1949 Humber Pullman

This motor car is being sold as part of an overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to the lower rate 5% import tax if the car is to remain in the UK & purchased by a private individual. The 5% is calculated on the final selling price. For example, if the car sells for £7,000, then £350 is added, making the total amount payable of £7,350.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable.

Lastly, there will be a nominal administration fee of £250 for processing the NOVA application, and payable direct to the shipping company. A completed and processed NOVA will provide you formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK and thus allow you to register the vehicle with the DVLA

In common with the majority of cars in this collection, this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for view and inspection at our HQ near Abingdon and we will be delighted to show the car to you and/or your appointed engineer.

The 1949 Humber Pullman we have with us today is in very good all-round condition and appears to us to be a sound, original and honest example of the marque and the model.

We have no continuous history or service record for this car, but we do have various invoices, bills and receipts for work done in 2015 and before when it would seem the car was subject to a partial restoration that at least addressed some bodywork issues. A single photograph indicates that this was a bare metal project.

We know that the gearbox was reconditioned and refitted in 2015. We have old MoT certificates going back to 1977, when the mileage was recorded as being 71,643.

In 1986 the odometer read 72,514 miles.

Today, it reads 73,208 miles.

As far as we can tell, the car became part of the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles on 2016/17. It hasn’t turned a wheel since.

A note inside the bonnet suggests that the anti-freeze was changed in November 2017.

As with the other cars in this vendor’s collection, we haven’t been able to start or drive it and, consequently, our opinions are confined to the car’s cosmetic condition.

That said, we have turned the engine by hand and can state that it is not seized.

The shut lines on this very large and stately coach-built Humber Pullman limousine are consistent and even. The panels are largely untroubled by any dinks or dents of real consequence. The doors slam home with precision and certainty.

This is a solid, serious, hand-crafted piece of engineering and everything about it seems weighty, purposeful and considered.

You’d be well advised to avoid dropping any part of it on your foot.

Even closing the boot lid takes both arms and a bit of grunt.

In general, the paintwork is in very decent condition. It has plenty of shine and is generally devoid of notable scratches, scuffs or chips.

The wheels look very good, too, and the chrome work all round is shiny and bright, save for sections of the trim around the windows, which has dulled and tarnished somewhat.

The bottom of the n/s/r door is showing some cracked paint, minor bubbling and seems to be pulling away slightly from the surround.

The intersection of the interior and exterior trim at the bottom of the o/s/f door is pretty shabby and is failing to stay connected to its constituent parts in a variety of ways.

Some of the rubber trim around the windows has seen better days.

Some slightly incongruous elements include the plastic-backed wing mirrors, the Union flag and the modern-looking exhaust tips.

All in all, there appears to a good deal of solidity and integrity to the bodywork and it has the look of a car that’s been well looked after by a succession of enthusiasts – a theory supported by closer inspection of the albeit short and rather disjointed paper-trail accompanying the vehicle.

The palatial interior is very much of its time, very original and, for the most part, very well preserved.

The leather bench seat in the front is in decent condition save for some cracks to the seat back on the driver’s side.

The door cards in the front are good and the carpets, though a bit dusty, particularly on the driver’s side, just need to be shown a vacuum cleaner and some cleaning products.

The wood veneers on the dashboard have held up very well, and the steering wheel, handbrake and column shift gear selector all look good. The trim on the ‘A’ pillars is worn and/or coming loose.

There is a small hole in the headlining.

Where black leather dominates the front cabin, the passenger compartment projects an altogether softer ambience, thanks largely to an abundance of beige coloured fabric upholstery, including a row of pop-up seats just in front of the sliding glass partition.

All the seats are in good condition, although the rear bench could do with a close encounter with some soapy water.

The wood around the windows and beneath the central glass partition is in decent nick.

The carpets and door cards are all pretty good in the back. Here, too, there is a small hole in the headlining.

There is a split in the fabric where the small parcel shelf meets the rear screen.

The boot, which seems to be in reasonable fettle, is full of boxes of bits and pieces.

These include various spare parts, original workshop manuals and handbooks, and assorted stuff that we can’t quite put a name to.

Lifting up the carpets here or elsewhere on this car reveals a superficial bloom of rust dust but nothing to raise any loud alarms.

From what we can see, the undersides are strong, sound and untroubled by anything that looks as if it might threaten the structural integrity of the vehicle.

Obviously, though, you’ll want expert eyes to take a closer look.

The engine and engine bay appears to have everything is in its right and proper place.

The car comes with very little history, no formal service records and neither a current MoT certificate nor a V5.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

We haven’t tried to start or drive the car so our understanding of it is somewhat limited.

That said, this car seems to us to be fundamentally sound, honest and largely authentic.

Our impression, supported by the little documentation we have, is that this has been a much-loved car throughout most or all of its life.

It’s clearly had a fair bit of remedial work done, hence its commendable condition and smart appearance.

The next owner can either enjoy as it is (provided the engine and mechanicals are as good as the rest of the car), or spend a little extra time and money taking it to the next level.

The choice is yours.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £7,000 - £10,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.