1955 Humber Super Snipe

by Brett Richardson

The car we speak of in hushed tones.

​I'm not sure when I first bought this car but the above selected photograph was taken in 1984. I think my mother may have taken this photo as I'm sure that's me in the background.
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When I first fell in love with this car it was for sale in one of the towns rougher areas and it's image would have been right at home there. It was a very pale shade of yellow with some patches of brown thrown in so that it wasn't totally invisible. I just fell in love with the stretch of the bonnet in front of you and the Snipe perched on the bonnet like the 'Sword of Excalibur' ready to pierce the hearts of heathens, that dared to step from the footpaths of Dunedin into your path.

One of the high points as far as i was concerned was the 8 foot aerial (or at least I think it was) that was attached to the side of it. It was important that it be fully extended, not to increase the joy of the music or it's quality, but only for the cool factor. I had interesting ideas then as now, to what cool actually means, as anyone who saw me wearing my 'rasta hat' recently would attest.

I piloted this car carefully around the roads until the boredom of owning something so wonderful got to me and it was time to pass it on. Who would buy this once proud beast? Well, as it turned out, pretty much no-one. Not one to be beaten I decided it had reached the end of the road and was only fit for the tip. Off I went.

​The plan was to remove the wheels as they had new tyres on them and just leave it there. I was in the process of taking the wheels off when along came a knight in shining armour to save the car from this ignominious fate. Better known as Alan Davis he offered me a small sum of money and duly drove it away.

This car served Alan and his family very well for quite a while and received a nice shiny paint job under his care. They had wonderful holidays in it but eventually he too tired of the old girl. I don't recall quite how I heard of its sale but suspect it may have been an ad in the local rag. I trotted out to see it, fell in love, and of course being the car loving mug I am, bought it back and at no surprise to those that know me, at a much greater cost than I'd sold it. Prouder than ever as this green colour made it look a million dollars I once more proceeded to drive this car around.

If you recall the heading you'll see 'the car we speak of in hushed tones'. How come you ask? Well it just so happens that during my second tenure with this car my brother decided to get married to his first wife, Roslyn, or at least I think that's how it's spelt. We dare not mention that this occasion ever occurred but there's photographic evidence as produced below. I'm the handsome male that is not getting married. It would be many years before I made the same mistake (just kidding!).

Anyway, time being what it is, ambled by until once more my love waned and the car was up 'For Sale' once more. This time we did find a willing buyer and once more it was adieu. The car went off to have many exciting adventures as a staff car for the 'Waitati Militia' which was once one of Dunedins great warring factions. Toilet roll swords and water cannon and lots of riotous fun followed and then I lost sight of the old girl. I caught odd glimpses over the years until eventually the trail went cold.

Long years passed then I went off to the old 'Seacliff Asylum' when they had an open day. There I spotted a car very similar to my old one, took some shots and thought nothing more of it.
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A year or two later I went up there with a group of car guys and this time i took a little more notice of it. I walked around the back of it and instantly recognised the number plate. I then had a look under the front bumper and saw that it was still painted yellow.

​Sure enough, it was my old love, back from the dead, well not quite, as I couldn't afford to do anything about it, but I know it's housed and warm for the time being and I'd love to see someone restore it. It's sat here for about 15 years after being rescued from a paddock.