Marque: Singer - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand
Singer
The first Singer cars - built under licence from Lea-Francis and designed by Alex Craig - were produced in 1905 by George Singer, who had worked for Coventry Machinists before producing cycle, tricycles and then cars.
Singer died a year after the company went into receivership (in 1908) and the firm was re-established as Singer and Co. (1909) Ltd.
Early models from the new business…
Singer Chamois
PRICE: Chamois: £200 - £2000+
Chamois Sport: £250+ - £2500+
Fast Facts
- Produced:
1964-70 - Bodywork:
Two-door saloon - Engine:
Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 875cc Chamois: 39bhp; Chamois Sport: 51bhp - 0-60 mph:
Chamois: 23.5 sec; Chamois Sport: 16+ sec - Top Speed:
Chamois: 80 mph; Chamois Sport: 90 mph - MPG:
Chamois: 35-45; Chamois Sport: 30-40+
A great little car, now rare but worth tracking down for its fine mix of fun, civility and classy looks. The Chamois was a luxury version of the Hillman Imp, with a plusher interior, better soundproofing and sporty instrumentation, plus jazzier exterior bright work. Introduced in late 1964, the upmarket newcomer was powered by the same rev-happy engine as used in the less expensive Hillman. For 1966, the excellent Singer Chamois Sport arrived using the same peppy Imp Sport spec, while there was even a coupe based upon the Sunbeam Stiletto. For 1969, the Chamois featured quadruple headlamps but range was killed off just a year later.
Singer Gazelle (To 1967)
PRICE: Saloon/estate: £300 - £2000+; Convertible: £1000 - £4500+
Fast Facts
- Produced:
1956-67 - Bodywork:
Four-door saloon; Two-door cabrio; Five-door estate - Engine:
Series I (1956-57)/Series II (1957- 58): Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 1496cc 49bhp; Series IIA (1958)/Series III (1958- 59)/Series IIIA (1959-61)/Series IIIB (1961): Overhead valve 1494cc: Series IIA/III 56bhp; Series IIIA 64bhp Series IIIB 60bhp; Series IIIC (1961-63)/Series V (1963-65): 1592cc 53bhp; Series VI (1965-67): 1725cc 59 bhp - 0-60 mph:
1.9.5-26 sec - Top Speed:
75+- 85 mph - MPG:
24-32
Products of unashamed but logical Rootes badge-engineering, Gazelles were attractive cars whichwere more lavish versions of the equivalent Hillman Minxes on which they were based. However, it should not be forgotten that the first Gazelles made 50 years ago used Singer’s own overhead camshaft engine (ex-Hunter). Rare and especially desirable are the convertibles; these are wonderful dropheads for family use. Five-door estates are now all but extinct, sadly Trusty, civilised and practical workhorses the lot of them.
