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Weekly Motor Fix: 1949 Humber Super Snipe ambulance

2 August, 2016

 

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“This truly unique and original Humber Super Snipe ambulance is believed to be one of two left in the world”

Owner Trevor Ward first spotted this ambulance in a gully when he was on a train trip south. On his return journey he spotted the ambo again, and made note of where it would be. He tracked this unique vehicle down to a farm owned by local horse trainers, the Cody brothers. Trevor began the negotiation (which wasn’t easy, due to the Cody brothers’ desire to keep the ambo for training the horses) and finally ended up owning the car. This was 1987, and following a bit of work to get her up to scratch, the Humber was back on the road again after its stint in the equine arena.

Trevor’s fondness for the humble Humber Super Snipe began when he would buy them for $50 and compete in demolition derbies, but this ambulance version was to be used for slightly more salubrious purposes. Over the decades, Trevor has worked on bringing the Humber back to as close to original condition as can be. He managed to track down one of the drivers of the ambulance from its days at the Waipara Hospital Board, Bob Evans. Bob had taken the flashing light and ambulance sign with him as a memento when the van was retired, so thankfully Trevor was able to buy these pieces back from Bob and has them fitted, along with gurneys and sheets.

The ambulance was built by Reevely Ellis and Collingwood Coachbuilders in the heart of Auckland city. According to Trevor, just 22 of these ambulances were made, and this example is just one of two remaining (the other is in Scotland).

The Humber certainly hasn’t been a garage queen under Trevor’s stewardship. It has been on regular drives around New Zealand, including the British Link three times, and most recently joined the Dunedin Vintage Car Club for a rally around the South Island a couple of years back.

Unfortunately, ill health has forced Trevor to part ways with the Humber, so if you’re interested in picking up this piece of Kiwi history, email [email protected] and we’ll pass your details on.

Dad will love this!

29 August, 2026

Subscribe or gift a subscription to NZ Classic Car magazine for one year this Father’s Day, and go into the draw to win one of two luxury car care packages worth $570 from Lovecars.
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Together, you’ve got the setup to foam, wash, protect and dry your car properly – using some of NZ’s top-selling car detailing products.
A seriously good prize for anyone who loves keeping their car looking its best.

Motorsport Flashback: The Temple of Speed

28 August, 2026

On the banks of the Lambro River is Europe’s largest enclosed park, all 688 hectares of it. Parco di Monza was commissioned by the son of an Austrian empress as a summer retreat in the late 1700s, but it would be for another century and a half before ground was broken on what would become Italy’s famous theatre of speed at the park’s northern end. One hundred years ago on 3 September, less than four months after work started, Autodromo Nazionale di Monza was officially opened and the first race – appropriately, the Italian Grand Prix – was run a week later. Monza was the world’s third purpose-built circuit, after Brooklands and Indianapolis, and was the result of the Milan Automobile Club financing the 3500 workers who created the super-quick, and consequently dangerous, track that made the word ‘Monza’ synonymous for speed.