US8155
- jeans_old_man
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:47 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Location: Cheshire
US8155
US8155 is a well travelled car. First registered in Glasgow, Scotland in 1934 it was acquired by a G.I. and taken to the USA. When he passed away his son took it to California. After a couple of resprays when the colour changed from Ivory to green to blue, and an engine rebuild that involved some welding to the block, it was retired in 1969 with faulty brakes.
After being acquired by Mike Rambour around 2000 It spent the next twenty years in Mike's air conditioned garage before setting off on it's latest journey to Cheshire, England.
Last seen in the US attracting a crowd on an outing to Queens English
A brief sojourn in Barcelona
Before ending up in Cheshire!
After being acquired by Mike Rambour around 2000 It spent the next twenty years in Mike's air conditioned garage before setting off on it's latest journey to Cheshire, England.
Last seen in the US attracting a crowd on an outing to Queens English
A brief sojourn in Barcelona
Before ending up in Cheshire!
- Peter McKercher
- Posts: 1074
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 4:26 am
- First Name: Peter
- Location: Ontario, Canada
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Re: US8155
Congratulations Brian. It will be nice to see the old girl on the road.
Peter McKercher
Vice President - NASOC
Pre war Singer Specialist and Collector
Automotive Historian
Author of "Racing Roadsters"
Vice President - NASOC
Pre war Singer Specialist and Collector
Automotive Historian
Author of "Racing Roadsters"
- mikeyr
- Site Admin
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- First Name: Mike
- Location: S. Calif.
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Re: US8155
As soon as COVID is over, my wife and I want a ride !
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
1953 Singer 4ADT (sold), 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, 1934 Singer 1 1/2 4-Seater Sports (sold), 2009 BMW K1300GT
- jeans_old_man
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:47 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Location: Cheshire
Re: US8155
And as soon as COVID is over we are coming to see yours. Please ask Meghan and Harry to put the kettle on!
- mikeyr
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Re: US8155
although they do live in town, I have not yet run into them, when I do I will tell them.
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
1953 Singer 4ADT (sold), 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, 1934 Singer 1 1/2 4-Seater Sports (sold), 2009 BMW K1300GT
- jeans_old_man
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:47 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Location: Cheshire
Re: US8155
An update on progress on the 1 1/2 litre.
Bought myself a steam generator and a band saw and attacked the rotten wood underneath the doors. I tried steam bending the wheel arch timbers but couldn't achieve the tight radius so I finished up cutting them out of some offcuts of oak that I had. I had some serious help from John Parker to take the engine out - actually he did most of the work and it's now waiting for transport to his workshop for overhaul. Can't wait to open it up to see what state it is in.
Bought myself a steam generator and a band saw and attacked the rotten wood underneath the doors. I tried steam bending the wheel arch timbers but couldn't achieve the tight radius so I finished up cutting them out of some offcuts of oak that I had. I had some serious help from John Parker to take the engine out - actually he did most of the work and it's now waiting for transport to his workshop for overhaul. Can't wait to open it up to see what state it is in.
- mikeyr
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Re: US8155
Looking good, as I mentioned to you already. I was told by previous owner that the car was running fine and on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles when the brakes failed, that was in 1968 and that is last time car ran I was told. But to be on the freeway, engine must have been more or less ok at the time. Of course...he was trying to sell the car to me. The last California registration was 1968 so at least that implies he was telling the truth. I really didn't think that much wood needed replacing, I knew about the wood in the back at the bottom of the body and figured there would be some other wood here and there, but since I never took it apart I didn't know about the wheel arch being bad, I assumed it was good. For my LM, I laminated wheel arches, made a form and laminated 1/8" ash that I resawed on band saw down to 1/8". of course I then purchased a body so those went to waste.
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
1953 Singer 4ADT (sold), 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, 1934 Singer 1 1/2 4-Seater Sports (sold), 2009 BMW K1300GT
- jeans_old_man
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:47 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Location: Cheshire
Re: US8155
This is the other side that I have yet to tackle.
- jeans_old_man
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:47 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Location: Cheshire
Re: US8155
Engine on it's way to John Parker.
.
The story so far - brazed crack in the head water jacket and broken inlet manifold.
-
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- First Name: Thierry
- Location: Perth - Western Australia
Re: US8155
I hope for you to have a better luck than mine with the engine block.
- jeans_old_man
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:47 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Location: Cheshire
Re: US8155
So far it looks like the old crack repairs by brazing have been successful. There is a lesson to be learned there! Just waiting for the final results of the cylinder head pressure test.
- mikeyr
- Site Admin
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Re: US8155
that is great news, it upsets me to see that manifold though.
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
1953 Singer 4ADT (sold), 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, 1934 Singer 1 1/2 4-Seater Sports (sold), 2009 BMW K1300GT
- jeans_old_man
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:47 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Location: Cheshire
Re: US8155
The cylinder head failed the crack test and is probably scrap.
Remarkably, the block, with all its brazing passed and is still useable:- mikeyr
- Site Admin
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- First Name: Mike
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Re: US8155
great news on the block. Maybe I should find who brazed it and have them braze the head (that is a joke,since the car was last registered in 1968, I am sure the block was done back in the 50's or 60's and long gone)
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
1953 Singer 4ADT (sold), 1934 Singer 9 Le Mans, 1934 Singer 1 1/2 4-Seater Sports (sold), 2009 BMW K1300GT
- jeans_old_man
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:47 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Location: Cheshire
Re: US8155
One of the core plugs was an old English penny (pre 1960s) so the work was probably done in the UK! A plate on the radiator says it was repaired in Glasgow which ties in with the Glasgow registration number, US8155.
The local singer dealer was Armour & Melvin Ltd. and they clearly liked the big cars. Here is a period picture of another 1.5 Sports in Glasgow that was later aquired by the Gibsons.
The local singer dealer was Armour & Melvin Ltd. and they clearly liked the big cars. Here is a period picture of another 1.5 Sports in Glasgow that was later aquired by the Gibsons.