Humber Super Snipe History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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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.
Generations
Pre-war Super Snipe · Original Super Snipe
Pullman's four-litre six in the lighter Snipe body; fast for its day and the basis of the WWII staff car.
Mark I–IV · Separate-chassis post-war
Post-war body-on-chassis Super Snipes, sold above the four-cylinder Hawk through four marks.
1949 Photo: “File:1949 Humber Super Snipe MkII Saloon (27368813555).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1951 Photo: “File:1951 Humber Super Snipe MkIII Saloon (24487023173).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1953 Photo: “File:1953 Humber Super Snipe Mk IV Saloon (32674820931).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1955 Photo: “File:1955 Humber Super Snipe mark IV (31841110465).jpg” by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1957 Photo: “File:1957 Humber Super Snipe Mk IV Saloon (46476022914).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Series I–V/Va · Unitary Super Snipe
Unitary-construction car sharing the Hawk shell, with a new Armstrong Siddeley-derived OHV six (2.6 then ~3.0 litres); built until 1967.
1959 Photo: “File:1959 Humber Super Snipe series I saloon (46851238822).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1963 Photo: “File:1963 Humber Super Snipe Series IV Saloon (14285212626).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1965 Photo: “File:1965 Humber Super Snipe Series V Saloon (16524026700).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1967 Photo: “File:1967 Humber Super Snipe Series V (21721321449).jpg” by Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Saloon
- Estate
- Limousine
Notable special editions & performance variants
Humber Imperial (1964–1967)
The top-of-the-range, more luxurious Super Snipe derivative with a lower vinyl-clad coupe-like roofline and standard automatic transmission.
Related models
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