After pampering it for three decades –he now wants to sell prized ‘59 Humber Hawk’
The 1959 Humber Hawk up for sale
The 1959 Humber Hawk up for sale

By Rabindra Rooplall

IN A well-organised city garage, an 83-year-old retired mechanical engineer, who has a passion for restoring antique cars, stands looking over his 1959 Humber Hawk, which he purchased for the princely sum of $5,000 back then from the Anglican Diocese in Guyana.
“I have it in my garage all the time. I am a collector of cars; I love auto cars,” said Desmond McLaren Pemberton, who proudly boasted that he kept the car, because he was part of the Anglican Diocese.
The vehicle he couldn’t take his eyes off was manufactured by DeRousse Motor Company in London, England. He took ownership of it on July 17, 1980.

Desmond McLaren Pemberton
Desmond McLaren Pemberton

Pemberton gleefully reflected that the previous owner of the vehicle was the late Archbishop of the West Indies, Sir Alan John Knight. The vehicle has a gasoline four-cylinder 1922cc horsepower engine, with a manual four-speed gear box that has a carburetor and standard ignition system.
A SMALL FORTUNE
The rear-wheel-drive four-door sedan was purchased by Pemberton for what could have been considered a small fortune in those days.
With grey hairs sprouting from all angles of his head and face, Pemberton related that he took two years to restore the Humber Hawk, finally completing it in November 1982.
Still working in his garage in Alberttown, Georgetown, Pemberton, who comes from a long line of engineers, was taught to be a mechanic by his father, Rupert Deeny McLaren Pemberton, from the age of 12.
The junior Pemberton showed a drive and passion for mechanics and engineering, which caused him to purchase his first car at the age of 14.
It was a Series III Morris Oxford (PE 571).
“I bought it from a man named Narine Doobay from Leguan. After that, I took it in my father’s garage, and took about three years to restore it. I sprayed it in Madras Red and Regency Cream, and sold it to a gentleman who was a shop owner on Regent Street in the 1960s.”
He had bought it for $550, and sold it for $1,800 after restoration.
From there on, he kept buying cars and restoring them for sale.
“I loved to work on the Series III Oxford, the Series III Hillman Minx, and the Vauxhall Victor, which were the going cars in those years,” Pemberton said, adding:
“Right now I do bodywork and spray- painting still; and I love working on the classical cars.”
FOR THE LOVE OF IT
The father of four, who resides on Forshaw Street, said his passion and love for his job had given him a comfortable life.
His one advice over the years to youths seeking out mechanical and engineering work has always been to join the field for the love of it, and the money would come.
Quoting his old man, he said: “My late father said that any profession you decide to take, you must love it, so your life will be a joy.
“Even if women want to get into a workshop, they must have proper training. Any part of the world, the skills of a mechanical engineer is always needed.
“Do whatever it takes to get yourself into a position to love what you do. There are lots of opportunities in the world, and a lot of people who hate their jobs.
“Do what you will be proud of- if you work at it, money will come to you.”
VERY CHALLENGING
Being a mechanic, he said, can be very challenging at times. For one, there are the physical demands: You have to spend long periods of time with your body bent in an awkward position, which can be stressful and tiring. Then there’s the mental demand. “Sometimes you encounter a problem you’ve never seen, or your repairs don’t work as you expected. Plus, communicating with customers can be hard. It’s difficult to put auto-talk into everyday terms for people who aren’t familiar with the technical aspects.”
But in spite of all this, he wouldn’t trade what he does for the world.

 

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