Lot details
Registration No: BF 4070
Chassis No: 25199
Mot Expiry: Sept 2012

Singer introduced the 848cc Singer Junior at the 1926 London Motor Show. In stark contrast to its later years, the model was initially only available in one body style - a three door, four-seater Tourer painted Blue with Black wings. It was powered by an 8 horsepower, two-bearing, four-cylinder overhead camshaft engine of 848cc, which developed its peak horsepower of 16.5bhp at just 3,250rpm. Although diminutive, this engine would prove to be the progenitor of Singer power units for the next three decades. The Junior came with a three-speed gearbox and was initially fitted with rear brakes only. It was equipped with an inverted cone clutch, quarter-elliptic front springs, six volt electrics, gravity fuelling and disc wheels shod with 27 X 4 inch tyres. Dampers were not an option for 1926. A Tourer was capable of a maximum speed of approximately 45mph and sold for ú148; $740 at the exchange rate of the day. By modern standards it was a tiny motorcar, being just 11ft long, 4ft 6in wide and weighing in at a mere 11.75cwt. While the first Junior was an open Touring car, the model was soon offered in an array of other body styles, including Two-Seater Tourer, Four-Seater Tourer, Sunshine Saloon, Coachbuilt Saloon, Fabric Saloon, a 2+2 called the Sportsman's Coupe and a boat-tailed, wire wheeled Porlock Sports. By 1928 the Junior was mainly responsible for the company being Britain's third largest manufacturer of the day.

The Junior Fabric Top Saloon being sold is said to have had just two owners - William Carson of Southend-on-Sea and Peter Williams of Leigh-on-Sea - before becoming part of the Sharpe Collection for more than forty years. Since entering the current ownership 'BF 4070' has reportedly benefited from new paint, leather, fabric top, headlining, interior trim, carpet, battery and wiring not to mention the overhauling of its dynamo and oil pump. Amenable to tuning, the compact OHC engine is understood to be capable of developing 25bhp if treated to a revised camshaft and higher compression ratio etc (contact Dick Preston of the Singer Owners Club for more details). This delightful little Singer is being offered at no reserve, complete with original handbook and an MOT into September 2012 - an entry into vintage motoring doesn't come much more attractively priced than this.