Humber Pullman
Encyclopedia
The Humber Pullman is a four-door limousine introduced by the British based Humber
company in 1930 as a successor to the Humber 20/65 hp and long-wheelbase version of the Humber Snipe.
In 1939 an ungraded version was launched badged as the Humber Imperial, but post war the car reverted to the Pullman name. Between 1948 and 1954 the car was offered with a central partition (for chauffeured use) as the Pullman, but without a partition was badged as the Humber Imperial for owner-drivers.
The Pullman / Imperial was not offered for sale during the Second World War but some were still made and used as staff cars. It returned to the market in 1945 and remained in production till 1954, however. There is now only 8 Pullman limos left in the world.
bodies were available. The following year, in 1931, the manufacturer
lost its independence when the Rootes Group acquired a majority share holding in it. A coupé was added to the body range in 1935 for one year only.
A rebodied Pullman with two piece V windscreen appeared in 1936, sharing the 132 in (3,353 mm) wheelbase of its predecessor, but with the overall length of the car increased to 196 in (4,978 mm). Engine capacity was now raised to 4086 cc while claimed power was 100 bhp (74 kW). The power increase was also evident from the claimed top speed which now edged up to 75 mph (121 km/h). The chassis gained independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes were fitted in 1940. As well as the factory body options some cars were supplied in chassis form to independent coachbuilders especially Thrupp & Maberly
.
In 1939 the Pullman was joined by the Humber Imperial or Snipe Imperial which shared the engine with the Pullman, but was built on the 4 in (102 mm) shorter Snipe chassis and correspondingly brisker, with the advertised top speed now 81 mph (130 km/h). The car nevertheless remained spacious, and was favoured for use by British government ministers during the 1940s. Four and Six-light saloons and drophead coupé bodies were available from the factory. Civilian availability ended in 1940 when the factory was given over to production of the ’Ironside’ Reconnaissance Car
. However, production of the newly introduced "razor-edge" Pullman continued throughout the war for the government and the military.
The Mark III version introduced in 1951 was little changed from the Mark II, apart from being even longer and having an all synchromesh gearbox. At 212 in (5,385 mm) the Mk III Humber Pullman was the same length as the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
which would emerge from Crewe
in 1955. 2200 Mk II and III Pullmans were made and 1526 Imperials.
In 1953 more power was offered for the Mark IV Pullmans and Imperials, still with straight six cylinder engines, but now of 4139 cc with overhead valve
s, and published power output of 113 bhp (83 kW) or 116 bhp (85 kW). Production ended in 1954, however.
After 1954 the Pullman name was removed from the listings, but in 1964 the company revived the Humber Imperial. The new car was essentially a top of the line Humber Super Snipe
, differentiated by a vinyl roof, automatic transmission and a more luxuriously appointed interior. The range of large Humbers, including the Imperial, was withdrawn by Rootes in 1967.
Humber (car)
Humber is a dormant British automobile marque which could date its beginnings to Thomas Humber's bicycle company founded in 1868. Following their involvement in Humber through Hillman in 1928 the Rootes brothers acquired a controlling interest and joined the Humber board in 1932 making Humber part...
company in 1930 as a successor to the Humber 20/65 hp and long-wheelbase version of the Humber Snipe.
In 1939 an ungraded version was launched badged as the Humber Imperial, but post war the car reverted to the Pullman name. Between 1948 and 1954 the car was offered with a central partition (for chauffeured use) as the Pullman, but without a partition was badged as the Humber Imperial for owner-drivers.
The Pullman / Imperial was not offered for sale during the Second World War but some were still made and used as staff cars. It returned to the market in 1945 and remained in production till 1954, however. There is now only 8 Pullman limos left in the world.
Before World War II
The 1930 car came with a 3498 cc straight six cylinder overhead inlet side exhaust valve engine and a claimed power output of 80 bhp (51 kW). The classic limousine style body featured rear hinged doors and in some respects resembled the Humber Snipe 80 with which it shared its engine, but the Pullman was longer and wider. For this heavy car Humber claimed a top speed of 73 mph (117 km/h). As well as the limousine, Landaulette and Sedanca de VilleTown car
A town car is a historical automobile body style in which the front seats were open and the rear compartment closed, normally with a removable top to cover the front chauffeur's compartment...
bodies were available. The following year, in 1931, the manufacturer
Humber (car)
Humber is a dormant British automobile marque which could date its beginnings to Thomas Humber's bicycle company founded in 1868. Following their involvement in Humber through Hillman in 1928 the Rootes brothers acquired a controlling interest and joined the Humber board in 1932 making Humber part...
lost its independence when the Rootes Group acquired a majority share holding in it. A coupé was added to the body range in 1935 for one year only.
A rebodied Pullman with two piece V windscreen appeared in 1936, sharing the 132 in (3,353 mm) wheelbase of its predecessor, but with the overall length of the car increased to 196 in (4,978 mm). Engine capacity was now raised to 4086 cc while claimed power was 100 bhp (74 kW). The power increase was also evident from the claimed top speed which now edged up to 75 mph (121 km/h). The chassis gained independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes were fitted in 1940. As well as the factory body options some cars were supplied in chassis form to independent coachbuilders especially Thrupp & Maberly
Thrupp & Maberly
Thrupp & Maberly was a British coachbuilding company based in London, England.-Origin:This business was created by a merger in 1858 of the carriage builders Joseph Thrupp, who established his business in George Street in 1760, and George Maberly.As far back as the 1880s Thrupp & Maberly began its...
.
In 1939 the Pullman was joined by the Humber Imperial or Snipe Imperial which shared the engine with the Pullman, but was built on the 4 in (102 mm) shorter Snipe chassis and correspondingly brisker, with the advertised top speed now 81 mph (130 km/h). The car nevertheless remained spacious, and was favoured for use by British government ministers during the 1940s. Four and Six-light saloons and drophead coupé bodies were available from the factory. Civilian availability ended in 1940 when the factory was given over to production of the ’Ironside’ Reconnaissance Car
Humber Light Reconnaissance Car
The Humber Light Reconnaissance Car, also known as Humberette or Ironside, was a British armoured car produced during the Second World War....
. However, production of the newly introduced "razor-edge" Pullman continued throughout the war for the government and the military.
After World War II
The Pullman re-appeared in 1945 with seven seat limousine and landaulette bodies, to be replaced in 1948 by a reworked and lengthened version on a lengthened chassis and designated the Humber Pullman Mk II. From 1948 the car was available with or without a partition between the front and rear of the cabin: the version with a division retained the Pullman name, while for the mechanically identical owner-driver version the Humber Imperial name was now revived. The headlamps were no longer stand alone but fitted into the wings.The Mark III version introduced in 1951 was little changed from the Mark II, apart from being even longer and having an all synchromesh gearbox. At 212 in (5,385 mm) the Mk III Humber Pullman was the same length as the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was the core model of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars range from April 1955 until March 1966. It replaced the Silver Dawn and was, in turn, replaced by the Silver Shadow.The J. P...
which would emerge from Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
in 1955. 2200 Mk II and III Pullmans were made and 1526 Imperials.
In 1953 more power was offered for the Mark IV Pullmans and Imperials, still with straight six cylinder engines, but now of 4139 cc with overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
s, and published power output of 113 bhp (83 kW) or 116 bhp (85 kW). Production ended in 1954, however.
Imperial revival
Humber Super Snipe
The Humber Super Snipe was a car produced by the British-based Humber car company, part of the Rootes Group, from 1938 to 1967.-Pre-war Super Snipe:...
, differentiated by a vinyl roof, automatic transmission and a more luxuriously appointed interior. The range of large Humbers, including the Imperial, was withdrawn by Rootes in 1967.