Oxford Diecast 76HST001

Humber Snipe Tourer Old Faithful General Montgomery Ita

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Manufacturer description

The original Humber Snipe was a four door luxury saloon introduced by the British car manufacturer Humber in 1930. Shortly afterwards the company joined the Rootes Group who continued manufacture of the Snipe between 1931 and 1940 and then from 1945 to 1948. During the war years, production of the Snipe for civilian use ceased but the Snipe was used extensively as a military staff car through many areas of conflict.

Our newly tooled four-door open Tourer version of the Snipe was produced in 1941 and used in Italy in 1942 by General Montgomery, who had his own personal chauffeur to transport him during his Command of the British Eighth Army in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Familiarly known as 'Old Faithful' the car featured a 3498 cc six cylinder engine and with a top speed of between 65 and 72 mph. The coachwork had been the work of Thrupp & Maberly.

The model appears with its green beige hood down, decorated in a pale cream and olive green drab camouflage with light green beige seats. The RAF roundel is printed on the top of the bonnet and the bumper is particular to this release. A final detail sees military lettering printed on both sides of the bonnet . This little vehicle is worthy of a place in your World War II military collection. And, you can see the real thing in the Imperial War Museum in London.

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast Humber Snipe Tourer – Old Faithful General Montgomery Ita

Manufacturer Part Number: 76HST001
Period represented: British Railways Early Crest

The original Humber Snipe was a four‑door luxury saloon launched by Humber in 1930. Production continued under the Rootes Group from 1931 to 1940 and again from 1945 to 1948, with civilian manufacture halting during the war while the model served as a staff car for the armed forces.

This die‑cast model reproduces the open‑tourer version built in 1941, which was employed in Italy in 1942 by General Montgomery during his command of the British Eighth Army. Known as “Old Faithful”, the vehicle was fitted with a 3498 cc six‑cylinder engine capable of a top speed between 65 mph and 72 mph, and the coachwork was supplied by Thrupp & Maberly.

The model is presented with the hood down in a pale cream and olive‑green drab camouflage scheme, light green‑beige seats and a RAF roundel printed on the bonnet. It includes a bespoke bumper and military lettering on both sides of the bonnet. The piece is intended for collectors of World War II military memorabilia; the original car is displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London.