Tim Schofield
Head of UK Business Development, Motoring
LOT 201
1904 Humber 4½hp Olympia Tandem Forecar Registration no. M 573 Chassis no. 144592 (952 to the V5C) Engine no. 2197
Sold for £37,950 inc. premium
Lot 201
1904 Humber 4½hp Olympia Tandem Forecar
1904 Humber 4½hp Olympia Tandem Forecar
Registration no. M 573
Chassis no. 144592 (952 to the V5C)
Engine no. 2197
Registration no. M 573
Chassis no. 144592 (952 to the V5C)
Engine no. 2197
• Present ownership since 1979
• Many-time London-Brighton Run participant
• Also eligible for the Pioneer Run and Banbury Run
• VCC and Pioneer Run dating certificates
With a background in bicycle manufacture, Humber began motor vehicle production as early as 1896, displaying motorcycles at 'The International Horseless Carriage Exhibition' that year. The production of Humber vehicles was carried on at both Beeston, Nottingham and at Coventry, there being some considerable rivalry between the two factories, the Beeston works being reserved generally for production of the more expensive models.
"The Humber Olympia motor tandem is an ideal vehicle for two riders. All control is in the hands of the rear rider while the passenger is in the front, out of reach of dust and the exhaust gases, and conversation is easy. The front seat is most comfortably hung on springs and is excellently upholstered, luxurious to even the most delicate. The steering is unaffected by the absence or the presence of a passenger, and is easier than that of an ordinary tricycle." Thus did Humber describe their 1903 offering. The air-cooled engine was built under Phelon & Moore licence, featuring an automatic inlet valve and a bore/stroke of 80x77mm, giving a capacity of 630cc.
One of the earliest surviving Humbers, this tandem forecar is one of those rare vehicles eligible for both the London-Brighton Veteran Car Run and the Pioneer Run for Veteran motorcycles. A VCC Certificate of Dating and a Pioneer Certificate are on file. A letter on file written to the current vendor by a Mr Collin in 1987 states that the Humber had been discovered among the effects of a deceased university professor and purchased by one F C Potts of Wirral, Merseyside, who went on to restore it. Mention is made of a photograph of Potts' Humber taken at the 1950 Banbury Run where it won the award for machine of greatest technical interest. Our vendor acquired the machine in 1979, since when it has been a regular London-Brighton Run participant (see list on file). Additional paperwork consists of old/current V5/V5C registration documents, an old-style continuation logbook (1971), a Science Museum Certificate, and a copy brochure.
• Many-time London-Brighton Run participant
• Also eligible for the Pioneer Run and Banbury Run
• VCC and Pioneer Run dating certificates
With a background in bicycle manufacture, Humber began motor vehicle production as early as 1896, displaying motorcycles at 'The International Horseless Carriage Exhibition' that year. The production of Humber vehicles was carried on at both Beeston, Nottingham and at Coventry, there being some considerable rivalry between the two factories, the Beeston works being reserved generally for production of the more expensive models.
"The Humber Olympia motor tandem is an ideal vehicle for two riders. All control is in the hands of the rear rider while the passenger is in the front, out of reach of dust and the exhaust gases, and conversation is easy. The front seat is most comfortably hung on springs and is excellently upholstered, luxurious to even the most delicate. The steering is unaffected by the absence or the presence of a passenger, and is easier than that of an ordinary tricycle." Thus did Humber describe their 1903 offering. The air-cooled engine was built under Phelon & Moore licence, featuring an automatic inlet valve and a bore/stroke of 80x77mm, giving a capacity of 630cc.
One of the earliest surviving Humbers, this tandem forecar is one of those rare vehicles eligible for both the London-Brighton Veteran Car Run and the Pioneer Run for Veteran motorcycles. A VCC Certificate of Dating and a Pioneer Certificate are on file. A letter on file written to the current vendor by a Mr Collin in 1987 states that the Humber had been discovered among the effects of a deceased university professor and purchased by one F C Potts of Wirral, Merseyside, who went on to restore it. Mention is made of a photograph of Potts' Humber taken at the 1950 Banbury Run where it won the award for machine of greatest technical interest. Our vendor acquired the machine in 1979, since when it has been a regular London-Brighton Run participant (see list on file). Additional paperwork consists of old/current V5/V5C registration documents, an old-style continuation logbook (1971), a Science Museum Certificate, and a copy brochure.
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