Singer 11

For now, I lumped all the pre-war cars together, I would LOVE for there to be enough demand to split it into groups (hint...hint, post here about your pre-war Singer)
Post Reply
DavidS
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:26 pm
First Name: David

Singer 11

Post by DavidS »

1936 SINGER 11 Fluid drive
I saw this advertised a couple of years ago, located in Belfast, asking price was realistic so travelled to collect it. It was of course raining but the flags were flying as usual, the barn it was parked in was right next to the site of the old Maze Prison, really spooky. Back home checked it out, got the engine running and parked it at the back of the workshop until I had few months spare to tackle it.

15/12/2017
The worst part was rotten rear wheel arches which did take a while to rebuild but the aluminum body held together and it all seems to line up. I left the floors out and moved on to mechanicals, change of plan, this is going to be much easier if I lift the body off, so braced it up and lifted it with a chain hoist, just 8 bolts no sweat. Rolled the chassis out complete, change of plan again, this chassis needs sandblasting to get it decent so out came the engine and gearbox.
While the chassis was away, cleaned the engine and repainted it, just cosmetic stuff I had already had it running properly for half a day so no dismantling, gearbox an freewheel seemed OK but the clutch looked dodgy so stripped it. Wish I hadn't it's a multi plate affair, 7 plates in all and had to make a spring compressor to reassemble it, a challenge that took a day and a half to get right.
Chassis back and painted, now just a case of reclining brakes and cylinders, refitting pipes and fuel tank, overhauled steering box, reassemble in reverse order much easier with body off. Bolt body back on, now time to decide what needs chroming, book a trimmer and prepare body for paint
No major hitches so far, fingers crossed, here are a few photos
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg (236.85 KiB) Viewed 3613 times
image.jpeg
image.jpeg (190.72 KiB) Viewed 3613 times
image.jpeg
image.jpeg (200.54 KiB) Viewed 3613 times
image.jpeg
image.jpeg (177.91 KiB) Viewed 3613 times
image.jpeg
image.jpeg (167.49 KiB) Viewed 3613 times
ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: Singer 11

Post by ColinB »

Great to see you and your car on here David!
User avatar
mikeyr
Site Admin
Posts: 1344
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:20 am
First Name: Mike
Location: S. Calif.
Contact:

Re: Singer 11

Post by mikeyr »

yes, absolutely GREAT !!!
you guys give me inspiration to finish the Mini and get back to work on my Singer's.
Mike Rambour. Site Administrator
1953 Singer 4ADT (sold), 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, 1934 Singer 1 1/2 4-Seater Sports (sold), 2009 BMW K1300GT
davida
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2014 12:50 am
First Name: david

Re: Singer 11

Post by davida »

Hi

Can you tell me the engine block casting date which you will find on the side of the block

Davida
User avatar
Phillip
Posts: 996
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:19 am
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: Singer 11

Post by Phillip »

Lovely to see 30's saloon projects getting some love on the board!

Well done and a very rare car!
Your Friendly Canadian Pre-War Singer Specialist, Collector & Historian,
Editor & Pre-War Registrar & Canadian Contact -NASOC
Singer Enthusiast for over 40 Years.
'28 Senior, '33 & '34 Sports, '36 Le Mans SS & Bantam
DavidS
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:26 pm
First Name: David

Re: Singer 11

Post by DavidS »

davida wrote:Hi

Can you tell me the engine block casting date which you will find on the side of the block

Davida
I can't find any numbers cast into the block at all, where should they be?
The only numbers are stamped into the front timing case in front of the Dynamo
R1891 but can't see any date reference in that

David
cdk84
Posts: 254
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:00 am
First Name: David

Re: Singer 11

Post by cdk84 »

Why hasn't anyone commented on the independent front suspension? Fabulous!

Is there a way to set that up in particular? There's no reason it shouldn't be able to work, particularly if a Morgan sliding pillar front end can be made to play nicely, which it can.

This is a very exciting car. Look forward very much to seeing the car completed and finding a way to cadge a ride in same.

Crack on, David. Well done!
User avatar
mikeyr
Site Admin
Posts: 1344
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:20 am
First Name: Mike
Location: S. Calif.
Contact:

Re: Singer 11

Post by mikeyr »

because I had not noticed the IFS
Image
Mike Rambour. Site Administrator
1953 Singer 4ADT (sold), 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, 1934 Singer 1 1/2 4-Seater Sports (sold), 2009 BMW K1300GT
User avatar
Phillip
Posts: 996
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:19 am
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: Singer 11

Post by Phillip »

There was an IFS Nine as well.

Now take a look at the front wings and valance on the 1935 LM... then at the design of the IFS.

There are those who say that the front end design was made to eventually see IFS on the Le Mans. Singer were also working on an all-alloy version of the 972cc engine according to others.

Imagine if the LM and Sports had gone in that direction!

Actually, one IFS LM was built down-under....

:wink:
Your Friendly Canadian Pre-War Singer Specialist, Collector & Historian,
Editor & Pre-War Registrar & Canadian Contact -NASOC
Singer Enthusiast for over 40 Years.
'28 Senior, '33 & '34 Sports, '36 Le Mans SS & Bantam
DavidS
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:26 pm
First Name: David

Re: Singer 11

Post by DavidS »

cdk84 wrote:Why hasn't anyone commented on the independent front suspension? Fabulous!

Is there a way to set that up in particular? There's no reason it shouldn't be able to work, particularly if a Morgan sliding pillar front end can be made to play nicely, which it can.

This is a very exciting car. Look forward very much to seeing the car completed and finding a way to cadge a ride in same.

Crack on, David. Well done!
The IFS all looks in good condition and the trailing arm layout geometry looks well designed but is a great deal more complicated than the old beam axle layout, of course it must have added a lot to the cost of the car as did the fluid flywheel. Driving the Singer 11 is not likely to be sparkling, the 0 to 50 time was advertised at 19 seconds or so, with luck it should maintain 50mph and keep up with modern traffic. The body restoration has been a pain because the wood frame is encased in steel, that has to be taken off before any wood can be replaced, only the door skins and rear body are alloy, this is not like a 9 Sports body where there is a wood framed door in a wooden opening.
As I began work at the same time as ColinB we might be seen to be competing but my coach trimming is booked for October he is likely to be finished first, so I look forward to next Spring for the first road trip.

D
ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: Singer 11

Post by ColinB »

My target date is Drive It Day 2019 David, so we will progress together!
User avatar
mikeyr
Site Admin
Posts: 1344
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:20 am
First Name: Mike
Location: S. Calif.
Contact:

Re: Singer 11

Post by mikeyr »

Phillip wrote:There was an IFS Nine as well.

Now take a look at the front wings and valance on the 1935 LM... then at the design of the IFS.
Yes, there was one :) there is a pic of it on the main website.

http://www.singercars.com/pictures/pages/bbh539_jpg.htm

Image
Mike Rambour. Site Administrator
1953 Singer 4ADT (sold), 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, 1934 Singer 1 1/2 4-Seater Sports (sold), 2009 BMW K1300GT
User avatar
Phillip
Posts: 996
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:19 am
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: Singer 11

Post by Phillip »

That's the one!

Built by Kevin Atkinson in NZ I think. It's a creation, not a real car ever sold by Singer, but shows a proof of concept!

:)
Your Friendly Canadian Pre-War Singer Specialist, Collector & Historian,
Editor & Pre-War Registrar & Canadian Contact -NASOC
Singer Enthusiast for over 40 Years.
'28 Senior, '33 & '34 Sports, '36 Le Mans SS & Bantam
User avatar
Phillip
Posts: 996
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:19 am
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: Singer 11

Post by Phillip »

This is the 1935 Nine with IFS as sold...
ifssaloon.jpg
ifssaloon.jpg (531.58 KiB) Viewed 3454 times
Photo courtesy of the SOC Gallery Archive
Your Friendly Canadian Pre-War Singer Specialist, Collector & Historian,
Editor & Pre-War Registrar & Canadian Contact -NASOC
Singer Enthusiast for over 40 Years.
'28 Senior, '33 & '34 Sports, '36 Le Mans SS & Bantam
Post Reply