Lot 400: 1963 Singer Gazelle MkIIIC Saloon

Following the company’s take-over by Rootes at the beginning of 1956, the Singer name was applied to a range of upmarket Hillmans. Launched later that same year, the first Gazelle deployed the overhead-camshaft engine of the outgoing Singer Hunter in a Hillman Minx body featuring its own distinctive front end treatment and a higher specification interior. After a year the mildly revised MkII was launched and changes occurred at approximately yearly intervals thereafter so that within five years the Gazelle had progressed to MkIIIC. The ohc Singer engine had been replaced by the 1.5-litre overhead-valve Minx unit on the IIA in 1958, while roll-over tail fins were a feature of the restyled IIIA of 1959. Introduced in July 1961, the MkIIIC enjoyed an unprecedented (in Gazelle terms) production run of three years, the major difference between it and the superseded MkIIIB being the adoption of the larger, 1,592cc engine.
A manual transmission model finished in maroon/beige with beige interior, this Gazelle MkIIIC comes with a most substantial history file containing old tax discs dating back to 1964, 20 years of MoT certificates and numerous bills and receipts. Veteran of many classic vehicle show appearances, the car is reported as a first-time starter that drives well. Offered without reserve.