Humber hawk
Humber Humber
They say that this car worked in the British Embassy in Moscow in the 1950s. Even then, in the capital of the USSR, even a few, but sometimes much more effective foreign cars were seen. And the black Humber Hawk is nothing special. The then newest 21st Volga looked much more interesting.
But it was precisely such "humbers" that served as the support not only of the powerful British automobile industry at that time, but of the whole kingdom. Of course, stiff, expensive, like a good villa in a decent place, Rolls Royces and Bentley, as well as dude sports roadsters of numerous English brands, which were better known all over the world. But it was the inconspicuous Humber that was the choice of the middle class. But he is the basis of any developed state. By the way, this also applies to a certain extent to our Volga.
Humber Hawk - it’s easy to get used to the lever of the box under the left hand. Add more clarity of switching. And the handbrake is just under the right hand - between the sofa and the threshold. The spacious interior looks elegant and aristocratic
It’s easy to get used to the box lever under the left hand. Add more clarity of switching. And the handbrake is just under the right hand - between the sofa and the threshold. The spacious interior looks elegant and aristocratic. It’s easy to get used to the box lever under the left hand. Add more clarity of switching. And the handbrake is just under the right hand - between the sofa and the threshold. The spacious interior looks elegant and aristocratic.
Born from Coventry
The company, founded by Thomas Humber in the century before last, like many automobile companies in Britain, was located in Coventry, the automobile capital of the kingdom. In the mid-twentieth century, the Humber relied on respectable cars for wealthy gentlemen. No technical or design avant-garde and risky experiments. In exchange - space, comfort, high-quality finish, high quality.
Humber hawk
The speedometer is marked in miles and kilometers - a clear curtsy to the inhabitants of Zalamansha. The speedometer is marked in miles and kilometers - a clear curtsy to the inhabitants of Zalamansha.
Well, the 1957 Hawk is generally landmark for the company. Unlike the model of the previous generation of the same name, produced since 1945, the novelty received a supporting body. Therefore, a rather big sedan turned out to be quite light - curb weight less than 1500 kg. And the first overhead valve engine on the Humbers appeared back in 1955.
Humber hawk
The switches are somewhat messy, but beautiful. Under the receiver is not the most capacious, but elegant ashtray. The switches are somewhat messy, but beautiful. Under the receiver is not the most capacious, but elegant ashtray.
TWO WORLDS - TWO MORALS
The design of our 21st is undeniably brighter. The Humber has less chrome, and it looks more modest. The Volga gravitated toward American aesthetics, and the British followed their conservative path. From American trends, “Hamber” got only a panoramic windshield, and even that is quite modest in size, without overseas extremism.
Humber hawk
The Volga is 130 mm longer than the Humber, but the Briton’s base is 100 mm longer and you can immediately feel the spaciousness on the back sofa. And in the interior decoration of the "Hawk" is predominantly solid leather and real wood. Soviet people, even those who were awarded nomenclature posts and the Volga in addition, were not indulged in with such excesses. As once wrote in the press, two worlds are two morals. But on the Volga, even with high mileage, gears are switched on much easier. This “Humber” has a small mileage (it has stood in the garage for many years), but the clarity in switching, especially with no habit, is not enough. The most tricky thing is to “introduce” the reverse gear: pull the lever by the thin knob and send it down with a difficult movement. It doesn’t work right away.
Humber hawk
Riddle: where is the neck of the gas tank? It’s not easy to guess. Riddle: where is the neck of the gas tank? It’s not easy to guess.
The Soviet and British cars are almost equal in engine power. The engine of the first "Volga" developed 70 hp, Humber, with a volume less by 200 cubes, - 74 forces. At Hawk, all four gears, including the first, are equipped with synchronizers. The Volga has a three-speed gearbox, the first speed - without relaxing excesses. In addition, by order, customers of the Humber could get a box with an overdrive and even a three-stage “automatic”.
On the go, the cars are similar - soft suspensions are good for a calm, smooth ride. These cars do not like abrupt driving movements: they respond with rolls and buildup.
Humber hawk
Especially spacious in the back seat. The creators of the machine suggested that some owners would use the services of professional drivers. Especially spacious in the back seat. The creators of the machine suggested that some owners would use the services of professional drivers.
In Britain, in the late 1950s, the base Humber Hawk cost 1281 pounds. Very expensive! The first Mini, which appeared in 1959, cost only 497 pounds, and the Triumph-TR3A sports roadster - at 1050. But the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud cost two and a half humbers - 3375 pounds.
DIALOGUE TIME
Indications on the main devices - both in British units, and in metric. Not that the Humbers sold very well outside the homeland, but still the islanders are ready for dialogue. For the British, who believe that tea must be drunk with milk, and the correct sink is the only one above which there are two, and not just one tap with a mixer, is an act.
Humber hawk
In the front doors are original pockets. In the front doors are original pockets.
During the youth of Hawk, the Country of the Soviets also, albeit with caution, entered into dialogue with the West. So the 21st “Volga” began to do with the right wheel, sold several pieces even in England. In 1956, Khrushchev traveled to the UK, and in 1959, Prime Minister Macmillan paid a return visit to Moscow.
Humber hawk
The key is not inserted into the button, but into the hole under the rotary cover in the handle itself. The key is not inserted into the button, but into the hole under the rotary cover in the handle itself.
Of course, from the concept of "friendship" all this was cosmically far away. Soviet-British relations of the late 1950s and early 1960s are very well described in the famous espionage novels of John Le Carré, who in those years served Her Majesty under the shadow of special services. Of course, against the Eastern bloc. Nevertheless, in his books, even Soviet spies sometimes have a human face. And in general, the countries were very far from direct conflict.
Humber hawk
The spacious trunk retained the original spare wheel and even a tool. The spacious trunk retained the original spare wheel and even a tool.
Surprisingly, with all the dissimilarity of the political systems, the destinies of the brands are similar. The British company was in a fever since the end of the 1960s, it changed its owners - it fell into the Roots industrial group, then into the hands of Chrysler, which itself was going through hard times, and by 1976, like many automobile enterprises of Misty Albion, it fell victim own conservatism. “Volga” lived for another three and a half decades, but left the stage for about the same reasons. True, this happened to her against the background of much larger disasters, such that the British never dreamed of.
Humber hawk
Today, both the "Humbers" and the "Volga" are respected veterans, living witnesses of that distant but vibrant era. But in the present, the middle class, the pillars of our states, have completely different orientations and preferences.
BRITISH FALCON
Humber hawk
The Humber-Hawk of the second generation has been produced since 1957 with sedan, touring limousine (with a partition in the cabin) and station wagon (estate in British). The 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine developed 74 hp. at 4400 rpm Offered both a mechanical and an automatic transmission. Until 1967, they produced 37, 437 cars of four series, most of all (15, 539 copies) - of the first series, produced in 1957-1960.
