Singer Bantam

Infobox Automobile


name = Singer Bantam
manufacturer = Singer Motor Company
production = 1936–1939
assembly = Coventry, England
class =
body_style = 2-door saloon
4-door saloon
2-door van
2 and 4 seat tourer
engine = 972 and 1074 cc I4 overhead cam
transmission = 3-speed manual
length =
width =
height =
weight =
wheelbase = 91 inches (2311 mm) cite book |last=Culshaw |first= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2]
successor =
layout = FR layoutThe Singer Bantam was the first model produced by the Singer Motor Company to have a pressed steel body. It was offered as a new economy model at the 1935 Motor Show in London.

There were four models initially, the 2-door and 4-door Singer Bantam Popular as well as the 2-door and 4-door Singer Bantam De-Luxe. All four models shared the same basic bodyshell but whereas the De-Luxe models had a sliding sunshine roof, the Popular version had a fixed panel over the roof opening.cite book |last=Sedgwick |first=M. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A-Z of Cars of the 1930s|year=1989 |publisher=Bay View Books |location=Devon, UK |id=ISBN 1-870979-38-9] In the ensuing years, many cars had the sliding roof removed but the presence of the drainage channels front and rear indicates the De-Luxe origins.

Other features of the De-Luxe model were the leather seats, chrome bumpers and rear luggage rack.

The Singer Bantam re-used many existing components from the production line. It utilized the Singer Le Mans underslung chassis and 972cc overhead cam engine, although with a lower compression ration and single Solex carburettor. Power transmission was through a three speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on 3rd gear. Early models were equipped with wire wheels whilst the easyclene wheels that were an option, became standard from 1937. A chromed mascot portraying a flying Bantam chicken was mounted on the radiator surround until this was outlawed by new legislation in 1937.

Performance was lively and the hydraulic brakes were very effective to match.

For 1937, a Tourer model was announced although few were made and very few survive.

The Saloon got an upgrade in 1937 for the 1938 model year. The chassis and suspension were strengthened to take the larger 1074 cc I4 engine and the brakes were converted to a cable system. The bodyshell remained the same apart from an extra chrome trim strip across the doors and changes to the bonnet louvres.

Many surviving Singer Bantam cars are located in Australia and New Zealand. Singer exported these vehicles as rolling chassis with complete powertrain. They were mainly bodied by the Flood company in Australia as Tourers and Roadsters and this seems to have prompted the development of the Roadster model by Singer in 1939, based on the Bantam chassis and engine combination.

Australian crime writer Charles Shaw took his nom de plume Bant Singer from the car.

References