The Singer Roadster is a nine tax horsepower open 2/4-seater sports-tourer

automobile A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...

manufactured by

Singer Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

from 1939 until 1955. It was launched in March 1939 as an open version of Singer's Bantam saloon and using many Bantam parts. After less than six months production was suspended for the duration of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

then restarted with the engine moved forward, more interior space and other minor modifications. The Roadster was upgraded to the 4A model in 1949 with a 4-speed

manual Manual may refer to: Instructions * User guide * Owner's manual * Instruction manual (gaming) * Online help Other uses * Manual (music), a keyboard, as for an organ * Manual (band) * Manual transmission * Manual, a bicycle technique similar to ...

gearbox. The short lived 4AB and 4AC models were released in 1950 followed by the 4AD SM Roadster in 1951. Singer Roadsters competed with the MG T series. The flowing lines of the car made it one of the most attractive roadsters in the market. The last cars were made in 1955. A few special Singer 4A car bodies were made by coach maker James Young. __TOC__

Singer 9 Roadster 1939-1949

The original Roadster was an occasional four-seat, two-door tourer, mostly based on the Bantam saloon with a cheery character. It had Singer's overhead camshaft, 1074 cc

inline-four engine A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...

used in the Bantam range but tuned slightly to give at 5000 rpm by fitting a high efficiency "hot-spot"

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and downdraught

SU carburettor SU carburettors were a British manufacturer of constant-depression carburettors. Their designs were in mass production during most of the twentieth century. The S.U. Carburetter Company Limited also manufactured dual-choke updraught carburettor ...

, as well as having slightly higher compression. For 1940 sliding glass panels replaced the celluloid in the sidescreens along with other equipment improvements. A chromed front bumper was now standard as were twin aero screens for use when the windscreen was folded flat to reduce frontal area. A fitted suitcase was supplied to take full advantage of the usable space in the luggage compartment. Performance was handicapped by the use of the Bantam's three speed gearbox and top speed was in the order of . Advertising copy incorporated "from the inspiration of the

Le Mans Le Mans (, ) is a city in northwestern France on the Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Man ...

model" though the Singer sports-racing link remained deliberately muted after the death of 8 spectators in September 1936's

RAC Tourist Trophy The RAC Tourist Trophy (sometimes called the International Tourist Trophy) is a motor racing award presented by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) to the overall victor of a motor race in the United Kingdom. Established in 1905, it is the world's ol ...

on Ireland's

Ards Circuit The Ards Circuit was a motorsport street circuit in Northern Ireland used for RAC Tourist Trophy sports car races from 1928 until 1936, when eight spectators died in an accident. Industrialist and pioneer of the modern agricultural tractor, Harry F ...

, the Ulster TT. In that era the TT was a handicap and won by either MG or Riley. Unlike the Le Mans the Roadster was designed and built so it could be sold at a moderate price. The makers claimed a top speed of and acceleration: 0 to in 6 seconds and 0 to in 18 seconds. Standard equipment included a spring steering wheel, concealed spare wheel, 12-volt electrical system and windscreen wipers. The body was built in the traditional method of

aluminium Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...

panels fixed to a wooden framework. The suspension used

leaf springs A leaf spring is a simple form of spring commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles. Originally called a ''laminated'' or ''carriage spring'', and sometimes referred to as a semi-elliptical spring, elliptical spring, or cart spring, it ...

and was non independent with rigid

axles An axle or axletree is a central shaft for a rotation, rotating wheel and axle, wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to the vehicle, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In ...

front and rear. The

brakes A brake is a mechanical device that inhibits motion by absorbing energy from a moving system. It is used for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, wheel, axle, or to prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of friction. Background ...

were mechanically operated. The successful Roadster re-appeared following the war, in 1946, with these modifications: non-lubricated rubber shackle bushes, improved seating accommodation provided by moving the engine forward and an improved lid at the rear of the body providing a flat platform for luggage. These changes seem to have improved the handling. Better engine mounts and other isolations were introduced, providing a smoother ride and lessening maintenance. Cars began to filter out to the dealers in September 1946. Nearly all post war production was exported the car being popular with the Elite in India and featured in the collections of a few Maharaja's.

Singer 9 Roadster series 4A 1949-1950

The Roadster was updated to the 1950 4A model in September 1949 by fitting the four speed gearbox from the Singer Hunter. A

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carburettor A carburetor (also spelled carburettor) is a device used by an internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine. The primary method of adding fuel to the intake air is through the venturi tube in the main meterin ...

replaced the SU used on the previous car, adding one extra horsepower. The driving position was also improved, with easier entry and egress, and the Nine Roadster's awkward gearchange was ameliorated as the gearbox was moved back. The bumpers on the 4A are slightly larger, stronger, and rounded towards the tips.

Singer 9 Roadster series 4AB and 4AC 1950-1953

By October 1950 the further improved 4AB Roadster appeared. While superficially similar, this has an independent front

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by coil springs and a hybrid, "hydro-mechanical" brake system by Girling. Externally, there is a shortened bonnet and disc wheels, as well as fixed sides to the bonnet. The fenders were also redesigned, becoming curvier and deeper. The steering box also received alterations, mainly aimed at centering it in the chassis so as to simplify manufacturing alternately right-hand or left-hand driven examples. The 4AB continued in production alongside the larger 4AD until January 1953. The prototype 4AC (built in about a dozen examples) used a slightly larger 1194 cc engine. This was a down-sleeved version of the 1.5 litre version as fitted to the

Singer SM1500 The Singer SM1500 is a small family car produced by Singer Motors from 1948 to 1956. The first new design produced by Singer after World War II it was planned to replace their Singer Ten, Super Ten and Singer Twelve, Super Twelve. Following a m ...

, and part of an attempt rationalize Singer's lineup. Singer 4AB Roadster (1950) (15662490315)

Singer SM Roadster series 4AD 1½-litre 1951-1955

The final version of the Roadster, the 4AD, was officially known as the Singer SM Roadster. First seen at the October 1951

Paris Motor Show The Paris Motor Show (french: Mondial de l'Automobile) is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently take ...

it was initially intended for export only. It used the , 1497 cc engine from the SM1500 saloon fitted to a virtually unchanged chassis and body, retaining the hydraulic/mechanical hybrid braking system. A twin

engine option was offered from 1953. The 4AD can be told apart from a 4AB by its larger, rounder bumpers, as well as bigger taillights mounted on long stalks. Although early 4AD production was still all for export, with the smaller 4AB being regularly available in the United Kingdom, from 1953 1.5 litre cars became available on the domestic market as well. A car tested by

The Motor ''The Motor'' (later, just ''Motor'') was a British weekly car magazine ''Car'' is a British automotive enthusiast magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. International editions are published by Bauer Automotive in Republi ...

magazine in 1951 had a top speed of and could accelerate from 0- in 23.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of was recorded. No price was quoted for the

car A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarded as ...

as it was for export only.

Singer SMX Roadster 1953

This experimental version had a

glass fibre Glass fiber ( or glass fibre) is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass. Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the inventio ...

body. Displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show in October 1953More New Models. ''The Times'', Wednesday, 21 October 1953; pg. 4; Issue 52758. probably around 10 were made. Singer SMX Roadster no 2 (1955) (15663292652).jpg, SMX No. 2 registered Singer SMX Roadster no 2 (1955) (15663292162).jpg, 1 January 1955

References

External links

{{commons category, Singer Roadster
Singer Nine Roadster advertisements 1946 - 1955 at www.car-brochures.eu

9 Roadster series 4AB 1951

9 Roadster series 4AB 1952SM Roadster 1951

SM Roadster 1953

SM Roadster 1955
Roadster Cars introduced in 1939 1940s cars 1950s cars