Singer Gazelle
Encyclopedia
The Singer Gazelle name has been applied to two generations of motor cars
from the British
manufacturer the Rootes Group, using the Singer
marque. It was positioned between the basic Hillman range and the more sporting Sunbeam versions.
The body style followed by the Gazelle between 1956 and 1967 came to be known as the "Audax" body, with significant input from the US based Loewy design organisation, highly regarded at the time partly on account of Loewy's input to several iconic Studebaker
designs.
The Mk II Gazelle, offered from Autumn 1957, could be bought as an estate car, and had optional overdrive and larger fuel tank.
The suspension was independent at the front using coil springs while at the rear was a live axle and half elliptic leaf springs. The steering gear used a worm and nut system.
As standard, the car had a bench front seat but individual seats were available as an option. To allow for the bench seat, the handbrake lever was between the seat and the door.
The drophead version had a two position hood where it could be either completely lowered or rolled back to just behind the front seats described as the "coupé de ville" position. All side windows could be completely lowered. To compensate for the loss of body rigidity by the removal of the roof, extra cross bracing was fitted under the car.
A car with overdrive was tested by the British magazine The Motor
in 1957. It had a top speed of 78 mph (125.5 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 24.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of 33.5 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1016 including taxes of £332. This included the optional overdrive, heater and radio.
In line with Rootes Group policy the car kept getting small upgrades each with a new designation. In September 1958 the car became the III, received better seats, now enhanced at the front by a folding central arm rest. A new duo-tone paint became available with this upgrade.
The IIIA of 1959 gained small tail fins and a larger windscreen. The engine was upgraded with twin Solex carburettors replacing the single Solex, distinguishing it from the Minx, and lifting output to 60 bhp. Home market cars got a floor gear change and as well as overdrive, Smiths Easidrive automatic transmission also became an option.
The 1960 IIIB reverted to a single carburettor which improved fuel consumption and facilitated servicing "in remoter territories". The IIIB also received a new back axle featuring a hypoid
bevel
in place of the former model's spiral bevel.
A larger engine of 1592 cc developing 53 bhp was fitted to the July 1961 IIIC. The convertible was dropped in February 1962 followed by the estate car in March 1962.
A Series III convertible with the 1494 cc engine was tested by The Motor in 1959. It was recorded as having a top speed of 83.4 mph (134.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 21.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of 32.5 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1003 including taxes of £295. This included the optional overdrive. The convertible cost £67 more than the saloon.
The front brakes became discs and from 1964 it got a new gearbox with synchromesh on first gear. The optional Borg Warner automatic got a floor mounted selector lever.
The Singer grille, its top now somewhat flattened, was no longer attached to the opening bonnet but remained fixed to the front panels on opening.
For the second generation made between 1967 and 1970, see Rootes Arrow.
from 1957 to 1961 by Rootes Australia
. It was offered in Sports Saloon, Station Wagon and Estate Van models.
produced a variant of the Gazelle VI as the Hillman Gazelle
.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
manufacturer the Rootes Group, using the Singer
Singer (car)
Singer was an automobile company founded in 1905 in Coventry, England. It was acquired by the Rootes Group of the United Kingdom in 1956, who continued the brand until 1970...
marque. It was positioned between the basic Hillman range and the more sporting Sunbeam versions.
Gazelle I and II
The Gazelle was the first Singer to be produced following the take-over of the Singer company by the Rootes Group in 1956 and was a version of the mainstream Hillman Minx differing mainly in retaining the Singer overhead cam engine. Externally the only significant difference was a restyled nose based around a traditional Singer grille.The body style followed by the Gazelle between 1956 and 1967 came to be known as the "Audax" body, with significant input from the US based Loewy design organisation, highly regarded at the time partly on account of Loewy's input to several iconic Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
designs.
The Mk II Gazelle, offered from Autumn 1957, could be bought as an estate car, and had optional overdrive and larger fuel tank.
The suspension was independent at the front using coil springs while at the rear was a live axle and half elliptic leaf springs. The steering gear used a worm and nut system.
As standard, the car had a bench front seat but individual seats were available as an option. To allow for the bench seat, the handbrake lever was between the seat and the door.
The drophead version had a two position hood where it could be either completely lowered or rolled back to just behind the front seats described as the "coupé de ville" position. All side windows could be completely lowered. To compensate for the loss of body rigidity by the removal of the roof, extra cross bracing was fitted under the car.
A car with overdrive was tested by the British magazine The Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
in 1957. It had a top speed of 78 mph (125.5 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 24.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of 33.5 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1016 including taxes of £332. This included the optional overdrive, heater and radio.
Gazelle IIA to IIIC
The main change when the Gazelle II became the IIA was the standard Hillman pushrod overhead valve engine replaced the Singer overhead cam unit. The new engine was more powerful, developing 56 bhp against 49 bhp.In line with Rootes Group policy the car kept getting small upgrades each with a new designation. In September 1958 the car became the III, received better seats, now enhanced at the front by a folding central arm rest. A new duo-tone paint became available with this upgrade.
The IIIA of 1959 gained small tail fins and a larger windscreen. The engine was upgraded with twin Solex carburettors replacing the single Solex, distinguishing it from the Minx, and lifting output to 60 bhp. Home market cars got a floor gear change and as well as overdrive, Smiths Easidrive automatic transmission also became an option.
The 1960 IIIB reverted to a single carburettor which improved fuel consumption and facilitated servicing "in remoter territories". The IIIB also received a new back axle featuring a hypoid
Spiral bevel gear
A spiral bevel gear is a bevel gear with helical teeth. The main application of this is in a vehicle differential, where the direction of drive from the drive shaft must be turned 90 degrees to drive the wheels...
bevel
Bevel gear
Bevel gears are gears where the axes of the two shafts intersect and the tooth-bearing faces of the gears themselves are conically shaped.Bevel gears are most often mounted on shafts that are 90 degrees apart, but can be designed to work at other angles as well...
in place of the former model's spiral bevel.
A larger engine of 1592 cc developing 53 bhp was fitted to the July 1961 IIIC. The convertible was dropped in February 1962 followed by the estate car in March 1962.
A Series III convertible with the 1494 cc engine was tested by The Motor in 1959. It was recorded as having a top speed of 83.4 mph (134.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 21.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of 32.5 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1003 including taxes of £295. This included the optional overdrive. The convertible cost £67 more than the saloon.
Gazelle V
There was no Gazelle IV. The Gazelle V, following the Minx update, had an updated body with longer rear doors and no longer having a wrap around rear window.The front brakes became discs and from 1964 it got a new gearbox with synchromesh on first gear. The optional Borg Warner automatic got a floor mounted selector lever.
Gazelle VI
The VI is the last and rarest of the "Audax" Gazelles. The engine is all new with a five bearing crankshaft and capacity of 1725 cc at first developing 65 bhp but this was later reduced to 59 bhp.The Singer grille, its top now somewhat flattened, was no longer attached to the opening bonnet but remained fixed to the front panels on opening.
Second generation
Singer Gazelle
The Singer Gazelle was also produced in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from 1957 to 1961 by Rootes Australia
Rootes Australia
Rootes Australia was the Australian affiliate of the Rootes Group, a British motor vehicle manufacturing company.The company was formed immediately after the Second World War initially operating as an importing and distribution firm. It began assembling Hillman Minx vehicles at Port Melbourne in...
. It was offered in Sports Saloon, Station Wagon and Estate Van models.
Hillman Gazelle
Following the purchase of Rootes Australia in 1965, Chrysler AustraliaChrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia is the importer of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for sale in the Australian marketplace. However, there had previously been a "Chrysler Australia Ltd" which had operated as a vehicle manufacturer in Australia from 1951 until 1980....
produced a variant of the Gazelle VI as the Hillman Gazelle
Hillman Gazelle
The Hillman Gazelle was an automobile produced by Chrysler Australia from 1966 to 1967.Based on the British Singer Gazelle VI, the Hillman Gazelle was offered only as a four door sedan and was essentially an upmarket version of the Hillman Minx VI. It was powered by a 1725 cc four cylinder engine...
.