Description

1964 Humber Sceptre MkI

Rare Rootes variant; funky dashboard; good performance and you won't see another one any time soon; solid car which needs use after a period in storage

Rootes introduced their distinctive Humber Sceptre as their mid-range executive express in 1963. Based on the contemporary Super Minx, it got a different roof line, glass and upper rear body, making it look rather rakish, as well as a futuristic dashboard which included instrument pods and a rev counter – pretty racy stuff for a Humber….

Its 1,592cc engine produced a healthy 80bhp which was enough for 90 mph with disc brakes up front to haul it to a stop as well as a useful overdrive for relaxed cruising. Sales were good, with 17,011 examples finding customers by 1965 when the MkII came along which had slightly watered-down styling and the more powerful 1,725cc engine.

Sadly we don’t have much in the way of history with this car, certainly insufficient to confirm that the 52,000 miles indicated are correct, although there is no reason why it shouldn’t be so. There are MOTs dating from 2015-2018 during which time it covered just a few hundred miles and it has been in storage since then.

It runs and drives, but could do with a careful recommissioning before hitting the roads once more. The body is straight and the under-bonnet area surprisingly free from the terminal corrosion associated with this model. The paintwork isn’t going to win any prizes, having been hand applied and rather thickly too, but it looks better in the flesh than it sounds and the interior has faired well as has the rare brightwork which is present and presentable.

Perhaps best described as a solid use and improve example, it is rare, attractive in a certain raffish way and would comfortably keep abreast of today’s traffic.

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