kent
Sold and used during WW2 as a towing car for St Nicholas' Garage, Wade
It remained here until the 1970s when the garage's owner passed away
The new owner then kept it outside his Margate antique shop, then relocated to his home in Upstreet
From here, it was dry stored until 2014, when it was purchased by the 4th keeper
This keeper began an extensive nut-and-bolt restoration project
It was then used as his daughter's wedding car in 2016!
Sold to the next keeper in 2021, and repainted to current cream-and-black
MOT and Tax-exempt

Documentation includes:

V5C
Restoration photographs
Period images
1935-36 AA handbook
The Motor book of prices for 1936 cars
Humber Snipe and Pullman instruction manual
1933 Humber sales catalogue
1933 Humber coachwork booklet
1930s spare parts catalogues
Made in Nottinghamshire: The Motor Car Manufacturing Heritage book

The Condition

The aluminium bodywork was found to be in fine order upon restoration
As a result, it's highly original and free of any significant issue
Paintwork looks in very good order
Originally refinished in cream & brown, it was repainted to its current livery post-2021
This is still in excellent order with only light signs of wear
Glasswork, lenses, badges and branding all in fine fettle
Wheels and tyres appear free from notable defects
Underside is in excellent order, and the wood frame was completely renewed in 2014-2016
Interior presents well, with attention to period-correct details
Beautifully presented cream-with-tan-piping seats with full bolsters
No sign of any rips or tears
Carpets in good order
Nice, clean headlining with a leak-free sunroof
Dashboard in very good order with evocative period instruments
Picnic tables to the rear
Complete with vanity mirrors and interior lighting
We understand everything is working as it should
Wood capping presents very nicely

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The Mechanics

Four-speed manual
Completely rebuilt during restoration and finished to a high standard
Engine bay looks in excellent condition with no issues we can spot
The vendor states that the engine is in fine health following restoration
We've no reports of any mechanical issues throughout

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BEFORE YOU BUY

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