very tempted

[crankedup]

My Austin 12/4 'Windsor' has proved to be reliable and I enjoy driving it to local shows and the occasional wedding hire. However, I have been drawn towards possibly P/Xing against the Humber 12/25 saloon of 1924 vintage. I admire the charming looks of this car together with the lovely large side windows, so essential for wedding hire.

So should I or should'nt I? How far along in terms of quality is the Humber as opposed to my Austin? The Humber engine certainly looks to be a quality bit of engineering, but is it?

[randlemarcus]

David,
If you ever get up towards Hull, there's a chap up there who has a huge collection of Humbers,collected over a fair few years, with most models represented. My dad has a v old 1920's jobbie, and the build quality is fairly good.

Saw the queens one fromher coronation, and oddly enough, the build quality was outstanding.

[crankedup]

Would love to know more of your Fathers Humber. Has the collector a museum or is he just hooked?

[randlemarcus]

I'll ask him for more details when I next see him.

The collector is the subject of this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/726592.

[crankedup]

Thanks for link, look forward to hearing more of your Fathers car.

[tvrgaas]

Assume this is the one at Orchid Cars, just the sort of car my Dad would like.

Guess only you can tell, doesn't appear to have FWB and has a Mag and AutoVac, but I guess you're expert on those now.

I came 3rd in the Humber/Inter Register navigation event a few years back (in the Alvis). Most pre-Roots Group Humber's appeared to be in Mole! I also navigated in a smaller Humber at a LCES event, was a nice car, but with externally contracting brakes.

The ultimate Humber based car has to be the Humbug, but not really suited to weddings.

[crankedup]

Hi TVRgass, yes it is the one at Orchid. I note that the limo they also have is no larger than the saloon version, strange. The saloon has apparently those expanding external brakes, I have absolutely no idea whatsoever about these, good or not so good? overly complex maybe?

My Austin seems so reliable at the moment it may be silly to P/X it, something I need to decide. On the other hand the Humber offers huge style and character.

[tvrgaas]

crankedup said:

limo they also have is no larger than the saloon version, strange.

Dad had a couple of 1932 16.9hp Sunbeam's for his Wedding business.

One (WV) was a Limo, the other (LJ) a Saloon, the limo originally had a division and a steeper steering column and a lower back axle ratio, for Chauffeur driving round town, the saloon was more of an owner driver version, no division, more sporty back axle, but basically the same cars, the division had been removed by the time we got the car.

The Limo went last year, Dad still has the Saloon, which he has considered swapping, he tried a 12/4 down at Avonvale - but decided to keep LJ.


At VSCC Prescott last year, brother's A7 Mulliner Sport to left.

It also appears there is no driver's door in the Humber Saloon.

I'd also ask Gavin McGuire for a Test drive in this Alvis, but I'm biased. www.racecar.co.uk/driveon/details.asp?VehicleID=147

[crankedup]

Lovely line up of cars in that pic whenever I go to a show I aleays ask myself the same question 'which car would I most like to drive home'? and I can never decide on just one.

Took the 12/4 into the MOT station this morning, pleased to say she passed albiet with a couple of advisories on slight wear in kingpins, and brakes just within tolerances.

I too noticed the Humber saloon is 3 door, whereas the limo is 4 door. I think the limo has a little to many unknowns for me to purchase and I'm begining to think perhaps the Morris 'bullnose' maybe the better option to trade for the Humber saloon. Reason being I have'nt really driven the bullnose yet but found that after fiddling around in the drivers seat for 20 minutes things are a bit cramped when the car is in 3rd gear. As for the Alvis, beautiful car but a little outside my budget