1934 Humber Snipe 80 Golfer's Coupe

Description

Unique special built by Lancefield for Sir Philip Sassoon; recent £30k mechanical overhaul and only 2,000 miles since; illustrious history; a magnificent machine in wonderful condition; driven 35 miles to the sale

Renowned for offering big-car style and sophisticated engineering with remarkably good value for the money, Humber enjoyed particular success with its Snipe 80 of 1930-35.

Named after the 80mm bore dimension of each of its engine's cylinders, the Snipe 80 was powered by Humber's 3,498 cc inline six-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed manual gearbox which gave it a top speed of 75mph with bags of low-speed torque. Five body styles were offered by the factory in saloon, tourer and drophead coupe form, but the chassis could be made available to other coachbuilders to be fitted with bespoke bodywork.

This handsome Humber Snipe 80 Golfer’s Coupe is believed to be a unique car that was specially bodied by Lancefield in 1934. Established in London in 1921, Lancefield specialised in bodying expensive cars from the likes of Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lagonda and Cadillac.

The Great Gatsby style of this Golfer’s Coupe clearly emulates American roadsters of the period. Comfortable and well furnished, it has seating for two up front with a rear dickey seat for another two passengers incorporating a golf bag compartment behind the passenger door which houses a set of period golf clubs. It must certainly have cut a dash in its time, easily holding its own with any Bentley or Rolls-Royce in a swanky country club car park.

As the original buff logbook confirms, it was supplied new by Rootes of Piccadilly to Sir Philip Sassoon MP of Park Lane in January 1934. A keen golfer, he was also one of the richest men in the country who could easily afford the services of a coachbuilder. He was a regular visitor to Buckingham Palace and it is thought that Her Majesty the Queen Mother knew and admired the car, the history file referencing a letter that Her Majesty wrote to that effect, although the letter itself is sadly not present. 

Sassoon was a close friend of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, having served as his ADC during the First World War and as his Private Secretary for some time afterwards. Sir Douglas Haig’s son, the second Earl Haig, had always admired the Humber, and in 1937 Sassoon presented it to him as a gift.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Earl Haig sold the Humber to a Hamish Crighton of Dunbar who was to keep it for the next 30 years but barely drove it. A newspaper cutting recounts that he fitted a hay rake in place of the front bumper, most likely to qualify for precious petrol coupons as a farm vehicle during the war years!

The next owner was a William Paterson Dale of Dunbar who kept it from 1969 until 1986 when it was sold at a Sotheby’s auction at Millerstain House in Berwickshire. The history file records two further owners until it was sold at a BCA auction in Blackbushe in 1989. The catalogue description and photo show that the car was in fine condition throughout, having been repainted in the early 1980s, with ‘excellent original maroon leather upholstery’ new Wilton carpets and black canvas hood. It also stated that ‘the mileage of 36,000 is genuine’.  

It seems that the car then spent the next 25 years in southern Ireland before being acquired by a Mr R Loder of Sussex in 2014. He sent the car to Robin Lackford Motor Engineering of West Sussex for a full mechanical overhaul which ultimately took some three years and £30,000 to complete. This included: engine fully rebuilt and balanced with new pistons, bearings, reground crank etc; carburettor rebuild; modifications to the cooling and fuelling systems to make it more suitable for modern road conditions; new wiring; brakes, suspension, rear axle and gearbox overhauled plus much else besides. The mileage at this point was c.41,000 and it flew through an MOT in October 2018 with no advisories recorded.

Our vendor acquired the car via Brightwells in 2018 (for considerably more than the guide price suggested here) and has continued to look after it well, including fitting a new stainless steel exhaust system and refurbishing the petrol tank. He has used it regularly, including driving it to the Post Vintage Humber Car Club International Rally at Gaydon in July 2019.

It was also displayed at the NEC Classic Car Show later that year where it attracted a great deal of attention and was admired by none other than Geoff Gaisford, grandson of the Lancefield coachbuilder who originally bodied the car in the 1930s, and who confirmed that it was indeed a one-off. It had previously been thought that they built two. 

Driven some 35 miles to the sale, this fine Humber has only covered some 2,000 miles since the engine was rebuilt and is nicely run in. Now ready for the next chapter to be added to its illustrious history, the fortunate new owner will know they have a unique car in lovely condition with the looks and the pedigree to hold its head high in any company.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com