Singer Gazelle

Singer Gazelle
Production period:	1956-1970
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon , cabriolet , panel van
Previous model:	Singer Hunter

The Singer Gazelle is a mid-range car that the Rootes Group produced under the brand name Singer from 1956 to 1970 as the successor to the Hunter model. In the market, the Singer Gazelle was positioned between the simpler Hillman models and the sportier Sunbeam models.

Gazelle Mark I and Mark II

Mark I / Mark II
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Production period:	1956-1958
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , convertible
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.5 liters (36 kW)
Length:	4153 mm
Width:	1543 mm
Height:	1524 mm
Wheelbase :	2438 mm
Empty weight :

The Gazelle was the first singer who, after the acquisition of this car manufacturer by the Rootes Group in 1956. It was a version of the main model Hillman Minx , mainly from this through the re-use of the well-known from earlier Singer models engine with overhead camshaft different . From the outside, the Singer Gazelle can be distinguished from the front of the vehicle, which is different from the Minx and is based on the traditional Singer radiator grille.

The body of the Gazelle between 1956 and 1967 was known as the "Audax" body; it was designed by the Rootes Group with extensive support from the design studio Raymond Loewy in the USA and was very well known in its time, partly because of Loewy's part in it, but partly also because of the clear echoes of the Studebaker design .

While the Gazelle Mark I was only available as a 4-door sedan, the Gazelle Mark II, which appeared in autumn 1957, was also available as a station wagon. From this point on there was also a larger petrol tank and, on request, overdrive .

The front wheels were individually suspended and provided with coil springs, while the rigid, driven rear axle hung on semi-elliptical longitudinal leaf springs. The cars had a spindle steering.

The basic equipment also included a full-length bench at the front, but individual front seats were also available on request. To enable the installation of a front bench seat, the handbrake lever was placed on the right between the driver's seat and the door.

The cabriolet has a fabric roof that could be locked in three positions: open, closed and, like a Targa roof, only open up to the B-pillars. The latter position was called the Coupé de Ville position . All side windows could be completely sunk. To compensate for the loss of rigidity due to the omission of the fixed roof, the convertible had additional cross bracing on the floor. In 1957, The Motor magazine tested a vehicle with overdrive. It reached 78 mph (125.5 km / h) and accelerated from 0 to 60 mph (97 km / h) in 24.8 s. The gasoline consumption was 33.5 mpg (8.4 l / 100 km).

4,344 of the Mark I were built and 1,582 of the Mark II.

Gazelle Mark IIA to Mark IIIC

Mark IIA / Mark III / Mark IIIA / Mark IIIB / Mark IIIC
Singer Gazelle Mark IIIC (1962)
Production period:	1958-1963
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.5–1.6 liters (39–44 kW)
Length:	4153 mm
Width:	1543 mm
Height:	1454 mm
Wheelbase :	2438 mm
Empty weight :

The most important change in the model change from the Mark II to Mark IIA was the installation of an engine with hanging , actuated via pushrods valves of Hillman instead of the singer-engine with an overhead camshaft. The new engine was more powerful; he developed 56 bhp (42 kW) instead of the 49 bhp (37 kW) previously used. 3824 specimens of the Gazelle Mark IIA were made.

As usual with the Rootes Group, the cars were given small model updates at regular intervals and thus new model names. In September 1958 the Gazelle Mark III came out, which had better seats with a folding center armrest in the front. There was now a two-tone paint job on request. 10,929 of the Mark III were built.

The 1959 Mark IIIA got small tail fins and a larger windshield. The engine was now supplied with two Solex carburetors instead of just one, which set it apart from the Hillman Minx and brought the engine output to 60 bhp (45 kW). The copies for the British market received a middle gearshift and an overdrive . The Smith Easidrive automatic transmission was available as an option. The Mark IIIA was created 12,491 times.

The Mark IIIB, introduced in 1960, returned to the single carburetor, which resulted in lower fuel consumption and simplified service work "in distant areas". The Mark IIIB also received a new rear axle drive with hypoid gearing . There were 13,272 copies of the Mark IIIB.

A larger engine with 1592 cc and 53 bhp (39 kW) was installed in the Mark IIIC from July 1961. The construction of the convertible was stopped in February 1962 and the station wagon disappeared in March 1962. Up to then the Mark IIIC had been built 15,115 times.

Singer Gazelle IIIB Cabriolet (1960)

Gazelle Mark IV

In July 1961, the Rootes Group brought out the new Singer Vogue . The newly developed model was supposed to be launched as the Gazelle Mark IV, but the decision was different. So the name Gazelle Mark IV was skipped.

Gazelle Mark V

Mark V
Singer Gazelle Mark V (ca.1965)
Production period:	1963-1965
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.6 liters (39 kW)
Length:	4178 mm
Width:	1543 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2438 mm
Empty weight :

The Gazelle Mark V was launched in August 1963, just after the Hillman Minx facelift . The car had longer rear doors and no panoramic rear window .

Disc brakes were installed in the front and from 1964 there was a new gearbox with a synchronized first gear. The optional automatic transmission from Borg-Warner had a center shift.

20,022 copies of the Gazelle Mark V were made.

Singer Gazelle V (1964, rear view)

Gazelle Mark VI

Mark VI
Singer Gazelle Mark VI (1966)
Production period:	1963-1965
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engine : 1.7 liters (43-48 kW)
Length:	4229 mm
Width:	1568 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2438 mm
Empty weight :

The Mark VI was the last and rarest version of the Singer Gazelle with an "Audax" body. The engine was completely new, had a crankshaft with five bearings , 1725 cm³ displacement and initially developed 65 bhp (48 kW). In later models, the engine output was reduced to 59 bhp (43 kW).

The radiator grille, the upper end of which was now a little flatter, was no longer attached to the bonnet, but remained in the front mask when it was opened.

Only 1482 copies were built in two years.

Gazelle Mark VII

Mark VII
The Singer Gazelle Mark VII looks like the Singer Vogue Mark V.
Production period:	1967-1970
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.5–1.7 liters (41–43 kW)
Length:	4343 mm
Width:	1600 mm
Height:	1422 mm
Wheelbase :	2489 mm
Empty weight :	953 kg

The Gazelle Mark VII was introduced in 1967 as one of the many varieties in the Rootes “Arrow” series . It was only available as a four-door sedan. Initially the Mark VII was only available with the 1725 cc engine and automatic transmission. Later, a variant with a 1496 cm³ engine and manual transmission was also introduced. In 1970 the production was stopped after 26,846 copies and thus the last Singer disappeared from the market.

Made in Australia

Hillman Gazelle

Singer Gazelle

The Singer Gazelle was also built in Australia by Rootes Australia from 1957 to 1961 . It was available as a sports sedan, station wagon and panel van.

Hillman Gazelle

After purchasing Rootes Australia in 1965, Chrysler Australia manufactured a variant of the Singer Gazelle Mark VI as the " Hillman Gazelle ".

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} David Culshaw, Peter Horrobin: The Complete Catalog of British Cars 1895 - 1975. Veloce Publishing, Dorchester 1997, ISBN 1-874105-93-6 , pp. 271-278
2. ↑ The Singer Gazelle. in The Motor . December 22, 1957
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h} Graham Robson: A to Z of British Cars . Herridge, Devon 2006, ISBN 0-9541063-9-3
4. ↑ The Singer Gazelle Series III. in The Motor . April 29, 1959
5. ^ ^{A b} New Cars at the Motor Show in Practical Motorist . Issue 5 (nbr 54), December 1958, pp. 547-551
6. ↑ Knowing your Singer Gazelle in Practical Motorist . Issue 7 (nbr 82), June 1961, pp. 1068 + 1071
7. ↑ ^{a b c d e} The Gazelle Story . www.asco.org.uk . Retrieved June 20, 2014.
8. ↑ ^{a b c d} Michael Sedgwick & Mark Gillies: A – Z of Cars 1945–1970 . P. 183
9. ↑ The Macqaurie Dictionary of Motoring . 1986, p. 437
10. ^ The New Flying Gazelle. Australian Motor Manual . Rootes Australia, April 1, 1959, p. 13
11. ^ Prospectus of the Hillman Gazelle. www.sa.hillman.org.au . Retrieved September 3, 2010.

Web links

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