1920 Humber 15

The 15.9 HP was Humber's first post war motorcar. It employed the same engine that powered the pre-war "Fourteen". The bore size was increased from 75mm to 80mm and a water pump was added. The original engine was designed in 1912 and is therefore truly Edwardian in design and appearance.

Horsepower was calculated thus: (D²) x N where D = Bore Size and N = No. of cylinders. (2.5 was a constant.) 2.5

This car left the Humber Works on 23rd October 1920 and was dispatched to Tozer Kemsley of London in Chassis form only. This Company specialised in the export of motorcars to the Antipodes. The car was duly loaded aboard the SS Arawa and sent to New Zealand where it arrived on 16th February 1921.

The New Zealand importers were the Tourist Motor Company of Napier & Hastings. It was they who arranged for the Speedster body to be built. The chosen coachbuilders were Johnson & Smith of Christchurch - their plaque adorns the door thresholds to this day.

On completion, the car was held in stock until 21st July 1922 when it was delivered (one of a pair!) to a Mrs. Maud A Perry of Otatara for the princely sum of £950. The car was purchased as a wedding gift for Mrs. Perry's daughter, Mori. The wedding took place on 10th August 1922. Mori was only 16 at the time -- driving licenses in New Zealand did not come into effect until 1924 so she would have been able to drive the car! It is documented that all Maud Perry's cars were painted maroon to match her cloaks so the car will of course be put back to the original colour.

It is not currently known how long Mori kept the car but it is not thought to be too long, maybe 5 years or so. No more history is known until the previous owner who acquired the car in 1965 and kept it until 2001 when it was repatriated.

Maud Perry was the daughter of a Maori Princess, Airini Karauria and latterly lived at the Otatara Homestead until it was destroyed by the 1931 Earthquake.

The engine having been cleaned off and painted. The bonnet landings varnished too.

This is a photograph from the Humber catalogue showing a very similar car to mine. It will look like this again one day I hope !

I would like to thank the following people so far with their help: Robert McGregor - Art Deco Napier Trust, John Tarring - Historian Humber Register. Jacqui Wilson -Grand Daughter of Maud Perry and Chris Denby, new found friend and fellow car enthusiast in New Zealand

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