60 Years of the Humber Sceptre by Andrew Roberts

On the 15th of January 1963, the Rootes Group made bold claims about their latest Humber. “Never before has there been a car so superbly equipped… with such performance… at so modest a price”. But, aside from the hyperbole, the Sceptre was a charming sporting saloon with a unique sense of style. Any estate agent who affected a mid-Atlantic accent and wore shades in the M1 Blue Boar services immediately regarded the new Humber as their ideal car.

The Sceptre’s origins date from the late 1950s when Rootes Group began working on the successor to it ‘Audax’ range, the Hillman Minx, Singer Gazelle and Sunbeam Rapier. However, this plan evolved into a supplementary line-up of larger models, commencing with the Singer Vogue and Hillman Super Minx in 1961. The Sceptre was originally to be the ‘Rapier Mk. IV’ but late in its development, management decreed it would be the first post-war compact Humber.

The Sceptre combined the Sunbeam’s 1,592cc engine and grille with a sleeker-looking version of the Vogue/Super Minx bodyshell. The Motor thought the new Humber was “a brisk 90 mph saloon with most mod cons”, and The Daily Telegraph praised the 75-mph cruising speed. At the same time, Billy Boddy of Motor Sport predicted: “the Humber Sceptre will become deservedly popular”.

At £997 8s 9d, the Sceptre was perfect for the Rapier owner, who now required four doors and for motorists considering the Vauxhall VX 4/90 FB, the MG Magnette Mk. IV or the Riley 4/72. Dealers could point out that it was better appointed than its Luton rival, had the social cachet of the Humber name and possessed a more youthful image than BMC’s ‘Farinas’. In terms of British show business, if the Sceptre was Bob Monkhouse, the MG and the Riley were James Robertson Justice.

Naturally, the company’s publicity machine went into operation to promote the Sceptre. The Rootes Group had a long tradition of supplying their cars in British films, so the Humber made a brief but memorable appearance in Ricochet, one of the Edgar Wallace B-features made in the winter of 1963. There was also any amount of advertising material, often featuring Brylcreemed types looking dashing as a Sceptre waited to speed them to their next business meeting.

Late 1965 saw a facelift, with a new grille and 1,725cc engine. The Mk. II was an extremely well-appointed machine, from the adjustable steering column to overdrive, and Rootes claimed it was “For the man who wants to do more than just sit there and steer.” Motor believed the typical driver would need to “leave his string-back gloves behind”, but the latest Sceptre looked undeniably dashing in the managerial parking spaces.

Two years later, Rootes replaced the Mk. II with the ‘Arrow’-series Mk. III, which shared its bodywork with the Hillman Hunter. By that time, the tail-finned older model looked about as contemporary as Freddie and the Dreamers making a surprise guest appearance on The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. But it was still a rather dynamic machine that could still show that new Ford Cortina 1600E a thing or two.

And perhaps the best summary of the Sceptre’s appeal was from Practical Motorist: “In brief, this is a status car with its quota of dignity and a great deal of impudence”. Who could possibly demand more from their Humber?