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 Vogue / Gazelle (‘Arrow’ Range)
PRICE: £300 - £2000
Fast Facts
- Produced:
1966-70 - Bodywork:
Four-door saloon;five-door estate - Engine:
Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1500: 1496cc 60bhp; 1725: 1725cc 80bhp - 0-60 mph:
1500: 18 sec;1725: 15 sec - Top Speed:
1500: 85+ mph; 1725: 95 mph - MPG:
22-35
Smart, spacious and competent, the ‘Arrow’ range Singers offer better trim and higher spec than the equivalent Hillmans. Introduced with the Hillman Hunter in October ‘66, the new Vogue was a hyped-up Hunter with reclining seats, full carpeting, plus walnut veneer dash and door cappings, among other upmarket features. Minx-based Gazelle arrived in January 1967, powered by a new 1496cc engine, or the 1725cc unit if desired, with estates following shortly after. By comparison with the Hillman and Humber Arrows, the Singer versions were short-lived, being discontinued in 1970 although a Sunbeam version was made for a short while. A nice simple family classic.
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.
