The Humber 8hp was an early 20th-century British automobile produced by Humber & Co. Limited. The Humber 8hp was produced in the early 1900s, with the specific model running from around 1902 to 1905.
The Humber 8hp was powered by a single-cylinder engine. The “8hp” designation referred to the car’s horsepower, which was typical of cars during that era. The engine was water-cooled and had side valves. Given its small engine and early automotive technology, the Humber 8hp was not a particularly fast car by modern standards, but it was suitable for the relatively slow and rough roads of its time. Its top speed would have been modest, around 25-30 mph. The car featured a two-speed transmission with an additional reverse gear. The transmission was often chain-driven, which was common in early motor vehicles.
The vehicle was built on a simple, yet robust, ladder-frame chassis. It typically had solid axles and leaf spring suspension, which were standard for the time. The Humber 8hp was offered in various body styles, including two-seater and four-seater configurations. The bodywork was often bespoke, as was common in the era, with options for open or partially enclosed bodies.
The Humber 8hp was one of Humber’s early ventures into automobile manufacturing. The company originally started as a bicycle manufacturer before transitioning into automobiles. The 8hp model represented an early effort to make motor vehicles accessible to a broader range of customers, offering reliability and simplicity.
The Humber 8hp was featured in the 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The car was driven by Truly Scrumptious and used in the opening sequence of the film, where several vintage racing cars are shown participating in early 20th-century races. In the film, the Humber 8hp was one of the vehicles racing alongside the original “Chitty” cars that inspired the story. This inclusion was a nod to the rich history of early British motoring and the real-life racing heritage of cars like the Humber 8hp. The car’s appearance helped to set the historical tone for the movie, which is loosely inspired by the racing cars built by Count Louis Zborowski, including the real-life Chitty Bang Bang cars.
Humber continued to evolve and became one of Britain’s well-regarded car manufacturers, producing a range of vehicles over the following decades. The 8hp model is part of Humber’s early history, illustrating the company’s transition from bicycles to motor vehicles.
