Greetings! In search of an expert

[djones2363]

Greetings All

Just got activated! Whoop Whoop!

Long time MG and Morris owner and looking to add something a bit different to the Stable. Does anyone know this car? I've been in communication with the Chap that owns her. Seems honest enough. But since I know practiacllly nothing about Singers thought I'd join your group and see if anyone knows this car and if it's worth going to see. Here's the original post he listed on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-SINGER-Ro ... 663.l10137

[Peter McKercher]

Did you get his name?

[djones2363]

Hey Peter,

He said his name was Otto.

[djones2363]

The seller said the only issue is with the engine had an exterior freeze crack that has been repaired. This is worrisome! I've inquired about the wood frame and haven't gotten a response yet. I've spent the better part of the day today reading through all your threads. Lovin the knowledge on here!


What else should I be looking for with these little guys?


Here's engine pics that he sent me.

[Peter McKercher]

Otto does a pretty thorough job. I saw the last one he did several years ago and it was very nice.

[mikeyr]

I would say go look at it, it seems pretty complete and original based on the pictures...well except for the gold valve cover and air cleaners but overall looks pretty good.

The repair on the block looks ugly but it was a pretty common way to repair blocks in the old days and done right, its stronger than original and 4AD blocks are easier to find then all the other models, but that repair would not bother me.

[Peter McKercher]

... it seems pretty complete and original based on the pictures...well except for the gold valve cover and air cleaners but overall looks pretty good.

The last one he did had plaid doors - the paint not the upholstery.

[djones2363]

Thanks for the replies! Sounds like this chap is legitimate from your responses. He just sent me these sets of numbers.:

The chassis # [new plate, I still have the old one.] 4AD1004V, Engine # 4AD958V, Gearbox # 4AD941V , Body # 952V

Any insight?

[Peter McKercher]

It is a 1952 car with single carb based on its VIN. The engine may have been swapped or simply the head. I assume the numbers you provided are from the manufacturers plate and not the actual numbers on the car

[Paul Bouchard]

The car does look to be very nice! Looking at the photos on eBay, the trafficator switch (middle of the dash attached to the cowl) seems to be installed upside down, but that's a minor thing. As mike said, the engine repair is a common thing. Water freezing is the likely culprit with this. I have seen a repair on another Singer engine, a 4A, and it held out very well over a number of years. Done right it will do the job and is much cheaper than stitching a crack closed.

Word to the wise: NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR OUTSIDE IN FREEZING WEATHER WITHOUT DRAINING IT FIRST.

The number (4AD1004V) does point to a 1952 4AD (the "V" suffix) and does not have the "T" after 4AD to designate the twin carb set up. Not a problem as this would have been an easy swap from a single carb to twin carb head and adding the extra carb. This gave the car a bit more power. One thing to look at is the distributor. All the original twin car engines that I have seen also have a vacuum advanced distributor. Not being a 4AD (or 4ADT) expert, I do not know if this is a problem. There are many who have made the single to twin conversion who have probably not made the change (or knew of it) to the distributor.

Funny thing though, I remember going down to Virginia and stopped in to see a fellow who had a silver 4AD. This was a LONG time ago and I wonder if this may be the same car? They are out there so it may not, but interesting none the less.

Hope that it works out for you!

[mikeyr]

Paul is right about the distributor, but my 4AD Twin carb had a single carb distributor for the 34 years I owned it. I also converted 2 singles to twins back in the day when the heads were easily available and never swapped out the distributor. Now with the vacuum diaphragm getting to be 70 years old, I dare say a non-vacuum advance distributor is probably a better idea anyway. You can always play with the weights and springs to play with the advance curve if you want, I maybe have been known to do that

[djones2363]

Thanks Guys,

I appreciate all the input. I'm not near as concerned now with the Block Repair, ugly as it is. I spoken to a local long term mechanic and he concurred what you've said about it, as ugly as it is, it should be fine. He said he could pretty it up a bit if it ever starts leaking but would probably need to pull the engine to do it.

Concerned about the year and set up now. Owner says its a '54. Now learning its a '52 according to the Numbers he's given. Need to get some more input from the owener I suppose.

Can I assume that since this car has no side curtians, I should be able to find some somewhere? The Hood looks funky to me as well, is this how they where made on the sides and rear?

Thanks again for your input!

Danny

[Peter McKercher]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the mix up in year. The serial numbers tell what it is. It's likely not worth the hassle with your DMV to change it on the registration. The top should look like this http://www.singerownersclub.co.uk/pix/g ... adster.jpg I don't recall if the back portion is zip in or not, but it could certainly be made so with relative ease. Side curtains may be available through another NASOC member, but you may have to resort to making some up - not all that difficult.

[mikeyr]

the year issue is a super minor detail. Many states in those days used the first registration date for model year. So a car that didn't sell well like the Singer was frequently mis-registered. They stopped doing that decades ago but it was common in many states. I remember once seeing a 1958 4AD, that was 3 years after they stopped making them, but that was when it was first registered.

The tops on the 4AD's were UGLY to begin with my 4AD never had a top in 34 years I owned it, but I live in S. Calif. where it never rains.

[djones2363]

That makes sense Mike, same thing with MG's. Our Midget manufacture was '73, registered as '74. Just hadn't seen anything with a 3 year difference.

Unfortunately, we live in Southern Indiana and we travel quite a bit in the summer with our LBC's. Gonna need some weather gear. As long as I can get a pattern and frames for the side windows I'll be good. I made some up for an MGA owner several years ago, turned out pretty good, even had the slider plastic. We frequent Shows about every weekend over the summer months. We've taken our LBC cars all the way to Florida from Indiana for shows. Hopefully if all works out, by next summer we'll be taking a Singer out and about, after some through sorting of course.

Oh...…….. Realistically, what's good cruising speed on these girls? Rear-end gear ratio holding them back?

Anything else should I be looking for as in a deal breaker?

(There's a lot of good info in all these threads!)

Here's our MG and Morris.

Kind Regards
Danny