Buying Guide

Humber Hawk

‘There was a saloon, a Touring limousine and an estate’

Classic flash on the cheap is easy to find; there are any number of big Rovers, Fords, Vauxhalls and even Jaguars on offer for even the smallest of budgets. However, there’s also a less predictable alternative to these gentleman’s expresses – a big Humber.

Combining transatlantic styling influences with a thoroughly British interior, the Hawk is one of the most frequently overlooked classics, despite the fact that it combines a wealth of qualities, such as affordability, comfort, strength and practicality. What’s more, it was built for a decade, in four series – and while they’re not massively plentiful, there are still some great examples out there. But there are a lot of dogs, too, which is why you need to buy with care.

The Hawk arrived in May 1957 in Series I form, with a four-cylinder 2267cc engine mated to a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic gearbox. Alongside the regular saloon there was also a Touring limousine available, then just a few months later a Hawk estate was introduced, built by Carbodies. The Series IA went on sale in October 1959 with a chrome flash down the side and revised gear ratios. More substantial changes were made a year later with the Series II, which came with front disc brakes as standard and a stronger gearbox, while the automatic transmission was now only offered on export cars.

The Series III of October 1962 brought improved steering, a bigger fuel tank, plus improved heating and ventilation, while the last of the breed was the Series IV, launched in October 1964. This featured a flatter roof line and larger rear window, revised rear lights and badging, plus a rear anti-roll bar and an all-synchromesh gearbox. Hawk production ended in summer 1967. SPECIAL THANKS TO… …Chas Thompson for his help with putting this buying guide together.