・Low mileage, and just four former keepers

・£4,500 recently spent overhauling the mechanicals

・Wonderfully smooth runner

・Stylish, rare, and extremely desirable in 2021

Starting out as a manufacturer of bicycles in the 1880s, Humber was an early adopter for automobile production as early as 1896. Ever keen to capture the zeitgeist, this spirit of harnessing contemporary trends was equally evident in the Sceptre, a luxury saloon car launched in 1963. It was based on the Hillman Super Minx, solid stalwart of the Rootes group, and elevated the platform to a higher echelon of fanciness thanks to its impressive levels of standard-fit equipment and model-specific glasshouse design. There was an edge to the Sceptre too, its inherent quickness bolstered by the fitment of a tuned 80bhp variant of the Super Minx’s engine; it came with front disc brakes, a rev counter, overdrive on the manual transmission or the option of an auto, and rakish twin headlights like the Singer Vogue.

In an era that was admittedly slightly confusing for the average buyer, given how many quite-similar models were on sale with different group badges, the Sceptre stood alone for its combination of luxury and driver engagement. And most intriguingly of all, the original Sceptre was usurped by the Mk2 version after just two years of production – so examples of the Mk1 are pretty thin on the ground these days.

The Sceptre was conceived as a stately thing; with mild sporting pretensions under the skin, but largely happiest when it’s cruising and wafting. And as befits a car of such leisurely purpose, it appears that this delightful Humber has lived an appropriately leisurely life. With just four former keepers on the V5 and 44k on the clock, it’s an impressively solid and beautifully presented thing in all-original spec. The current owner has had it for around six years; when he bought it, it was structurally and cosmetically sound (in much the same condition as you see today), but required some mechanical attention. Having spent around £4,500 on the drivetrain and chassis, it’s now running sweetly just as a Sceptre should. Indeed, the only reason for sale today is that it needs to make room on the driveway for an incoming Bentley, so sadly it’s time for the Humber to find a new home.

The correct V5 is here, verifying that this car has had just four former keepers in its fifty-six year life. The current MOT runs to May 2022, and there are a number of old MOTs in the file to help verify the mileage. A receipt from February 2020 shows that the carburettor was stripped and rebuilt at that time. The car also comes with its original owner’s handbook, plus a period workshop manual.

The interior of this Sceptre is in super condition. It’s clearly been very well looked after throughout its life and/or retrimmed at some point, as the seats are presented in outstanding condition with no evident wear beyond the gentle patina of ages. The green trim is very tasteful, and the sculpted rear bench (with correctly functioning armrest) is in equally tidy order. The doorcards are also very good, as are the dark green carpets, and the headlining is excellent.

There are no signs of cracks in the dash-top, and the glovebox lid secures correctly. The original gauges are all present and correct, and so is the period push-button radio. There’s no undue wear to the steering wheel, and all of the windows wind up and down freely.

Inside the boot it’s all dry and tidy with a decent carpet. There’s a little surface corrosion to the boot floor beneath the carpet, but everything appears to be nice and solid.

There’s an inimitable stylishness to the design of this first-generation Sceptres, allowing a few American influences without ever seeming gaudy or over-the-top. The two-tone paint scheme suits it splendidly, and the car presents extremely well. The panels sit straight and true, and there’s very little evidence of corrosion beyond a few minor areas – most notably around the rear window on either side, and at the leading edge of the bonnet in a few spots. The car appears remarkably solid underneath; naturally there’s the odd surface corrosion you’d expect, but it all looks extremely straight and honest – like a car that’s most likely spent much of its life garaged rather than braving the rain and salt.

All of the correct chrome, trim pieces and badging are in place. The bumpers are solid and un-kinked, and both wing mirrors are in place. The light lenses and window glass are all good, and the car is fitted with a period semi-automatic electric aerial.

The wheels wear the correct hubcaps, and are fitted with matching 175/70 R13 tyres with plenty of tread.

This is the area in which the current owner has spent the money, and the results speak for themselves. This model came from the factory fitted with a variant of the Hillman Minx’s 1.6-litre engine, tuned for an improved 80bhp. It’s in fine fettle in this particular Sceptre, with the carburettor having recently been rebuilt and serviced. We can confirm that the engine fires up easily on the first try and settles happily into an even idle. The owner reports no issues with the transmission, suspension, brakes or steering – all related areas have been addressed at a cost of £4,500 in recent years, and everything is working just as it should.

The principal appeal of the first-generation Humber Sceptre is that it isn’t the obvious choice. Ask the average person on the street to name a British classic car, and what will they come back with – Mini, E-Type, Minor, MGB? But you’d probably have to ask quite a few people before this name came up in the conversation. It’s an obscure thing nowadays, having only been in production for two years in the early 1960s and with a tiny number surviving on the roads today.

…and yet it only takes one look at it to mark it out as a quintessentially British classic. Every angle of the Sceptre speaks of suburban family duties in the concrete era, infusing a little American flair into the day-to-day of that swinging sepia-tinted decade. And this example really is a peach; its interior is a truly splendid place to be, the mechanicals have been thoroughly scrutinised and honed for modern reliability, and best of all – just look at it. Supremely handsome, isn’t it? It’s the connoisseur’s classic saloon, balancing style and dependability with impeccable panache.