It was perhaps only natural that the top-of-the-range Humber should be selected by Her Majesty Queen Mary when purchasing a utility vehicle specifically designed with a view to transporting her cherished house plants to wherever she was staying on her journeys around the Realm. Bespoke coachbuilders, Thrupp & Maberly Ltd, were selected to build the individual coachwork for this car. Long-established from the days of horse-drawn carriages, Thrupp & Maberly had become part of the Rootes Group in 1925, had constructed the coachwork for Sir Henry Segrave’s World Land Speed Record car, Golden Arrow, in 1929 and in war time years had built bodies on Humber staff cars, including that of Field Marshall Montgomery’s personal war transport, ‘Old Faithful’. So the order from the Royal Mews for this very car was yet another feather-in-the-cap for this celebrated company. Despatched on 2nd July 1946 and finished in stone livery with brown upholstery, this unique vehicle featured a small seat in the very rear, designed for an attendant to sit and keep watch over Her Majesty’s favourite plants. The new vehicle was registered as an estate van, (the rear window blanking out panels are still with the car), to benefit from the extra petrol allowance for commercial vehicles during post-war fuel rationing. The original Despatch Record from Rootes notes the supply of petrol coupons with the new vehicle. The car remained in Royal ownership until 1953 when it was acquired by dealers, Stratstone Ltd, who sold it on almost immediately in July 1953 to the father of the present owner. He related that “thereafter when passing Marlborough House he would be saluted by the gateman who of course knew the car”. He occasionally stopped for a chat and was told the story, perhaps apocryphal, that Prince Michael of Kent had bent one of the front wings whilst driving her on one of the Royal Estates. The well equipped estate van is generously equipped with twin auxiliary driving lamps, individual foot scrapers to each door, twin rear view mirrors, period indicators and has the opening rear door. Offered with this distinctive vehicle are the original handbook together with a service and parts handbook, the original tool kit and jack together with cotton gauntlets to protect ones man’s sleeves should tyre changing be necessary. The original Rootes Group Despatch Note to Her Majesty Queen Mary at Marlborough House is also offered with the vehicle together with the buff log book showing acquisition by Stratstones in July 1953 and by the present owner’s family the following day. It is offered with a Swansea V5 registration document and current MoT certificate. Vehicles with such unique Royal provenance rarely come to the open market and this must surely be one of the most significant post-war Humbers recorded with the Post-Vintage Humber Car Club. In its own right it has a worthy place in history but would of course make the most distinguished tender vehicle for such prestige events as the Goodwood Revival Meeting. One feels that the gateman would automatically salute upon its arrival.
It was perhaps only natural that the top-of-the-range Humber should be selected by Her Majesty Queen Mary when purchasing a utility vehicle specifically designed with a view to transporting her cherished house plants to wherever she was staying on her journeys around the Realm. Bespoke coachbuilders, Thrupp & Maberly Ltd, were selected to build the individual coachwork for this car. Long-established from the days of horse-drawn carriages, Thrupp & Maberly had become part of the Rootes Group in 1925, had constructed the coachwork for Sir Henry Segrave’s World Land Speed Record car, Golden Arrow, in 1929 and in war time years had built bodies on Humber staff cars, including that of Field Marshall Montgomery’s personal war transport, ‘Old Faithful’. So the order from the Royal Mews for this very car was yet another feather-in-the-cap for this celebrated company. Despatched on 2nd July 1946 and finished in stone livery with brown upholstery, this unique vehicle featured a small seat in the very rear, designed for an attendant to sit and keep watch over Her Majesty’s favourite plants. The new vehicle was registered as an estate van, (the rear window blanking out panels are still with the car), to benefit from the extra petrol allowance for commercial vehicles during post-war fuel rationing. The original Despatch Record from Rootes notes the supply of petrol coupons with the new vehicle. The car remained in Royal ownership until 1953 when it was acquired by dealers, Stratstone Ltd, who sold it on almost immediately in July 1953 to the father of the present owner. He related that “thereafter when passing Marlborough House he would be saluted by the gateman who of course knew the car”. He occasionally stopped for a chat and was told the story, perhaps apocryphal, that Prince Michael of Kent had bent one of the front wings whilst driving her on one of the Royal Estates. The well equipped estate van is generously equipped with twin auxiliary driving lamps, individual foot scrapers to each door, twin rear view mirrors, period indicators and has the opening rear door. Offered with this distinctive vehicle are the original handbook together with a service and parts handbook, the original tool kit and jack together with cotton gauntlets to protect ones man’s sleeves should tyre changing be necessary. The original Rootes Group Despatch Note to Her Majesty Queen Mary at Marlborough House is also offered with the vehicle together with the buff log book showing acquisition by Stratstones in July 1953 and by the present owner’s family the following day. It is offered with a Swansea V5 registration document and current MoT certificate. Vehicles with such unique Royal provenance rarely come to the open market and this must surely be one of the most significant post-war Humbers recorded with the Post-Vintage Humber Car Club. In its own right it has a worthy place in history but would of course make the most distinguished tender vehicle for such prestige events as the Goodwood Revival Meeting. One feels that the gateman would automatically salute upon its arrival.
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