Car Humber 10/12HP Twin 1904 for sale

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1904 Humber 10/12HP Twin Cylinder Rear Entrance Tonneau - VCC Dated

Registration No. BO19

Chassis No. 3127

Engine No. 191

VCC Dating No. 1049

Founded in 1868 as a Bicycle maker, Humber later became part of Harry Lawson’s British Motor Syndicate. It was from this source that the company purchased the designs and rights to a number of obscure and unlikely functional automobiles. Humber freed itself from Lawson and associates in 1890s and reinvented itself with its first production motor car in 1900. This was in the form of the unconventional M D Voiturette which featured front wheel drive and rear wheel steering. A more conventional range of the ever popular De-Dion Bouton powered light cars soon followed which was notable for its shaft drive, in an era where chains set the precedent.

First advertised in the summer of 1904, the 10/12HP Humber was different when compared to preceding models on account of its larger wheelbase (growing from 6ft 4 inch’s to 7ft 6 inch’s’, bigger carburettor and change of ignition levers. The tried and tested tubular chassis was retained. Capable of achieving speeds of 40mph on level ground, the Autocar magazine summarised it with the following in 1904 - ‘the speed, comfort at speed and hill climbing power of this car is quite astonishing’. The fuel tank was quoted to be good for ‘about 150 miles’ and the gearbox was a 3 speed with reverse delivered via a leather cone clutch.

‘BO19’ has a decorated history within Veteran Car circles in the UK. The car was first cast into the limelight when it was put forward for dating by Mr R.A. Collings of Llandaff, Cardiff in 1965. Mr Collings had found the car in a barn in an extremely deteriorated state and was told it had been laying there for more than 40 years. The car was remarkably intact with all major original components intact. The car was subsequently purchased and a major restoration was undertaken. The car was then entered for Brighton in the ownership of Mr Collings for some 24 years and remarkably the history file contains some stunning period images of the car passing Big Ben and Buckingham Palace in the late 1960s. Every detail of these adventures were kept with hotel booking confirmations, transport arrangements and entry forms all preserved in the history file.

The car was later sold via Robert Brooks of Christies Auction house in 1986 and has been in the hands of several notable VCC Stalwarts in recent years. In the late 2000s the car was restored yet again, with a full retrim, repaint and numerous engine and gearbox components being overhauled. It is quite feasible that the car has completed more than 35 London to Brighton Veteran Car runs in its lifetime, a testament to those that have kept it in impeccable condition.

This example has been extremely well cared for in the current ownership, with work to the Steering box, Propshaft, ignition and wheels in recent years. Along with this the camshaft was removed and the cam lobes rebound and profiled. The result is 30MPH+ driving with the car climbing any hill ‘4 up’. The car has also been fitted with an electric starter and starts with absolute ease. All work has been undertaken via NP Veteran Engineering and we are pleased to report the car has completed the last 14 London to Brighton Runs without issue. The car has been known to us since 2008.

Twin Cylinder London to Brighton cars capable of 30mph+, with 4 onboard, electric starting, tonneau covers, an additional windscreen and notable event pedigree are extremely hard to find, especially at this price point.

1904 Humber 10/12HP Twin Cylinder Rear Entrance Tonneau

1904 Humber 10/12HP Twin Cylinder Rear Entrance Tonneau

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