9 hp Bodywork

[casadecabra]

I'm making slow but steady progress with my 1934 9hp Le Mans restoration (photos attached). I live in southern Spain so contact with other Singer owners is mainly limited to this forum and the SOC magazine.

I have so far more or less completed the chassis and mechanics and I’m now struggling with the bodywork.

A lot of the timber frame was rotten, missing or had been badly repaired but there was enough of the original for me to make inspired attempts at making most of the replacement parts. On the upper part of the scuttle there is a horizontal easily removable plywood trapezoidal shaped panel (fitted with tool clips), and another trapezoidal panel abutting it at the rear. I know that the large trapezoidal panel was covered in aluminium sheet but was the rear panel also aluminium covered and if so, did the aluminium cladding extend under the semi-elliptical bulkhead (the one with the bracket for the bonnet support channel)? And was this bulkhead also aluminium covered. The illustration in the manufacturer’s manual of the engine compartment of the 1.5 litre appears to show this bulkhead covered with aluminium, but I suspect this was not the case with the 9 hp.

Any help greatly appreciated.

David Bayliss

[mikeyr]

, did the aluminium cladding extend under the semi-elliptical bulkhead (the one with the bracket for the bonnet support channel)? And was this bulkhead also aluminium covered.

I am not sure I fully understand the question but the answer is no to the bonnet support channel, just not sure about the rest.

I am jealous, your body work is much further along then mine.

[Peter McKercher]

David

Maybe this photo will help. This is a '34 Nine Sports, but the construction is the same as the Le Mans.

axf 007.jpg (141.55 KiB) Viewed 3391 times

[casadecabra]

Thanks Mike and Peter for your feedback. Sorry my query was a bit confusing but it's difficult knowing what to call the various bits and pieces of woodwork.

Mike - no need to be jealous, it's taken me over 40 years to get this far (mostly in the past two years though). I've become motivated by the fact that I want to drive it before I'm past it. Scary how much there is still to do, and how much money it will take!

Peter - Thanks for your picture but I'm still puzzled. Attached are some photos taken when I dismantled the body that show the semi-elliptical bulkhead behind the front wooden cowl support member. Mike posted a similar picture several years ago. Is it possible that there is another, aluminium clad bulkhead in front of the cowl support?

Regards
David

[Peter McKercher]

Your last picture shows the car with old skin intact over the cowl. The vertical surface between the cowl and the tool deck is covered by a separate piece of aluminum per the picture I posted. The tool deck is in two horizontal pieces. They are each clad in aluminum so they can be removed separately.

[casadecabra]

Peter

Thank you, think I get it now. Sorry to pester you again but is the vertical piece solid aluminium (if so what thickness), or cladding on plywood like the horizontal pieces?

David

[Peter McKercher]

No problem. It is a single piece of aluminum, the same thickness as the body panels. It is secured by screws all around the perimeter of the piece. The bottom is straight cut above the tool deck. You will need a straight board at the base to screw to. It is probably angled to conform to the slope of the scuttle face.