Singer  Sports  Cars  Archives

Singer  Sports  Cars  Archives
Peter  McKercher
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Beautifully Restored Singer 4AD Roadster on Display at the S-Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica


A  Blast  From  The  Past 

Use  On-Screen  Arrows  To  Move  Thru  Photos


Overview

Singer sports cars were well known across America in the early fifties. With an overhead cam, a powerful engine and a strong manual gearbox, they outperformed their MG counterparts in races from coast to coast.

Their success in the American market was largely due to the efforts of two individuals – Bill Vaughan in New York City and Monroe Gretske in Los Angeles, California. All Singers came to America through Vaughan Motors on the east coast.  He was a larger than life visionary who promoted custom-bodied Singers, Singer roadsters and other European sports cars in the largest automotive events of the day. Vaughan also created successful publicity events to promote Singer roadsters with ties to celebrity endorsements including Lucille Ball, Phil Rizzuto, Katherine Hepburn and others.

Gretske was the west coast distributor for Vaughan and focused on success through franchising, publicity and racing.  Gretske’s strong connections within the Hollywood community coupled Singers with prominent celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis Jr., Debbie Reynolds and others. His consistent support of Singer racing across America brought prominence to the marque and recognized performance. The combined efforts of Bill Vaughan and Monroe Gretske put Singer sports cars on the map with appearances at shows, races, publicity events and magazine articles month after month

From 1951 to 1954, just 3,440 “4AD” roadsters were produced in England – all for export. The majority were shipped to the USA making Singer sports cars a nearly unique American experience. It’s estimated that Singer sports cars comprised nearly 8% of all sports cars in the USA in the early fifties.  It’s an impressive mark when you consider the number of other sports cars being imported at the time.  

In the USA and Canada, just 200 Singer 4AD sports cars are know to have survived to the current day.  For these reasons, Singer sports cars are recognized as one of the more rare automotive collectibles in North America today.

Read  Peter  McKercher’s  Singer  Statistics  For  Additional  Insight
August  8,  2013


Photography  and  Videos

Vintage  Photography

Singer  Videos


Singer  Showcase

Best  of  the  Best
Sports  Cars,  Race  Cars  &  Factory / Dealer  Special  Bodied  Singers

American  Special – Bodied  Singers
Sports  and  Race  Cars

South  African  Special – Bodied  Singers
Sports  and  Race  Cars


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News  and  Views  Newsletters  (2008 – 2015)

Modern  Singer  Articles

Vintage  Singer  Articles

Vintage  Singer  Literature  and  Advertising

Panoramic  Photo:  1955  Santa  Barbara  Race

Upcoming  Singer  Road  Racing  Book


Personality  Profiles

Singer  Race  Car  Drivers

Movers  and  Shakers


Singer  Events

Singer  Owners  Club  Hill  Climb:  1954
First  Annual:  Willow  Springs,  California

Singer  Owners  Club  Hill  Climb:  1955
Second  Annual:  Agoura  Hills,  California

Singer  Owners  Club  Hill  Climb:  Fall,  1959
Third  Annual:  Willow  Springs  Race  Track,  California

Gymkhanas
Coming  Soon


Information  of  Interest

Valuation

Singer  Mysteries  –  You  Can  Help

Singer  Facebook  Pages,  Groups  and  Websites

Singer  Production / Export  Numbers:  North  America

Want  to  Build  a  Singer  Special  With  Cisitalia  Body?


Contact  Information

Peter McKercher
E-mail: peter.mckercher@sympatico.ca
Phone: (613) 237-0128 (Canada)

Singer Racing at Gardena 1/8 Mile Track – Dick Van Laanen Collection