The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, Queensland, Monday May 2nd 1938

 

Motoring and Motor Cycling By 'TRAVELLER' - The Courier-Mail Road Tests

 

1938  HUMBER SNIPE Roadability An Impressive Feature

 

The 1938 Humber Snipe, a new, smaller, and lower-priced' edition of the luxurious 'Snipe' formerly on the Queensland market, performed nicely on 'The Courier-Mail' test course last. week, its most impressive feature being excellent roadability.

 

THE new Humber Snipe, which has a six-cylinder engine rated at 20.9  h.p., with a brake horse-power rating of 78 at 3300 r.p.m., rode and travelled beautifully on all types of roads. It’s a pleasingly flexible car to drive in traffic, and quickly attains a comfortable cruising speed of 45-50 m.p.h. on the open road. The virile engine seems to relish bursts of high speed, and when at the wheel one forms the impression that the car would be ideal for a long and fast trip.

 

Independent Front-wheel Suspension

 

The stability of the car is good. It comers firmly, and always feels solid and safe. The 'Evenkeel' independent front wheel suspension unit functions most efficiently. Stretches of pot-holed roads were covered at a fast pace without the occupants feeling any discomfort. There was a complete absence of the uncomfortable pitching experienced when riding in some conventionally-sprung cars. The steady and positive steering also was marked by an absence of road shocks, due to the 'Evenkeel' suspension. In this system the important member is a single transverse leaf spring attached to the steering pivots, brake reaction and wheel position being looked after by sturdy torque members. Hydraulic shock absorbers also are fitted. The whole engine and gearbox unit is suspended in the box section frame by the flexible 'cushioned power' mounting. The clutch is a dry-plate type, and the gearbox units gives four forward speeds, with synchro-mesh on top and third. Other good features are the down-draught' carburettor, with an automatic choke, which gives instantaneous starting from cold, and the automatic spark control. The drive from the gearbox is through an open propeller shaft, and the spiral bevel rear axle has a final gear ratio of 4.3 to 1.

 

Smart Lines

 

Like the earlier Humber Snipes, the 1938 model has smart and distinctive lines. The radiator grille is of characteristic Humber shape, and a long bonnet merges, with a handsome saloon body of steel construction. The windscreen can be opened right up by a winding mechanism. This is an excellent feature for a warm country, and could be emulated with profit by other manufacturers. The car has a satisfactory ventilation system, including adjustable panels to front doors. There is also a scuttle ventilator. The car has a sloping rear, which contains a large luggage compartment. The instrument board is extremely neat. Jaeger instruments are fitted, contained in two circular glass panels, placed in front of the driver. In the centre of the instrument board is a swivelled ash tray, and on the left a large compartment for parcels fitted with a lid, in the centre of which is an eight-day clock. The rear view mirror is mounted in an unusual position on the top of the instrument board, where it gives a longer view of the road behind than one mounted high on the screen header board. The large steering wheel has a telescopic column. Other features of the interior are the extremely soft leather upholstery and the well-sprung seats, two separate front seats of the armchair type, individually adjustable, are fitted, and the back seat has a central folding arm rest and ash trays in the side arm rests. Side arm rests are also provided for the front seat passengers, and beneath them in the front doors are ingenious pockets, which can be hinged outwards, and when closed, fit flush with the door trimming. Door handles are of dignified design and curved to avoid catching clothes.

 

75 Miles An Hour

 

The Humber Snipe showed that it possesses a fine turn of speed by covering the quarter-mile course, after a 'run in' of a mile, in 12sec. — an average speed of 75 m.p.h. A standing start quarter-mile was done in 22.2sec.(40.54 m.p.h.). 'The good flexibility of the engine was proved in acceleration tests. In top gear the car went from 10 to 30m.p.h. in 8.2sec, and from 10 to 50m.p.h. in 20sec. From 10 to 30 m.p.h. in third gear took 5.4sec, and a speed of 50 m.p.h. was reached from rest in 15.2sec.

 

Safe Brakes

 

The Bendlx-Cowdrey mechanically operated brakes afford safe retarding power. Their special design ensures retention of adjustment over long periods, and light pressure only is necessary for smooth and progressive braking. In tests on bituminised road the car was stopped in 29.5ft. from a speed of 30 m.p.h., and the stopping distance from 40 m.p.h. was 59ft. The hand brake holds the car securely on steep hills, and, at the right of the driver, can be easily and quickly reached. The car climbed the steep test hill in 24.5sec, second gear being used. The hill is now in bad condition, loose metal causing considerable wheel spin. About 7.75 gallons of petrol was used on the 127-mile journey. The car was driven extremely hard throughout, and there was no 'coasting.'