Humber Humber Super Snipe History

Introduced in October 1938, the Super Snipe was created by combining the four-litre six-cylinder engine from the big Pullman with the lighter chassis and body of the Snipe, producing a large car that was unusually quick for its day. It earned lasting fame as a British Army staff car during the Second World War.

Post-war Super Snipes ran through Marks I to IV (1945–1958), then were reborn in May 1957–58 as a unitary-construction car sharing its shell with the new Hawk. These later cars (Series I–V/Va) used a new overhead-valve six based on an Armstrong Siddeley design — 2.6 litres at first, then enlarged to roughly 3.0 litres — and offered disc brakes and automatic transmission as upmarket executive transport.

The Super Snipe was the senior Humber of its era, joined from 1964 by a plusher Imperial version. Production ended in 1967 when, under new owner Chrysler, Rootes discontinued the traditional large Humbers.