RARER THAN RARE – THE SINGER HUNTER

H&H Classic Auction will be selling, on the 24^th of July, one of the most unusual saloons for the 1950s. Singer marketed the Hunter as the car “for the connoisseur who likes his spirited motoring in comfort” – and it was the famous Coventry firm’s last independent design.

In essence, the Hunter was a 1954 facelift of the SM1500. The engine was a 1.5-litre chain-driven unit, and the cabin had enough room for six people, all wearing hats. One unusual detail was the flat floor with no footwells, so the occupants could ride in comfort. It was also very well-appointed: fog lamps, a heater, windscreen washers, folding armrests front and rear, a reversing light and a clock were all standard fittings.

Autocar thought the Hunter’s interior compared favourably “to some cars in a higher price bracket”, for it was a comfortable, reliable and dignified saloon with a sense of individualism, but sales were limited. One problem was the Hunter bore too close a resemblance to its SM1500 predecessor, whose lines dated from 1948. From a 2024 perspective, the slab sides and the reverse-hinged back doors are part of the Hunter’s appeal. But to many 1955 buyers, it looked rather dated.

Secondly, while £975 1s 8d was not an unreasonable sum for a medium-sized saloon of quality, too many buyers opted for the six-cylinder Ford Zephyr-Zodiac Mk. I or the Vauxhall Cresta E. Meanwhile, buyers in search of a four-cylinder sports saloon tended to prefer the MG Magnette. A further issue was the GRP panelling for the bonnet and side-valances of the early examples that proved somewhat troublesome.

On the 9^th of December 1955, the press announced that Singer Motors was to become a subsidiary of the Rootes Group and Hunter production ended in 1956. Today, it has a loyal group of followers, and after encountering a fine example in 2017 for Classic & Sports Car, I could understand why. Here are some of my impressions:

The lines of the Hunter have been the cause of some debate over the years, but I cannot see how it could be objectively described as ‘aesthetically challenged’. The best term for our British Racing Green test car is ‘pleasingly formal’, with a side profile that is faintly reminiscent of the Rover P4. When the Singer was new, a select group of motorists would have regarded it as a welcome relief from the vulgarities of Teddy Boys and those new espresso bars.

In other words, the Hunter’s appeal was to those motorists who valued engineering integrity over duotone paint and chromium decorations. It also benefitted from a very flexible engine, making the Singer as suited to country lanes as it was to trunk roads. As for the interior, with its dark wood panelling, it seemed reminiscent of a bank manager’s office.

Indeed, George Mainwaring would probably have bought a Singer Hunter after he retired from the Swallow Bank. He was a gentleman who appreciated quality and dignity.

With thanks to: https://www.handh.co.uk/