November 1912 a Singer Ten ‘New Motoring’ light car was shown at the Olympia Motorcycle Show. These cars, with engines of 1100cc, and a 3 speed gearbox incorporated in the back axle, were used for military and other essential purposes during the 1914-18 war, and continued in production until 1921. Although the odd arrangement of the gearbox caused trouble, and the cars could only reach speeds of 45 mph. However,they ‘pulled like a Trojan.’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           In 1926 the Singer Junior came on the market. It was one of the earliest British mass-produced cars, and was fitted with an 850cc, single overhead camshaft engine. A sports 2 seater Junior, known as the Porlock, gained fame after competing successfully in the Porlock (Somerset) hill-climb.     The Junior engine was enlarged to 9hp, and put in a newly designed car which was called the Singer Nine. This car competed in the 1933 Le Mans 24-hour car race, and finished thirteenth overall, averaging 49.4 mph for the 24 hours. A 2 seater version of this Singer 9 soon became known as the Singer Le Mans, and the Nine Sports was very competitive in trials, hill climbs, and on racetracks around the world. The car had a class win at Le Mans in 1934. At Le Mans, in 1935, it gained first place in the 1,000cc class at a speed of 64.17 mph for the 24 hours. But in the 1935 TT at Ards, three of the four cars entered crashed with steering failure.

Because Singers were sporting cars, many owner/drivers exploited their competition potential. In the 70 or so years since they came from the showroom floor, they are still much in evidence at hill climbs and other events. Their racing credentials are fine, but they have obviously been modified from original specification. Two very well known modified Singer cars are the Sulman Singer (above), and Dr Nigel Gray's modified and much raced Singer Le Mans type. The Le Mans Speed Special is as original

As well as sports cars Singers made saloons, tourers and vans; with overhead cam engines, side valve and push-rod engines. In 1934 they introduced independent front suspension on the 11hp, and shortly afterwards extended it to the 9hp range (optionally) and a new 16hp. A Singer 11 hp Airstream, with an advanced aerodynamic body, Fluidrive transmission, and Lockheed hydraulic brakes was described in the August 28 Motor magazine of 1934 as ‘an interesting and roomy model.’ It did not sell, and soon went out of production.

March 1939, the Singer 9 Roadster appeared. It was not a sports car, but was instead a 4 seat tourer. It had the upswept scuttle and swept back tail that was characteristic of post-war Singer Roadsters. Sales were good until production was interrupted with the declaration of war.   1948 the SM1500, saloon appeared, based on American styling, and competing with the Standard Vanguard and the Jowett Javelin. It was later fitted with a traditional radiator grill, and called the Hunter. Its independent front suspension, and 1,500cc engine. This configuration was later fitted to the 4AD Roadster, still retaining the basic appearance of the 1939 Roadster.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Rootes took over the firm, and the old models were discontinued. The first of the new cars was the 1956 Gazelle - a Hillman Minx with a different front-end styling. It was considered more up to date than the Hunter which it replaced. The old Singer ohc engine was replaced in the series IIa by the Hillman push-rod unit. In 1961 the larger and more luxurious Singer Vogue was introduced.
The 1964 Chamois was introduced as a higher class version of the Hillman Imp. Rootes never used them in competitive motor sport. By 1970 Rootes were taken over by the American Chrysler organisation, and in April 1970, the last Singer rolled off the assembly line. 

John Sutton visited the London Motor Show one year, and photographed a 1937 Singer Model B37 (shown below) with Singer coachwork.  It was a “works” car of which only 11 were made (only 4 known to have survived).  The engine is a 1 ½ litre 4 cylinder overhead camshaft  The chassis is longer and heavier than the Le Mans model.