1933 Singer Nine Sports Four-Seat Tourer

Registration no. LJ 8341 - Chassis no. 49998 - Engine no. 51214 - Estimate: £15,000 - 18,000

Footnote: The Singer Nine’s immediate ancestor was the 8hp Junior, a successful high-quality light car powered by a 848cc four-cylinder overhead-camshaft engine. Built from 1932 to 1939, the Nine employed a 972cc 26.5bhp version of this motor (first used for the Junior Special) in an entirely new chassis. A four-speed freewheel gearbox was standard, while both the Nine Sports and the more powerful and faster Nine Le Mans came with hydraulic brakes. The latter model had resulted from a successful venture into endurance racing, when a Nine Sports took 13th place in the 1933 Le Mans 24-Hour Race. But it was in trials events that the sporting Nines proved particularly effective, successfully challenging the previously dominant MGs.
Despite having been in production for only one season, the Nine was completely redesigned for 1933, retaining the engine capacity of 972cc but benefiting from a more powerful and much more strongly built unit, which went into a new chassis, of increased wheelbase and track, equipped with Lockheed hydraulic brakes all round. The bigger chassis and more powerful engine made possible a new four-seater version of the Nine Sports. Styled by Eric Neale, Singer’s first small four-seater sports car was one of the most attractive of its day, featuring a louvred bonnet and scuttle, cut away doors, Rudge-Whitworth knock-off wire wheels, sprung steering wheel and matching Jaeger instruments. ‘This latest Singer Nine is a worthy addition to the ranks of small sporting cars, and is especially suited to trials work where maximum speed is not so important as sheer power and acceleration,’ observed The Light Car & Cyclecar.
This beautiful example of one of the 1930s’ most desirable small sports cars was acquired by the vendor in 1995, the immediately preceding owner having kept it for 44 years. The car was in completely original, unrestored condition when acquired, and between 1995 and 2000 underwent a full ‘last nut and bolt’ restoration. Since completion ‘LJ 8341’ has never been MoT’d or driven any great distance, although we are advised that the engine starts first time and runs well. Finished in red with matching leather interior, the vehicle is presented in excellent condition throughout and offered with restoration invoices, old-style logbook and Swansea V5 registration document.

Bonhams. Important Collectors' Motor Cars, Collectors' Motorcycyles and Fine Automobilia. 3 Dec 2007.  Olympia, London.