MEET THE OWNER: CHAD DENDY AND HIS HUMBER SCEPTRE

Chad Dendy is the proud owner of what must be one of the most eye-catching cars on the South Coast. Any 1965 Sceptre Mk. I would cut a dash through Lee on Solent, causing amazement amongst the various holidaymakers. Ice cream parlour customers gawp at the sight of those charmingly retro ’50s line while other motorists slow down to marvel at the Humber’s sheer presence.

Most notably, the Dendy Sceptre is finished in black, a special order paintwork that enhances its appearance. Chad already owned a 1964 example when he came by CYA 456 C and could not resist the chance to buy a Mk. I in such original condition and with such a distinctive colour scheme. Plus, whitewall tyres (a £7 5s extra) are the perfect finishing touch

The Rootes Group unveiled the Sceptre in 1963 as their rival to the Vauxhall VX 4/90 FB, the MG Magnette Mk. IV and the Riley 4/72. Bill Boddy of Motor Sport was highly impressed with the first post-war compact Humber and regarded it as:

a car with the commendable merit of being better in this respect the faster it is driven, and anyone seeking a solid, smartly modern, well-built and completely-equipped car need look no further. I predict that the Humber Sceptre will become deservedly popular and the astonishing fact remains that the Rootes Group somehow contrives to sell its latest Humber model for only £997 8s 9d inclusive of Purchase Tax.

By late 1965 the Sceptre was face lifted as the Mk. II, gaining a new grille and the 1,725cc engine replacing the 1. 6-litre unit. Chad’s Humber is one of the finest examples of the first-generation model. The equipment list is positively decadent for the era, from an adjustable steering column to quad headlamps, while few cars boast such stylish instrumentation.

The specification also includes overdrive, a fitting that Chad much appreciates. He remarks, “It gives it that bit more speed when needed to keep up with modern traffic whilst still having the lower for climbing slopes when not using the overdrive”.

1967 saw the demise of the original Sceptre, as the Mk. III featured the “Arrow” bodywork of the Hillman Hunter. This makes the Dendy Humber an especially notable vehicle, combining the visual appeal of a fifties machine with the performance of a sixties sporting saloon. As for the public reaction, Chad remarks he is often advised never to modify the Humber and he also finds:

Nobody knows the brand; it is very rare that someone knows the make even exists. It is not like owning a Capri and everyone says ‘my dad used to own one’. Humbers were always owned by a certain type of individual.

And If Joe Brown or Marty Wilde did not drive a Sceptre Mk II in 1965, they should have done.

With Thanks To: Chad Dendy