Jörg Braun is a German lad with a very special taste in British vintage. That's why he absolutely enjoys his super rare left-hand-drive #Humber #Imperial. Back then it was the top-of-the-line model of the long vanished #RootesGroup.



"My cars have to be in running condition. I am not that kind of collector to store his machines away, just for the purpose of owning them. My cars but drive.

British crafts are my passion. I collect those because I absolutely love British culture, the country and also the vehicles. Seeing that no remains of the British car culture made it to present day, saddens me. They once built such beautiful machines. Currently I own six British cars and my very favorite of this humble collection is the Humber Imperial. At the present there are not more than 56 models registered in the UK. As you can see there aren't many left and its those rare and quirky things that catch my attention.

The mother company, the Rootes Group, is utterly unknown in Germany. People ask and when I tell them it's a Humber Imperial by Rootes Group their reactions are like "What the heck?" and "Never heard of that one."

A droll twist is that the Imperial is the top-of-the-line version of the Humber Super Snipe. In German Snipe means the bird in first but also goes for a smartass woman or even a tart. Using this type of name for a top-of-the-range car is kind of dotty as is the car. In Germany you wouldn't dare to name a car that way. Well, to me it's hilarious.

The search for the Humber Imperial went down kind of difficult. I chose this particular model and in Germany there wasn't one to find. That's why I decided to have a look in Britain, which turned out to become arduous. I went there to check cars that were offered to me - and I am not the type of guy who is afraid of road works - but those were stillbirths. Over the span of two and a half years I went there four timesand came off empty-handed.

To me it seems like a fateful encounter that I found this very car in the Netherlands. And it adds up to the story that both of us, me and the car, are made in 1966. For me that founds a close and special relationship. In the beginning I wasn't even in search of a left-hand-drive. Then some fortunes added up: left-hand-drive, same "year of construction", a car from the continent and this very good, almost mint original condition of the car. In my eyes this is true jackpot. How many LHD had been built, I can't say. I did some research and found the numbers of the coach builder Thrupp & Maberly to range between 38 and 41 models.

This particular car was exported from England to the Netherlands in 1966. In this year it was delivered to the head of a publishing house. The dealer who handed over this car in 1966 took it back from the first owners family, somewhen end-eighties. So to say this is a first-hand-car in it's original shape. Long story short: the dutch dealer sold me a one-owner-vehicle.

My car has a fascinating background. I love it's shape, the way it drives, it's features. It's a classy car, fun to drive, almost floating and very relaxing. This car is from 1966 and it came with an adjustable air-ride because they had such a focus on luxury back in the day. As sad, the Imperial is the top-of-the-line version of the Humber Super Snipe. Picnic tables, air-ride, vinyl roof - these extras were Imperial-only.

Riding this car is such a great pleasure. With it's three liter inline-six and over 120 hp the car is gliding. Every time I ride I am surpised how quiet the engine is, paired with the auto transmission you don't hear nothing on the inside. There is no must for a V8, also the inline-six is a very refined engine. It's a mute floating, you don't hear the car, such a big pleasure.

Then there are the mentioned extras and also those fantastic seats. Going 50 mph on country roads is better than slouching on the sofa. The car came with safety belts, enormous seats along with arm rests and so on. Four grown-ups can easily go for a distant journey in this car.

The Imperial has an indicated limit of more than 100 mph - which I never did. That's just not appealing to me. But a traveling speed between 60 and 75 mph allows you to go safely even on the Autobahn. That's just pleasant."
#goldcarporn

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