Humber Pullman 1949 Owned by Nawab of Bahawalpur

[syeddanishanwaar]

I recently visited Marriot Hotel in Karachi. The car was on display at the reception area.

Can anyone tell me what is the use of the black rod in front of the car?

[capsat]

this is an engine starting lever
@msabbasi

[crema]

It is manual engine cranking rod.

[msabbasi]

indeed it is. In normal situation this handle is removed and kept in the trunk or dickey. In the event that the battery is flat, this handle is inserted into this location and then turned with all ones strength which results in the engine staring up.

[msabbasi]

@syeddanishanwaar may I please suggest to correct the title of this post. The car in question is:

HUMBER PULLMAN 1949. When this car was in Nawab Sahib's motor khana it had the Bahalwpur State registration number of BWP 425 on red plate. This vehicle was in the Abbasi family until a few years ago when it was purchased by Mr. Hashwani for display at one of his premium hotels.

Nawab of Bahawalpur often bought cars in twos. In this tradition the other Humber Pullman was a 1951 nowadays living in Lahore wit the registration number of BR 4147 pictured below:

This car is regular use and is seen driving up to Islamabad and beyond in various rallies.

Both cars were in family transport duty and had blacked out rear cabin glasses since the ladies of the family observed strict "purdah". There is also a blacked out glass partition between the driver and rear section of the vehicle.

[syeddanishanwaar]

Thank you sir for the great insights about this car. The display stand in front of the car at Marriott Karachi says that the car is Humber Pullman Limousine1951 version.

[msabbasi]

There were two Humber Pullmans in the Motor Khana. One was 1949 and the other 1951. To the best of my knowledge this one is the 1949. However I may be wrong on this point and this one might be the 1951 while the one in Lahore is the 1949. Further investigation needs to be done.

[syeddanishanwaar]

Yes. You are right that the one in Karachi is the 1949 model.

Source: https://mybahawalpur.com

[msabbasi]

:)) So we can say this case can be closed!!

[syeddanishanwaar]

Here are the specs of the two versions for detailed oriented people like myself.

Mark III was slightly larger in terms of length (+42mm) with higher top speed and acceleration. But its width was slightly less (-8mm) as compared to the predecessor.

[msabbasi]

https://www.pakwheels.com/used-cars/classic-cars-other-1960-for-sale-in-islamabad-5976094

One of the Humbers has come up for sale.

[amanabbasi489]

Actually in record there are three of them. Two are Limousines and the 3rd one is Humber Super Snipe. BWP 374 (my ex), BWP 386 which is in Islamabad and BWP 425 which is not a limousine.

[msabbasi]

one question and one correction:

Question: What is the source of these records? I am most interested if you have uncovered yet another of my Grandfather's cars. As far as I know there were only 2 Humbers in the Motor khana. But I am always open for correction. In the picture above I am not able to identify the person next to the car. Perhaps a higher resolution picture could be uploaded.

Correction: The Pullman name was always linked to 7 seater cars with a central glass partition. Hence Pullmans were, by default, limousines. 5 seater cars were the Super Snipes hence not limousines. However by special order one could order a 7 seater Pullman without the central glass partition called the Imperial. Hope this clarifies the model line up. I believe that vehicles at serial number 2 and 3 are one and the same.

[amanabbasi489]

Well, your Grandfather is my Great Grandfather and someone told me that the 3rd Humber Super Snipe was sold before the Auction which was held in 2004. I know whats the difference between them and I've been finding the 3rd one from quite a long time.

[msabbasi]

Sir, I am overjoyed to meet you here. May I ask who is your father/mother (the child of HH)?

The only reason for the model lineup explanation was because below the picture at S. No. 3 the third Humber is referred to as Humber Pullman and in the write up it is said that that one is not a limousine.

There is a person known to me who is working to write a book on HH's cars. Hence I have a huge interest in this third Humber. Please share the source of the discovery of the third Humber. It has to be listed in the book. But before it is mentioned, the source of information has to be authenticated. We cannot rely on hearsay. Thank you for your understanding.

Before going further I have to point out that these cars had different treatment of the side marker lights which makes it easy to identify them.

If memory serves me: one of the Humber Pullmans (round side lights - 1949) was inherited by my chacha Mamoon as per the Gazette of Pakistan 1969. After his passing it ended up with his son, Ahmed Rashid who sold it to Ch. Farzand Goheer. After this I lost track of the car but it was finally bought by Mr. Hashwani who has displayed it in the Karachi Marriot Hotel. As per my personal visit to Ch. Farzand's house in Bahawalpur where this car was parked, at the time it carried red plate BWP 425.

The second Humber (rectangular side lights - 1951) was sold by someone in the family to an electrician in Bahawalpur who in turn sold it to a car enthusiast in Lahore (member of CCOG) who participated in a few rallies (see pic below) and also attended a car show in Serena Hotel, Islamabad a few years ago carrying a black plate BR 4147. My guess is that this one was yours and when it had red plates, the number was BWP 374.

CCOG rally 2014 - 4th from right

It seems that BR 4147 changed hands again to someone in Islamabad and now is for sale on Pakwheels from Islamabad - link shared above.

Is my inference correct that the one for sale is in fact you ex Humber with the rectangular marker lights? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Since you are family you may know who is is standing next to the car in the picture you have uploaded?

Going back to the third Humber, the Super Snipe, as I sit and write this, it occurred to me that the family of HH bought cars that carried red BWP plates but technically were not the property of HH. For example there was a Gold Jaguar Mk10 (BWP 356) property of Abbas Khan Abbasi, a Rover property of Dawood Khan Abbasi and later Qasim Abbasi also with red plates, There was a Triumph Mk6 belonging to Flahuddin Abbasi, also, initially with red plates. I wonder is this Super Snipe might be falling in this category?

Let me check around to find out more about the Super Snipe.