Singer Roadster
Encyclopedia
The Singer Roadster was launched by the Singer Motor Company
in 1939 as an open version of the Bantam
saloon. Production was suspended for the duration of World War II
following which production of the car
was re-started in virtually unchanged form. It was upgraded to the 4A model in 1949 with a four speed manual
gearbox. The short lived 4AB and 4AC models came in 1950 followed finally by the 4AD or SM roadster in 1951. The last cars were made in 1955.
engine used in the Bantam range but tuned slightly to give 36 bhp by fitting a better manifold and downdraught SU carburettor. Performance was handicapped by the use of a three speed gearbox and top speed was in the order of 65 mph (104.6 km/h).
The body was built in the traditional method of aluminium
panels fixed to a wooden framework. The suspension used leaf springs and was non independent with rigid axles front and rear. The brakes were mechanically operated.
Post World War II cars
had the chassis
stiffened and the engine
mounted further forwards.
Nearly all production post war was exported.
. A Solex
carburettor replaced the SU used on the previous car.
Home market cars were very rare.
All 4A roadsters were made with right hand drive .
with independent front suspension
by coil springs. The engine
remained unchanged but the brakes became a mixed hydraulic/rod system.
The limited production 4AC used a slightly larger 1194 cc engine.
saloon fitted to a virtually unchanged chassis and body although the brakes were changed from pure mechanical to a hydraulic/mechanical hybrid system. Power was increased to 58 bhp in 1953 by fitting twin carburettors to the engine.
Although early production was still all for export, from 1953 cars became available on the domestic market.
A car tested by The Motor
magazine in 1951 had a top speed of 73 mph (117.5 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 23.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 25.8 mpgimp was recorded. No price was quoted for the car
as it was for export only.
Singer (car)
Singer was an automobile company founded in 1905 in Coventry, England. It was acquired by the Rootes Group of the United Kingdom in 1956, who continued the brand until 1970...
in 1939 as an open version of the Bantam
Singer Bantam
The Singer Bantam is a car formerly made by the Singer Motor Company. It was the first model produced by the company to have a Pressed Steel body. It was offered as a new economy model at the 1935 Motor Show in London.-History:...
saloon. Production was suspended for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
following which production of the car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
was re-started in virtually unchanged form. It was upgraded to the 4A model in 1949 with a four speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
gearbox. The short lived 4AB and 4AC models came in 1950 followed finally by the 4AD or SM roadster in 1951. The last cars were made in 1955.
Singer 9 Roadster 1939-1949
The original Roadster was an occasional four seat, two door tourer and had the overhead camshaft, 1074 cc I4Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine used in the Bantam range but tuned slightly to give 36 bhp by fitting a better manifold and downdraught SU carburettor. Performance was handicapped by the use of a three speed gearbox and top speed was in the order of 65 mph (104.6 km/h).
The body was built in the traditional method of aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
panels fixed to a wooden framework. The suspension used leaf springs and was non independent with rigid axles front and rear. The brakes were mechanically operated.
Post World War II cars
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
had the chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
stiffened and the engine
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
mounted further forwards.
Nearly all production post war was exported.
Singer 4A Roadster 1949-1950
The Roadster was updated to the 4A model in 1949 by fitting the four speed gearbox from the Singer HunterSinger SM1500
In September 1954 the car was re-branded as the Singer Hunter with a traditional radiator grille and fibreglass bonnet lid until 1955. The Hunter was well equipped with twin horns and screenwash as standard. A horse-head mascot was fitted over the radiator...
. A Solex
Solex
Solex was a French manufacturer of carburetors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX.The Solex company was founded by Marcel Mennesson and Maurice Goudard to manufacture vehicle radiators...
carburettor replaced the SU used on the previous car.
Home market cars were very rare.
All 4A roadsters were made with right hand drive .
Singer 4AB and 4AC Roadster 1950-1952
The 4AB received a new chassisChassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
with independent front suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
by coil springs. The engine
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
remained unchanged but the brakes became a mixed hydraulic/rod system.
The limited production 4AC used a slightly larger 1194 cc engine.
Singer 4AD Roadster 1951-1955
The final version of the Roadster used the 48 bhp, 1497 cc engine from the SM1500Singer SM1500
In September 1954 the car was re-branded as the Singer Hunter with a traditional radiator grille and fibreglass bonnet lid until 1955. The Hunter was well equipped with twin horns and screenwash as standard. A horse-head mascot was fitted over the radiator...
saloon fitted to a virtually unchanged chassis and body although the brakes were changed from pure mechanical to a hydraulic/mechanical hybrid system. Power was increased to 58 bhp in 1953 by fitting twin carburettors to the engine.
Although early production was still all for export, from 1953 cars became available on the domestic market.
A car tested by The Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
magazine in 1951 had a top speed of 73 mph (117.5 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 23.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 25.8 mpgimp was recorded. No price was quoted for the car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
as it was for export only.