The story of this car was written up in issue 1 - 2010 of NASOC NEWS, but I thought it might be of interest to those who follow this board and who are not members of NASOC.
- 1934 Singer Nine Sports DL-8675
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This car was originally sold new on the Isle of Wight by Wight Motors to A Mr Howlett of 'Velencia', in the town of Shanklin and registered DL-8675. Mr Howlett kept the car until 1947 when it was sold to Philip Ryall Wedgewood in Eastbourne. He in turn sold it in 1949 and this was the last registration in the UK.
I am guessing that the Singer was probably shipped to Canada by a returning serviceman and the last UK registration date of September 1949 could bear this out. By 1953 it had come to rest in Malton, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. It has been purchased in that year by Derek Ingrey Bradley, an engineer who ended up working at the famous AVRO Aircraft Limited (Canada). More than that, Mr. Bradley was employed in the construction of the world’s most advanced fighter interceptor of the time, the fabled AVRO Arrow. Looking somewhat rough and ready by now, the Singer had been fitted with a tuned 1948 MG YA engine and gearbox to improve its performance. It was one of a number of British cars that Mr. Bradley owned and kept in his back garden.
Sadly, by March 1959, the Arrow project, over-budget and fraught with political complications, was canceled by then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. Although AVRO management knew the project was in trouble, the axe fell suddenly and without much warning. Over 50,000 people working at AVRO and various sub-contractors were put out of work, including Mr. Bradley, and an important chapter in Canadian aviation had come to a close. Many of the talented engineers moved on to the USA to work in the NASA space program and perhaps this is what Mr. Bradley did also. In any event, whether due to a move south or to a need for cash, Mr. Bradley put his collection of cars up for sale.
A young teenager by the name of Arthur Jack, just happened to be a neighbour of Mr. Bradley and, from time-to-time, had peered longingly over the fence at a certain small British sports car. All the other cars in Mr. Bradley’s collection had sold and Arthur’s father agreed that he would buy the little Singer for his son. So began a 50 year relationship between car and owner. The Singer was looking a bit long in the tooth by now and, after a short stint at the wheel and a detour into a ditch, Arthur decided to embark on a rebuild. Unfortunately, life has a way of changing the best-laid plans and the car never returned to the road. I was approached by Arthur as a candidate to become the next custodian early in 2009.
Arthur knew very little of the cars history and sadly there were no British registration plates with it, only a black Ontario plate from 1959 when Arthur’s father had licensed it. Amazingly, inquiries to sources in the UK revealed much of the car's history and I am greatly indebted to Martyn Wray of the SOC for assisting in obtaining the factory record card for the car, as well as Peter Jaques of the Kithouse Trust Archives for doing the research to find the original registration number. Luckily, they hold the old Isle of Wight registration records. Car 50251, with body A-329, was originally allotted the UK registration plate DL 8675 on November 6th, 1933. The DL prefix was used exclusively by the Isle of Wight.
Presently, the car has been cleaned up and I am in the appraisal and parts collecting phase. Luckily, I have spent the last 40+ years collecting pre-war Singer spares, so a correct '34 engine and gearbox are earmarked for the car to bring it back to factory spec. The body and frame are incredibly solid and, having been hidden for 50 years, the car is full of rare and original details including the original style ‘rounded’ D1 Lucas wiper motor, Ashby steering wheel and Rotax lighting equipment. The upholstery is original and a new top came with the car, having been purchased in 1963 and still in the original wrapping!
I’ll report on the progress as we go and the aim is to reunite Arthur with the car once it is running. Eamples of this caliber are rare indeed, especially in Canada and discovered only four hours away from home. I am honoured to have been selected by Arthur to become her next custodian, to be able to help secure her future and bring her back to life.