Singer

The Singer Porlock

A way back in the dim and distant past the Singer was the first real light car which was, in effect, a scaled-down version of the big, comfortable touring cars of its era. Although the little 10-h.p. vehicle was a doughty performer in competitions, (piloted mostly by Lionel Martin), the Singer concern did not enter the sports-car market seriously until 1933. It is true that, from time to time, sports versions of their chassis were produced, but the cars were not marketed as out-and-out sports cars, although many of them were modified as racing cars, with success. The "Porlock," based on the " Junior " model, was the nearest approach to a sports vehicle, but its performance scarcely entitled it to the appellation, despite its potent little o.h.c. power unit.

When the "Junior" grew up into the "Nine.," it was the development of the 972-c.c. engine that led to the production of the original Singer Nine Sports, first marketed as a four-seater only. This little car hit the jack-pot right from the beginning, and right away began to challenge the supremacy of the marque M.G. by winning trial after trial. The type had such great possibilities that a standard model was entered for the 1933 24-hour race at Le Mans by F. S. Barnes and A. H. Langley. The car was actually the identical car that Langley had been using with such success in competitions. Apart from a large petrol tank which took the place of the rear seat, it was practically unaltered. The little car justified its sponsors by finishing thirteenth in the general classification and being the first British car of under 1000-c.c. ever to qualify for the Rudge-Whitworth Biennial Cup. It covered 1,900 kilometres in the twenty-four hours, and ran throughout like clockwork.

From this car there sprang the series of LeMans two-seaters which were, in their day, amongst the most successful small sports cars ever produced in this country. Indirectly they caused the issue of the 939-c.c. "PB" M.G., as the results of the trials and rallies of the period tended to feature the name Singer in the prize lists with rather monotonous regularity. The cars also performed well in races, and more than once were the first British cars (and sometimes the only ones) to finish. The tragedy of the make occurred in the 1936 T.T. race, when three of the team cars crashed at the identical spot owing to the breaking of the steering drop arms. This vital unit had been over-hardened by the outside firm concerned, and there was no possible reflection on Singers. However, the damage to prestige was enormous, and the unfortunate accident undoubtedly had a bearing on the Singer Company's decision to abandon sports-car manufacture around 1937.

Side by side with the "Nine" there also grew up a fine car. This was the six-cylinder 1.5-litre model (59 x 91-mm. 1493-c.c.). Eventually this engine was put into the "Nine" chassis, and was capable of very high speeds indeed. In standard form (with triple S.U. carburetters) it had a maximum speed of over 80 m.p.h., and in Auto-Sports form the crab-tracked versions could pass the century mark. After the Singer concern had officially withdrawn from competition work the brothers Barnes (Stanley and Donald) purchased several of the works cars, and, in modified form, raced them as the Auto-Sports Singers. They also competed in trials, speed events and rallies with great success.Towards the start of 1937 there was introduced a 1.5-litre four-cylinder car, which had the makings of a really super-sporting vehicle. The 1496-c.c. (68 x 103-mm.) engine was also a chain-driven overhead-camshaft unit, as on all Singers. An unusual feature was the fitting of a vibration damper on the front of the crankshaft. The three-bearing crankshaft was fully dynamically balanced. Twin S.U. carburetters were used, whilst ignition was supplied by a Scintilla Vertex magneto.

Gear ratios were obviously chosen with trials in mind, and were 4.77, 6.96, 10.02 and 18.13 to 1. The Lockheed braking system included a hill-holder, which was an invaluable item for stop-and-restart hill tests. The chassis was extremely robust, and the car looked every inch a thoroughbred sports car. Despite the fact that its success was assured, Singers decided to cease the manufacture of the cars, and only about a dozen or so were delivered.

The Singer Replica

A supertuned version of the "Nine" was produced in 1936, and was known as the "Replica." This was a genuine road-racing car with a maximum of over 90 m.p.h. Very few were built, but those that did find their way into the hands of private owners did extremely well in competitions. It cost £525, which was real value for anyone interested in under-1,000-c.c. sports-car racing. Specification conformed fully to A.I.A.C.R. regulations, and it was fitted with an attractive, light two-seater body. The cars were rather affectionately dubbed the " Long-tail Singers." The most interesting part of the Singer sports cars was undoubtedly the power unit, probably one of the most efficient light-car engines yet devised of its type.

The overhead valves were actuated by chain (duplex on 1.5-litre cars). The 972-c.c. (60 x 80-mm.) engine had only two bearings right up till its demise. All Le Mans speed models had Scintilla Vertex magnetos and twin carburetters. Early examples had Zeniths, certain others had Solex, but the later cars were generally fitted with S.U.s. The entire range of Singer sports cars had Lockheed hydraulic brakes, and the marque was always noted for excellent road-holding and powerful anchoring. Suspension was by semi-elliptic springs fore and aft, controlled by friction-type Hartford shock absorbers, and all had four-speed synchromesh gearboxes.

The Singer Roadster

A semi-sporting car was marketed post WW2 under the name of the "Roadster," and was based on the Le Mans series in spite of a three-speed gearbox and different brake layout. The o.h.c. power unit had a three-bearing crankshaft, and was of 1074-c.c. (60 x 95-mm.). Coil ignition was used, a single carburetter was fitted, and easy-clean disc wheels were adopted. The vehicle was only marketed in four-seater form, but had good lines, and was capable of about 65 m.p.h.