A Model Example!

2006 was significant in that it saw not one, but two Singer Le Mans team cars come on the market via the inevitable eBay.

One of them was KV 9245, also known as Number 47, a 1934 Singer Le Mans two seater that was driven by the team of Tommy Wisdom and Stanley Barnes in the Le Mans race of that year. It was also once owned by John Horne of the Association of Singer Car Owners in the UK. John has a huge amount of experience with pre-war Singers and has owned a number of notable historic examples.

More on the second sister car, Number 48, in a later post.

Now, if buying the real thing is beyond your grasp, perhaps you'd like to pick up a smaller version at a more reasonable price? Say...1:43 scale at @ £40.00?

Enter Grand Prix Models, one of the best-known model shops in the UK. They carry a range of kits and ready-builts made by a French company called SLM-43. This company specialises in creating models of cars that ran at Le Mans...and...yes...they plan to build them all!

On the list is Number 47, as well as Number 48, plus a range of other Singer cars that ran on the famous Sarthe circuit. The photo depicted on the website is a pre-production model and no delivery date has been set yet. Still, if you want to start your own collection of Singer racing cars, keep an eye on the Grand Prix website!

Learn more about Grand Prix and the Singer models at:
http://www.grandprixmodels.co.uk/newspages/lemans.htm

Tyred Out No More!

I recently received an exciting tip-off from fellow '36 LM owner Simon Worland in the UK. Seems he and well-known motoring scribe John Siminster (love your work in Octane John!) were attending an event in the UK and were privy to a viewing of the first set of 4.50 x 18 Blockley tyres out of the mould.

Now, for those of you who haven't heard of Blockley, they are a small company in England who, in their relatively short time in business, have become very highly regarded for their period vintage tyres.

The company was started by Julian Majzub, who is well-known in classic car circles, and the tyres were developed by ex-Dunlop man Derek Freathy. I had the good fortune to meet Derek a few years ago at Beaulieu and tried to convince them to produce a 4.50 x 18 tyre for Singers. Derek was very gracious and said that it was not out of the question, but an order of 50 or more would have to be secured to produce the mould. There weren't that many cars using this size in the '30's evidently. I never really got momentum going to get 50 orders, so nothing ever happened.

So, fast-forward to 2007 and here we are! Simon says that pricing and availability should be known some time in June. Blockley tyres are renowned for their performance, hard-wearing and handling, especially in the wet, and can be used for road or race. They also have a DOT rating in the USA. Prices are very competative considering the market and start at a very reasonable £69.00.

I can't wait to get a set for my 1933 Singer Nine Sports which will really look the business with proper pre-war style triple stud tyres on her. The Goodyear All-Weather cross-hatch pattern tyres didn't appear on the cars until late 1935.

Learn more about Blockley Tyres at: http://www.blockleytyre.com