Humber Sceptre Mark 1 and 2 (1963 – 1967) Review
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Humber Sceptre Mark 1 and 2 (1963 – 1967) At A Glance
Plush Rootes Audax, with stylish new roofline and more equipment, Holbay tuned engine refined and punchy
A prime slice of sensibly-sized 1960s British luxury
Rootes introduced a new range of mid-sized known as the Audax series cars in the early 1960s. At the top of this badge engineering tree, which also comprised the Hillman Super Minx and Singer Vogue, was the Humber Sceptre. It was more sporty than usual for a Humber – originally, the Sceptre was to be the new Sunbeam Rapier. And the bodyshell was considerably altered from the other offshoots with a wraparound screen, quad-headlamps and a stylish lowered roofline.
But it was a new departure for the marque, which had been saddled with a very authoritarian image since WW2. The more youthful Sceptre did much to reverse this trend. The Mark 2 of 1965 saw Rootes’ well-liked - and punchy - 1725cc engine adopted, albeit with a cheaper Hillman-influenced nose.
