Sweet Singer - 2020 AXA Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance

Proving that concours cars don’t have to be high-priced or highly-exclusive, this charming little Singer Roadster came from Melbourne to the Sydney Harbour Concours.

The car’s 91-year-old owner, Rey Oakes, bought it when he was 21 and has kept it – and kept it in amazing condition - ever since.

Compared to the MGs and Triumphs of the early post-War years, Singers weren’t exactly high-profile cars. They were reasonably capable, though, with 1.1-litre four-cylinder engines producing 36hp (27kW) and a top speed in the 105km/h range – not bad for what was still essentially a pre-War design, but not in the league of an MG TC or TD. They were also popular in Australia, as the vast majority of these British-made cars were exported.

The addition of coil spring front suspension and an upgrade from a 3-speed gearbox to a 4-speed came in 1949 – the same year as this car – leading to the ‘4A’ designation for these quaint roadsters. The slightly modified ‘4AB’ followed in 1950, then the 1.5-litre SM Roadster in 1951.

Remarkably, the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance was the first show the owner had ever displayed his Singer at. Its remarkable ‘survivor’ condition was rewarded with the Pommery Champagne Preservation Award.