MEET THE OWNER – MICHAEL CARPENTER AND HIS SINGER GAZELLE SERIES V

We have previously featured members of Michael Carpenter’s fleet, but he has now decided to take a walk on the wild side. Yes, throwing caution to the wind, this week Michael became the proud owner of a Singer Gazelle Series V.

In reality, a 1965 Gazelle was entirely removed from the Carnaby Street ethos. A typical owner probably regarded The Archers as a cutting-edge radio programme. They also might write to the local newspaper urging exile to The Falkland Islands of Simon Dee, David Frost and the entire cast of Round the Horne.

Which is not to say the Gazelle is not a highly agreeable car. The Rootes Group launched the Series V in 1963, the buyer gaining a revised roofline with wider doors, separate front seats, a redesigned facia, all-synchromesh transmission, and front disc brakes. Here was a Singer with a “heater as standard equipment”, plus “Handy front and rear parcel trays”, all for just £598, plus £125 2s 11d Purchase Tax.

The Rootes Group acquired Singer in 1956, and two years later, the Gazelle IIA was a badge-engineered derivative of the ‘Audax’ Hillman Minx. Corporate politics resulted in the planned Series IV model eventually becoming the Singer Vogue, a separate model in its own right – hence the Series V replacing the Series IIIC. Autocar thought the Series V was “A sturdy car with smart appearance and a good average performance”. However, the front rubber floor mats were “viewed unfavourably by ladies who like to slip off their shoes when travelling”.

But apart from this vital issue, the interior of Michael’s car is especially appealing. The walnut veneered dashboard would have appealed to the socially ambitious motorist of 1965 while the driver benefits from a footwell air vent to cool their knees. There is also the horn ring, a device that seems to belong to a lost world of Bakelite and “Operator - can I have AMBassador 5982, please?”.

The 1725cc Series VI made its bow in late 1965, making the Carpenter Gazelle one of the last 1.6-litre models. Rootes replaced the last of their Audax series Singers with the Arrow series ‘New Gazelle’ in 1967. Michael says of his latest acquisition:

A friend bought it last year from auction and it had since then sat in a barn of his untouched and I offered to buy it just to put it back on the road so it can be used and enjoyed again. It needs a bit of love; the brake pedal goes to the floor, and the water pump leaks. In addition, the bodywork needs a good polish, but it runs and drives beautifully and has the makings of a nice car.

Mythology about the 1960s often ignores vehicles such as Michael’s Singer, but it was as much a part of that decade as a Jaguar E-Type or a Mini Moke, and a far more familiar sight. A Gazelle Series V may be more a walk on the mild side than on the wild side - but that is part of its charm.

With Thanks To – Michael Carpenter