Humber FV1600

[lynx42]

Well done Rich,
All things come to those who wait.
I guess you'll need some folding stuff pretty soon. Might help get it home.
Regards and Merry Christmas.
Rick

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Hey Rick,
Have you noticed if the chassis plate behind Front pass side wheel shows your truck as being a Commer?
Mine was registered as a Commer 1 Ton Utility.
I know that they were all Rootes Group, but must have been a naming change somewhere, can't remember this being mentioned anywhere.
Any idea how many served in Aus? Full production was only about 3700.
Rich

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Hey Rick,
Have you noticed if the chassis plate behind Front pass side wheel shows your truck as being a Commer?
Mine was registered as a Commer 1 Ton Utility.
I know that they were all Rootes Group, but must have been a naming change somewhere, can't remember this being mentioned anywhere.
Any idea how many served in Aus? Full production was only about 3700.
Rich

Rich,

The man who knows a bit about the Commer badged FV1600 vehicles is Clive Elliott, and as he gets on here at times, he will know more. But it seems it was only those that were shipped to Australia that were so named. This sort of thing is not unusual in vehicle exports, sometimes a more well known name is used. For instance, Humber would have been more associated with cars at the time, where as Commer was one of Rootes truck brands. In fact they were not built by Humber, and may only have carried that name because of the reputation gained from Humber 4x4 vehicles during the war.

[Mike K]

Richard ,

Chasing Jeeps back in 1976... I came across a very original and unmolested example of those Humbers ..It was only a stone throw away from our MLU member Robert Pearce: it may still be there .
Mike

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Richard F
The badging of export only trucks as Commers may be why it is not mentioned in either of the books I have on this series. Think Australia was the only country they were exported to anyway.

Mike
is it not always the way that when you finally find something to buy, others come out of the woodwork.....Must have not dropped enough hints here over the last few years!
Mind you, 32 years on the Humber may not be in unmolested condition anymore. I will be happy to get just one home.
Rich.

[lynx42]

Yes Rich,
Mine is a Commer as well. Someone mentioned it about 18 months ago on MLU but I don't remember who.
Nice to see one without a lot of rust. Mine has a fair bit but not beyond repair. Only 22,000 miles on the clock as well.
Need a set of hood bows, if anyone knows of any.
Thanks Rick.

BTW. MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL.

[S LATHERON (RIP)]

seasons greetings.
I guess the frozen brake could be a combination of things.
1]Older Brake fluid absorb water and expands, looses its viscosity and ability to operate the system properly and causes corrosion inside wheel cylinders in time
2] have you checked the adjustment on the master cylinder. If the push rod that pushes the MASTER piston forwards has stuck in the on position, fluid is trapped in all the wheel cylinders. Locking all the brakes in the on position.
3] The answer to the above may be in the linkage, Or a weak or worn return spring at the master cylinder or seized pivots in linkage due to limited use.
4] I know other owners of vintage vehicles that reset the brake shoes so that they have to travel further inside the drums before making contact with the drum face. Although it means the shoes have further to travel on the first stroke of the brake pedal but this gives better working clearances and less risk of shoes sticking to the drums while parked up for storage.Also as the brake pressure is released the shoes are less likely to bind and cause heat build up
5]As little as a lack of a clean breather hole in the top of the brake master Cylinder resevoir can be fatal.
I had a similar experience with a 1958 military Ex RN land rover station wagon. Drove round a long curve at 50 mph only to find traffic stopped ahead of me. I jumped on brakes and took TO LONG to stop! Finally stopped only when my heart was in my mouth, approx 6 inches off trunk of car in front. On investigation after a rather nervous and slow drive into a side road. i found a hard layer of mud set on top of the vent hole that lets air into the header tank of the brake system. As you apply the brakes the fluid is forced into the pipes, however if air cannot enter to replace the fluid used then there is no way the brakes will work properley as the lack of air causes a vacuum inside the system reducing effieciency. A bristle from a wire brush restores ventilation in seconds.
I hope that you are able to collect your new "Commer" soon and give it the use and TLC it deserves.
PS, In 1974 i joined a chrysler car dealer ship to sell the commercial vehicle range in the north east of the UK, Commer, carrier [Bantam] then the Dodge range of trucks. Humbers were cars only in uk then.
Regards Stephen
F60S LAAT 1944