60s Singer Gazelle Series V - a rare 1960s British classic saloon!
Автор: idriveaclassic
Загружено: 2025-06-22
Просмотров: 50826
If you're looking to buy a Singer, I do recommend contacting the very friendly and helpful Singer Owners Club - https://www.singerownersclub.co.uk (no I wasn't paid to push this - I just really like them!)
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Singer Gazelle Series V (Series 5)
The story of Singer sitting under Rootes begins in the mid 50s. In 1954, the company, Singer, aren’t in the best financial position and partially, this was due to their strategy after the war.
The company had, like many, been depleted by war efforts and come back to market with the same pre war models just with improved engines and boxes. This wasn’t usual, other manufacturers did this too, but seemed to be less impacted than Singer.
There was some development of course, with the SM 1500 which was to replace these older cars, but the fussy production line which was positioned over different floors in the same factory and a tepid public response to the car, meant the company wasn’t in the best health.
it’s worth remembering the world was very different from the late 40s, with the 1948 motor show bringing in cars like the Morris Minor, the 2CV, the Land Rover. They may not have been direct competition, but they met the public mood for considerable change and advancement.
Rootes however, didn’t share this lack of success, in fact they had 11.7% market share and eyed up Singer to add to their portfolio.
Rootes then spend considerable time reorganising every inch of Singer and it costs them a £600,000 loss in the first year, but by the end of the 50s they’re back swinging and making profit.
The first decision was what to do next; the 1500 engine could be used in the new car but the bodyshell had to dramatically change. With this, we get the 1956 Singer Gazelle. The Singer is positioned fairly high in the range, sitting just below Humber and Sunbeam.
The new medium sized car was avaiable as either a covertible or four door saloon; with the Series 1 selling nearly 4,500 units.
Time marches on and the car continues to be improved and refined, sharing the upgrade schedule of the Hillman Minx - which underpinned the technology you see in the Gazelle by this point in production.
Some might call it badge engineering, but many other examples of badge engineering are simply slapping a badge on and some different seats and calling it a day. At least the Gazelle looks and feels different to the Minx - it does feel a classier, much more well appointed car.
By the Series 5 as we’re testing today, introduced in August 1963, there was a lower roof line, larger rear doors, the rear fins were removed and the look of the back end was revised, with a neat rear light cluster. You also get the 13 inch wheels and updates to the interior.
Although production of the Series 5 stopped in 1965, the last Gazelle, an Arrow Series 7, rolled off the production line in the spring of 1970.
And with that, the Singer name ceased to be used by Chrysler, who now had control of the Rootes business. A sad ending to what was a wonderful run of much-loved motors.
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