CHASING CARS
ASKING £7995 PRICE
ENGINE 1725cc/4-cyl/OHV POWER 85bhp@5500rpm TORQUE 90lb ft@3500rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 90mph 0-60MPH 17sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 25-30mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, 4-sp man + o/d MoT 12 months on sale ODOMETER 49,847 miles
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
Humber replaced the 1592cc motor with a 1725cc engine the year after this Sceptre MkI was built but this one has been retro-fitted with the larger Hillman unit. It starts cleanly on plenty of choke though needs it for a while. It's smooth for all that, however, pulling well without flat spotting and off-choke fuelling seems fine. Clutch action is progressive, with no grabbing; gear changes are literally a fingertip job, the synchromesh feels fine and the column stalk-operated overdrive selects cleanly and smoothly with no slurring or untoward noises. Braking is firm and pulls up straight and short, while the steering has plenty of feedback. Damping feels fine with no suspension creaks and the car sits nice and level.
BODYWORK CHECK
The body is in generally very good condition. There is some of bubbling on the sills and wheel arches, but nothing major. The chrome is in just the right condition with slight tarnishing here and there but no real corrosion of the base metal and it's perfect in many places. The windscreen and lamps look to be free of cracks and chips, the rear lenses are in good order and the door rubbers and glass surrounds all look intact. The panel fit and shut lines are all good and the budget whitewall tyres have decent tread depth.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
The seats have been re-trimmed and the original fascia is devoid of any obvious UV damage or cracking. New overmats cover a few indications of age and wear to the carpets and there’s a nice level of patina to the steering wheel and gear knob. The door cards have been re-trimmed but the originality of the switch gear is as wonderful as the modern radio is jarrin
