1960: Hampton Expands, Updates Lineup
Above, from left to right: Hampton Peregrine Sprint, Valiant 3.2 Deluxe and Vanguard 3.5.
Much of Hampton’s model range would be updated for 1960. The Peregrine was now powered by a 3.5-litre straight-six, developing 144 horsepower in regular trim or 172 horsepower with the optional Sprint Package, which included a sportier suspension tune and a close-ratio gearbox. The Valiant, meanwhile, was now offered with either a 3.0-litre or 3.2-litre straight-six in place of the earlier 2.8-litre unit - a necessary change in view of the first motorways having opened in 1958, and a Supreme trim line, powered by a 3.5-litre engine, also became available on the sedan and Coupe, while the entry-level Prime trim was retained. However, most significantly of all, there was an all-new flagship four-door luxury sedan, the Vanguard. It’s 3.5-litre straight-six was shared with the Valiant Supreme and the regular Peregrine, and its interior was upholstered in genuine Connolly leather, with real wood accents.
Both the Ferret and Valiant were now available in estate form, but while the former could now be ordered as a convertible, the latter could not; instead, the third body style for the Valiant would be a two-door coupe. However, unlike the Peregrine, the Valiant Coupe was a full four-seater instead of a 2+2. The Ferret’s engine was enlarged to 1.8 litres, and a 3-speed automatic transmission became optional for the first time.
Above, from left to right: Valiant Prime 3.0 Sedan, Valiant Deluxe 3.0 Wagon, and Valiant 3.5 Supreme Coupe at the 1960 Detroit Auto Show. Below, from left to right: Ferret 1.8 in Light Blue, Ferret 1.8 Convertible in Daffodil, and Ferret 1.8 Estate in Crimson.
The Shrike would not be neglected for 1960, either: to offset the weight gain from additional standard equipment, a 2.0-litre version of the Ferret’s straight-four was now standard across the range, which now included a convertible for the first time ever.
Above: Shrike Coupe in Maroon (left) and Shrike Convertible in Imperial Blue (right). Below, from left to right: 1960 Peregrine range - Sprint Coupe in Hampton Green, 2+2 in Black, and Convertible in Bright Red.
Finally, as a bridge between the entry-level Ferret and the more upmarket Valiant trims, the latter was now available in entry-level Prime specification for the first time in North America. This cheaper, decontented trim level had already been on sale in Europe from the outset, with a smaller 2.5-litre engine; however, for the facelift, it received a 3-litre engine, as used in the more upmarket trims.
1956 Valiant Prime 2.5 in Ebony (left) and 1960 Valiant Prime 3.0 in Sterling Silver (right)
From just one model upon its inception in 1948, the Hampton Model Group now had a well over a dozen passenger car variants, plus three utility vehicles (Nevis pickup and wagon, Transtar van) by 1960. This diversity was, quite frankly, necessary in order for the company to cover all bases, especially since the opposition (mainly Continental European makes, along with a few Far Eastern imports and North American motoring giants) was also trying to catch up. Nevertheless, Toby Hampton remained proud of what he had done not just for himself and his company, but also Britain as a whole, along with its people.