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Singer

George Singer's Coventry cycle company moved into cars in the early 1900s and by the 1920s was one of Britain's biggest car makers, known for the Ten and the sporting Nine Le Mans. Rootes bought Singer in 1956, and the last Singer, a Chamois, was built in 1970.

George Singer founded Singer & Co in Coventry in 1874 to make bicycles, and the company turned to motor vehicles around the turn of the century, building its first four-wheeled car in 1905. The Singer Ten of 1912 was the company’s first big seller, and in the 1920s Singer was for a time one of the largest car makers in Britain.

In the 1930s Singer made its name in motor sport with the Nine and its Le Mans sports versions, which took part in the 24-hour race, but the company struggled financially after the war. In 1956 it was taken over by the Rootes Group.

Under Rootes, Singers became better-equipped versions of Hillman models: the Gazelle was based on the Minx, the Vogue on the Super Minx, and the Chamois on the Hillman Imp. In April 1970, as part of Chrysler’s rationalisation of the Rootes range, the last Singer, a Chamois, left the production line.

Singer listings on eBay

Singer owners' clubs

  • Singer Owners Club National club
    Has existed for over fifty years and is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of all Singer vehicles, spanning more than 100 years of production: bicycles,…
    Website

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Museums and collections

  • Coventry Transport Museum Millennium Place, Hales Street, Coventry CV1 1JD
    Formerly the Museum of British Road Transport, it holds the largest collection of British-made road transport in public ownership: more than 240 cars and commercial vehicles,…
    Website

Where they were built

Notable for

The Singer Nine Le Mans of the 1930s was one of the most popular small British sports cars of its day, and Singer was one of the big names of the Coventry motor industry in the 1920s.

Discontinued 1874 – 1970 Mainstream & Utility Sports & Specialist

Books, models & parts

Books & models on Amazon Parts & memorabilia on eBay

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