Description
In October 1964, the final Humber Super Snipe Series V version of the Saloon saw an upper body restyle with a flat roofline and rear window, six-light side windows and a larger, taller windscreen. Twin Zenith Stromberg 175CD carburettors were fitted along with a Harry Weslake tuned cylinder head, increasing the power to 137. 5 bhp, and synchromesh was fitted to all ratios in the gearbox. Major modifications were made to front and rear suspensions and they required less maintenance. Intended to match BMC's Rolls-Royce engined Vanden Plas Princess 4-litre R, the Imperial shared the basic specification and performance of the Super Snipe with the addition of a vinyl roof, fully reclining front seats, automatic transmission and hydrosteer power steering as standard. However, a manual three-speed transmission could be ordered. The car also featured electrically adjustable rear shock absorber settings, a separately controlled rear passenger heater and optional West-of-England cloth-trimmed seats as well as many smaller amenities such as individual reading lamps. The distinguished coachwork is by Thrupp & Maberly and the sales brochure describes the Imperial as one of the world's most luxurious cars, 'a new conception of executive luxury'. A very good alternative to a 1960's Rolls-Royce
This 1966 Humber Imperial was purchased by the vendor in 2022 from a licensed mechanic who carried out a nut and bolt restoration including a bare metal respray.
Condition
· Very rare, only 66 on the road; probably one of best in UK
· Before me, completely rebuilt by professional mechanic in 2019-2021 including bare metal respray
· Starts first time
· Runs perfectly. Have taken it to Salisbury and Dorset; didn’t miss a beat.
· Good tyres
· The car is ready to use as is or you could fettle it to make perfect.
· Some re-chroming of the grille and rear bumper and some attention to the seats to bring it to the concourse level of condition
The Mechanics
· See above
· New radiator hoses
· New front shock absorbers
· New tyres
The Interior
· Newly fitted carpets to the car and boot
· Finished in blue with blue vinyl roof and light blue leather interior
Improvements
· Re-chrome rear bumper and radiator grill
· Could dye the seats but I like the patina
Works Done
· Bought in October 2022
· Full service and safety check by specialist
· MoT until 10 October 2025
· Full automatic transmission rebuild by company specialising in Borg Warner gearboxes in November 2022
· Electronic ignition with new parts
· Regular suspension greasing
· Kept under cover
· Used only on dry weekends
Documentations
A file containing:
· Limited documents from previous owners
· V5C registration document
· MoT test certificate which expires in July 2017 and old MoT test certificates
· Magazine articles comparing the Imperial with the Princess 4-litre R
· Full rare workshop manuals
· Service history with old service invoices
· Renovation documentation
Reason for selling
Reduction in classic car collection due to not being used enough
Willing to consider sensible offers.
