Humber FV1600

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Been chasing a Humber since I first saw one about 11 years ago, missed out on a couple, and they are not that common in Oz, Salesman Bob put me on to a possibility in Adelaide back in August, and followed a protracted negotiation, which included it being withdrawn from sale after a mutually acceptable price had been reached. However I eventually purchased the "Best Humber in Australia", complete with trailer, spare motor and some odds and ends.
Unfortunatley none of the bigger carriers where interested in bringing the trailer or spares over, and the local chaps price went up everytime I spoke to him. Bob thought he might be able to bring it over for me, but when he ran out of time I decided to fly over and drive it back (850 kms) even though the brakes where a bit "ordinary".
Bob picked me up at the airport and took me way up into the Adelaide Hills, along narrow, windy and steep roads.
Spent 4 hours or so getting tail lights working on the trailer, checking fluids etc and headed of on my own late in the afternoon.
Hill 2 saw a boiling raditor at the top, and coming down the other side into an intersection I hit the brakes to find the peddle frozen. Panic setting in, Kicked the peddle with both feet as hard as possible, all 4 wheels then locked. Managed to drive of the side of the road and that was that, all brakes now seized on.
Removed a front wheel, couldn't take the hub off, so rang the previous owner, who had no idea either as he had never looked at the brakes...
He did however turn up to have a look, followed thankfully by Bob shortly after. The Humber is blessed with a unique set up which see's the wheel cylinder actually bolted to the outside of the wheel hub, so once removed the wheel would turn freely. By now it was well and truly dark, cold, and with the odd bit of rain. As the truck had next to no fuel in it a jerrycan run to the nearest servo was made, and with all the wheel cylinders hanging free we set of in low gear for Bobs Shed, pilot vehicle in front signiiling when a steep descent was about to happen.
I think it could be said to be an interesting drive.....I think 30 or so kms of hills, boiling up, crawling down the steep ones. Fortunatley traffic was light after 11.00
When next staying in downtown Macclesfield I highly recomend Ada's Midnight Bolognese, with the house red ( 5 star rating).
A days work saw the front brakes oppertating to some degree, but with the boiling issues, a miss in the engine and the distance to be travelled I Chickened out of the rest of the road trip, convincing Bob and Ada that a Humber and trailer would make lovely lawn ornaments until something can be arranged next year..... or the year after....or...
But wait, there's more!
Instead of running home with the tail between my legs, checked in with work to see if there was anything happening in Adelaide, did 2 14 hour days on Installations, a third in Melbourne on the way home, went into work and stuck my typing finger between 2 gears, removing the top joint and earning 2 nights in hospital.
Roll on 2009!
Before closing,
A public and heartfelt thankyou to Bob and Ada, specially as this was the first time I had met them. Sometimes words are not enough.
Rich.

[Keith Webb]

I can vouch for the wonderful hospitality at Bob and Ada's although I missed the midnight bolognese but we did sample some wine.

What a well-told and classic recovery story - looking forward (as you must be) to the successful final installment.

Sorry to hear about your injury Richard.

[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.