FIVE TRIALS
We enjoy the Singer Gazelle and put it fully to the test
1 DAILY DRIVING
The liveliness and ease with which this Gazelle drives means that it would be perfectly practical as an everyday vehicle, assuming that you could bear the deterioration that such use would inevitably bring. There’s plenty of pace and acceleration for urban use, and the car is comfortable enough to cruise at higher speeds for longer trips, even without overdrive. Being a front disc-braked car, there’s enough stopping capability for modern traffic. Good all-round visibility, meaning you can see all four corners of the car, is a bonus when it comes to parking, although remember that the steering can be on the heavy side at parking speeds.
2 IN THE SERVICE BAY
Earlier Gazelles’ suspension required greasing every few thousand miles, but that requirement had been sensibly dispensed with by these final Audax cars. However, almost everything else on these cars is firmly rooted in mid-1950s technology, which means that there’s very little of any challenge. There’s plenty of space to work under the bonnet and it’s all sensibly laid out. Not that you should find yourself having to do too much, because Rootes vehicles are wellengineered and tough. The only real problem you’re likely to encounter is parts availability, because there aren’t as many specialists as there are for other British marques.
3 ON THE SHOW CIRCUIT
Unless it’s a very specific and high-brow kind of show, a Gazelle will be welcome at most classic events. Singer’s status as one of Rootes’ more upmarket badges might even get it into gatherings at which its lowlier Hillman equivalent would be slightly frowned upon. However, as a member of one of the biggestselling British series of 1950s and 1960s family cars, interest in the Gazelle is guaranteed anywhere you take it. It’s definitely of the ‘I remember/used to have one of those’ ilk. Those who recall them as everyday vehicles will delight in the memories; those who don’t will just delight in what is a very pretty little classic.
4 THE LONG WEEKEND
These may be small cars, but their packaging is well-considered. The boot is akin to something from a much bigger machine, and although some of the space is limited by the upright spare wheel, it’s still very commodious. It’s not at the expense of interior room either, as these later Gazelles had a higher roofline than earlier versions. So while the front seats are still the best, most comfortable and most spacious places to be, the back seats don’t squeeze you in too much, especially with their larger doors. In short, you can fit a healthy number of people and a decent amount of luggage in a Gazelle without it feeling too compromised.
5 THE B-ROAD BLAST
The Sunbeam Rapier may have been the sporty variant of these cars, but the Gazelle still has enough on offer to give a creditable account of itself. It’s quick enough that you won’t have (too) long a queue of irritated modern car drivers weaving around behind you, and its handling is sufficiently adept that corners can be tackled at a reasonable speed. B-roads are where the Gazelle truly comes alive; not just because it can bowl along at a happy, natural cruising speed, but because they make it easier to forget that you’re in the 21st century and you can pretend that time outside the car has stood still just as effectively as it has inside.