Singer Junior Experiences

Singer Junior Experiences

I read with interest your article entitled “Small Car Progress” (MOTOR SPORT, October) which contrasted a road test run carried out by Sammy Davis in a 1927 Singer Junior and a similar run carried out by yourself in a small Japanese car.

My own 1929 Singer Junior Saloon (essentially similar to Sammy Davis’ car save for alloy bodywork and front wheel brakes) is of course very active in VSCC circles and is not unfamiliar with the Welsh mountains by virtue of its annual pilgrimage to compete in the LC & ES Section Welsh.

With but two exceptions (mine is very light on oil and a remarkable starter from cold) everything Sammy Davis said is still very familiar to me, a user 57 years later. It is a remarkably fatigue-free little car to drive even on long runs. Despite its 35-40 miles per hour cruising speed it is quite capable of averaging 28-30 miles per hour with 200-300 miles per day literally no strain. We must be the only people who have driven from Essex to Wales and back in one day in a Singer Junior when, approaching Builth Wells, we experienced what we thought might be terminal magneto problems dictating a return home whilst the engine was still running!

I am now happy with the fuel consumption since I also occasionally achieve 38-40 miles per gallon but on average 35-36 miles per gallon is more usual. The road test of the day gave promise of 50 miles per gallon but possibly this was not driving the Junior in the fashion of Sammy Davis or myself! I must say, it would be quite interesting to

retrace Sammy Davis steps in the Junior. I wonder, 57 years into the future, if a surviving example of a present Japanese light car will be in the position to do the same. I think it very likely that my little Singer will still be, and possibly the then owner of VX1239 would like to take the matter up with MOTOR SPORT or possibly “Space Sport (incorporating MOTOR SPORT)” as the journal might then be! Great Maplestead D. G. ROUSE