Description

1934 Singer Nine Le Mans

Only 2,000 miles since major restoration; local Worcestershire car with possible period competition history; very appealing indeed

From the late 1920s to the mid ‘30s the Singer Car Company made a prolific range of machines and by 1928 had become the third largest manufacturer of cars in England behind Morris and Austin.

In 1932 Singer introduced the immortal Nine, one of the most fondly remembered and successful pre-war British sports cars. What really set the Nine apart was its success in the trials and reliability events of the day. As with many sports cars in the early 1930s, Singers were thinly disguised competition cars that could be driven as normal transport during the week, but with little more preparation than the removal of a spare wheel, could be winning on the track at the weekend.

In 1933 Singer entered a field of 9hp Sports models at Le Mans with considerable success. To celebrate this, the firm introduced a new two-seater ‘Le Mans’ version with a lowered chassis, hydraulic brakes, twin spare tyres, large rear-mounted fuel tank, close-ratio gearbox and tuned engine which sold for £215.

Its 34bhp engine gave it 70+mph performance, the car acquitting itself well against the all-pervading MG J2s and racking up no fewer than 495 awards by the end of the 1934 season including eight premier awards in the London-Exeter Trial, eleven in the London-Land’s End, twelve in the London-Edinburgh and four silver cups in the Scottish Six Days.

First registered in Worcestershire in November 1934, this Le Mans appears to have spent most of its life in that county, an old buff log book showing that it was owned by local man Roger Taylor by 1962. It seems that the car was then put into dry storage where it was to remain for the next four decades until being rescued by the previous owner in the summer of 2006.

As photos on file confirm, the car was still in remarkably sound condition and the new owner treated it to a full and sympathetic restoration which was to take two years to complete. When acquired the car was fitted with a single SU carb and had a specially made copper bulge on the left side of the bonnet which hints that the Singer had previously been used in competition and possibly had a supercharger fitted. While the bonnet bulge has been retained, the SU has been replaced with a pair of the correct twin Solex carbs, which have been fully rebuilt.

The engine was overhauled and fitted with Boyer-Bransden electronic ignition and the cylinder head sent to Moss Engineering of Ledbury for a full rebuild including new valves, seats etc. The steering box was also overhauled along with the braking system, while a new clutch, radiator core, exhaust system, wiring loom, battery and Andre Hartford shock absorbers were also fitted. The wheels were checked and balanced with new tyres and tubes fitted.

The bodywork was restored as necessary and repainted in the original British Racing Green, the brightwork replated, new headlights fitted and the instruments refurbished. The interior was also refreshed with new carpets and new black leather upholstery by an ex-Morgan trimmer.

Back on the road by 2009, the car then clocked up around 1,500 miles before being acquired by our vendor in 2017. He has only added a couple of hundred miles since and reports that the car runs and drives well. It has certainly been starting promptly and running nicely as we have moved it around on site with good 30psi oil pressure.

A most appealing car all round, this rare and sporting Singer is ready for immediate action and its potential period competition history could well merit further investigation.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com