1964 Humber Hawk – Classified of the Week

Every week we take a moment to sit down and go through the listings on Car & Classic to find a candidate for the next instalment of Classified of the Week. You might think it’s a case of looking for the rare, the exotic or the kind of car that for many of us, is just the stuff of fantasy. That’s not the case though. We want to find the cars with a story, and with it, we want to find cars that are accessible to us mere mortals. We want cars that have lived, and that are keen to live even more once in the hands of a new owner, and that’s something this beautiful 1964 Humber Hawk is keen to do. It’s not a trailer queen, it’s not a concours winner and it’s not buckling at the springs thanks to the weight of polish and wax. Instead, it’s turn-key ready, it wears its patina with hard-earned pride and because of that, it’s still every bit the head-turner. 

This generation of Hawk was introduced in 1957 and boasted a completely new monocoque body, doing away with the body-on-frame construction of its predecessor. Powered by a 2,267cc straight-four engine, it was a powerful machine despite its considerable heft. This was a luxury car gunning for the likes of the Ford Zodiac and the Rover P5. Full of wood and leather and adorned with external chrome, the Hawk cut an impressive shape in the competitive luxury saloon marketplace.

As for this car in particular, it has a truly charming story. The current owner actually bought it as his first car when he was 18. As a car for a new driver to enjoy his independence, there are few better than a big old Humber Hawk! Sadly though, he couldn’t keep it so it went to a new owner. But the story doesn’t end there, as the current owner bought it three years ago after that Hawk had been parked up for some eight years. It’s been fully recommissioned and is now in tip-top mechanical condition. Sadly though, the realisation that the Hawk isn’t getting much use has brought about the sale.

The seller happily states that this is a car with the odd blemish here and there, but that’s fine. It’s an old car. These things are meant to show their age. And besides, when you’re buying a car of this vintage, isn’t provenance and mechanical ability the key? This car’s life can be accurately charted thanks to the current owner, and that brings with it a great deal of peace of mind. And all for a paltry £3,600. You’d be mad not to!