Humber Hawk

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Humber Hawk
Production period: 1945-1967
Class : upper middle class
Body versions : Limousine , Pullman limousine , station wagon
Previous model: Humber 14 hp

The Humber Hawk is an upper middle class passenger car manufactured by the British Rootes Group under the Humber brand . It was produced from 1945 and the name Hawk (in German " Falke ") was used for new models until 1967.

Hawk Mark I / II

Mark I / Mark II
Humber Hawk Mark I (1946)

Humber Hawk Mark I (1946)
Production period: 1945-1949
Body versions : limousine
Engines: Otto engine :
1.95 liters (41 kW)
Length: 4521 mm
Width: 1753 mm
Height:
Wheelbase : 2896 mm
Empty weight :

The Hawk Mark I was a classic four-door sedan that was developed from the pre-war 14 hp model. It had a four-cylinder in-line engine with 1944 cm³ displacement, upright valves and an output of 56 bhp (41 kW). The rear rigid axle, which was attached to longitudinal leaf springs, was driven via a four-speed gearbox with a steering wheel gearshift and a one-piece cardan shaft. The front wheels were individually suspended from a wishbone above and a transverse leaf spring below . The heavy car reached a top speed of 105 km / h.

The four-door body was mounted on a separate frame and had 6 side windows. A roll-top roof was part of the standard equipment.

In autumn 1947 the Hawk Mark II appeared , which differed from the Mark I essentially only in a steering wheel gearshift.

Rear view

Hawk Mark III-V

Mark III / Mark IV / Mark V
Humber Hawk Mark V sedan (1954)

Humber Hawk Mark V sedan (1954)
Production period: 1948-1954
Body versions : Limousine , Pullman limousine
Engines:
Petrol engines : 1.95–2.3 liters
(41–42.5 kW)
Length: 4420 mm
Width: 1778 mm
Height: 1645 mm
Wheelbase : 2678 mm
Empty weight :

Hawk Mark III

In October 1948 the Hawk Mark III was introduced. The newly developed pontoon- shaped car, the body of which had been designed by Raymond Loewy , had a new, separate frame with cross bracing and the engine of the predecessor. The front wheels were individually suspended on double wishbones with coil springs. The rear rigid axle had also been revised and an axle drive with hypoid gearing was used.

The limousine body was optionally available in two-tone or metallic paintwork. By 1950, 10,040 copies of the Hawk Mark III had been made.

Hawk Mark IV

The new Hawk Mark IV appeared in 1950 and had an engine with enlarged cylinder bores and a displacement of 2267 cc. The output increased only insignificantly by 2 bhp (1.5 kW). The engine now had an aluminum cylinder head and the wheels were enlarged to 15 ″ and the steering ratio increased. The car weighed 1358 kg, 53% of which was on the front axle.

The body of the sedan remained unchanged. 6492 copies were built by 1952.

Hawk Mark V

The Hawk Mark V was mechanically unchanged in 1952 . Only the front was slightly revised, the trunk lid was a little flatter and bumpers were led around the corners of the vehicle. In addition to the limousine, a Pullman limousine was offered. Up to 1954, 14,300 copies of the Mark V.

Rear view

Hawk Mark VI / VIa

Mark VI / Mark VIa
Humber Hawk Mark VIa sedan (1957)

Humber Hawk Mark VIa sedan (1957)
Production period: 1954-1957
Body versions : Limousine , station wagon
Engines: Otto engine :
2.3 liters (51 kW)
Length: 4597 mm
Width: 1829 mm
Height: 1651 mm
Wheelbase : 2680 mm
Empty weight : 1358 kg

In 1954 the Hawk Mark VI received a new engine. Cubic capacity and cylinder dimensions were taken from the predecessor, but there was a new cylinder head with overhead valves . The power increased to 70 bhp (51 kW). The rear of the sedan was slightly changed, which, in addition to the slightly larger wheelbase, lengthened the body. From 1955 a five-door station wagon was also offered. 18,836 copies of the Hawk Mark VI were built.

In April 1956 the Hawk Mark VIa appeared , which differed from the Mark VI essentially only in a better interior design. There was also now a deluxe version. By 1957, 9614 copies of the Hawk Mark VIa were made.

Hawk Mark VI (1954)

Hawk Series I – IVa

Series I, Ia, II, III, IV, IVa
Humber Hawk Series I sedan (1957)

Humber Hawk Series I sedan (1957)
Production period: 1954-1957
Body versions : Limousine , Pullman limousine , station wagon
Engines: Otto engine :
2.3 liters (57 kW)
Length: 4700 mm
Width: 1800 mm
Height: 1560 mm
Wheelbase : 2800 mm
Empty weight :

Series I.

In 1957 the Hawk Series I appeared with a slightly more powerful engine (78 bhp, 57 kW) and a new self-supporting body with a panoramic windshield. The body, which was one of the largest made for a car in the UK at the time, was designed in the Rootes Group's design studios and resembled that of the 1955 Chevrolet models. It was also used for the Humber Super Snipe from 1958 onwards . The vehicle was available as a sedan, Pullman sedan and station wagon. The latter had a split tailgate, the lower part of which opened downwards and could thus serve as a luggage rack. A Borg-Warner 35 automatic transmission was available on request . 15,539 Hawk Series 1s were built in two years.

Series Ia

The Hawk Series Ia offered from 1959 differed only slightly from its predecessor. There was a different gear ratio in the drive and minor changes to the chrome strips. There were 6813 copies of the Hawk Series Ia.

Series II

In October 1960, the Hawk Series II came out. In contrast to its predecessors, it had disc brakes at the front and a brake booster. The automatic transmission was no longer available in the UK. 7230 Hawk Series II were built in two years.

Series III

The September 1962 Hawk Series III had a larger gas tank and a larger rear window. The automatic transmission option was also omitted for the export models. 6109 pieces were made in two years.

Series IV

In October 1964, more significant changes were introduced with the Hawk Series IV . The roof became flatter and the rear window smaller again. Behind the side windows of the rear doors, this version had additional, fixed triangular windows. For the first time, 1st gear was also synchronized. The rear axle was equipped with a stabilizer. Only 1746 copies of the Hawk Series IV were built.

Series IVa

The last version of the Humber Hawk appeared in 1965 with the Hawk Series IVa . An automatic transmission was again available on request, the Model 35 from BorgWarner . Of this version, 3754 pieces were made in two years.

In March 1967, the Rootes Group announced that the Humber Hawk production along with its sister models Super Snipe and New Imperial had been discontinued. It stated that the Chrysler Valiant from Australian should fill the gap production. However, this model could not establish itself in the United Kingdom, so that from 1968 customers instead turned to the Volvo 142/144/145 and their successors.

Gallery images

  • Humber Hawk Series I station wagon

  • Rear view Series I station wagon

  • Humber Hawk Series II

  • Hawk Series II side view

  • Humber Hawk Series III

  • Humber Hawk Series IV

  • Hawk Series IV rear view

literature

  • David Culshaw & Peter Horrobin: The Complete Catalog of British Cars 1895–1975. Veloce Publishing, Dorchester 1997, ISBN 1-874105-93-6
  • Nick Walker: AZ of British Coachbuilders, 1919-1960 . Bay View Books, Bideford, Devon 1997. ISBN 1-870979-93-1

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q G. Robson: A – Z of British Cars 1945–1980 . Herridge, Devon 2006. ISBN 0-9541063-9-3
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l David Culshaw & Peter Horrobin: The Complete Catalog of British Cars 1895–1975. Veloce Publishing, Dorchester 1997, ISBN 1-874105-93-6
  3. ↑ tocmp.org/humberhawk1948.htm
  4. ↑ The Humber Hawk in The Motor . February 21, 1950
  5. ↑ Our Experts Advice: Humber Hawk Cylinder Head in Practical Motorist . Issue 7 (nbr 76). December 1960. p. 417
  6. ^ Second Hand Car Guide Supplement in Practical Motorist . Issue 6 (nbr 68). April 1960. between pages 768 and 769
  7. ^ The Humber Hawk Estate Car in The Motor . April 11, 1956
  8. ↑ The Humber Hawk in The Motor . June 12, 1957
  9. ↑ M. Sedgwick & M. Gillies: AZ of Cars of the 1930s . Bay View Books, Devon 1989. ISBN 1-870979-38-9
  10. ↑ a b News and Views: Nor more big Humbers in Autocar . Issue 126 (nbr 3708). March 9, 1967. p. 66
  11. ↑ News and Views: Now available in this country is the Volvo 145 estate car… in Autocar . Issue 128 (nbr 3765). April 11, 1968. p. 29

Web links

Commons : Humber Hawk  - collection of images, videos and audio files