Humber Pullman

Infobox Automobile


name = Humber Pullman
Humber Imperial
manufacturer = Rootes Group
production = 1930-1940
1945 - 1954
1964 - 1967
predecessor = Humber 20/65hp
successor =
related = Humber Snipe
designer = The Humber Pullman is a four door limousine introduced by the British based Humber company in 1930 as a successor to the Humber 20/65hp and long wheel base 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.

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 Ville bodies were availablecite book |last=Sedgwick |first=Michael |title=A-Z of Cars of the 1930s|year=1989 |publisher=Bay View Books |location=Devon, UK |id=ISBN 1-870979-38-9] . 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 Auto in|132|0 cite book |last=Culshaw |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2] wheel base of its predecessor, but with the overall length of the car increased to Auto in|196|0 . 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 Auto in|4|0 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. Availability ended in 1940 when the factory was given over to production of the ’Ironside’ Reconnaissance Car.

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 Auto in|212|0 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.cite book |last=Robson |first=G. |title=A-Z of British Cars 1945-80|year=2006 |publisher=Herridge |location=Devon, UK |id=ISBN 0-9541063-9-3]

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 valves, and published power output of 113 bhp (83 kW) or 116 bhp (85 kW). Production ended in 1954, however.

Imperial revival

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.

References