Singer Vogue MkII Saloon

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Badge engineering is almost as old as the motor industry itself and has traditionally offered manufacturers a cost-effective way to continually ‘renew’ and differentiate their models without actually spending too much time or money on the task.

The Rootes Group were masters of the art and when they took over Singer in 1956, they promptly commenced a bewildering re-badging exercise to camouflage the fact that Singers were henceforth Hillmans – and vice versa! Launched in 1961 and remaining in production until 1966, the Vogue/Gazelle range was the first Singer to get the badge engineering treatment, being a more upmarket version of the more mainstream Hillman Minx/Super Minx range, the Vogue being pitched just a rung or two above the Gazelle.

In line with the prevailing ‘built-in obsolescence’ marketing strategy, the cars kept getting small upgrades, each with a new designation, to let you keep one step ahead of the Joneses (provided your wallet could take it) and to ensure that there was always a better model to strive for.

All cars shared the so-called 'Audax' body which incorporated significant input from the American-based Loewy Design Organisation (Raymond Loewy riding high on the acclaim he had garnered for his ground-breaking work for Studebaker). The Vogue was distinguishable by its quadruple headlamps as well as a more powerful 66bhp version of the 1,592cc Minx engine.

The MkII version of late 1962 had front brake discs as standard, changes to the interior and slightly different exterior brightwork, while the MkIII of 1964 gained six-light bodywork and an increase in power to 84bhp. The final MkIV version of 1965 saw the engine capacity grow to 1,725cc although the power output remained unchanged. All were good cars, being entertaining to drive and living up the marketing slogan: ‘Built stronger to last longer’.

First registered in November 1962, this particular Vogue MkII was acquired by the vendor a couple of years ago as part of a deal. Very little is known about the history of the car but it has clearly been well looked after with smart two-tone blue paintwork and a blue interior with contrasting red carpets and a walnut dash.

At some point the engine has been hotted up with the addition of a Holbay head and twin Zenith carbs with pancake filters, much like the later 1,725cc Sunbeam Rapier and Hillman Hunter GLS models, although whether the engine itself is still the 1,592cc unit stated on the V5C or larger, we really don’t know and bidders are advised to form their own opinion on this matter.

Two old MOTs issued in December 2011 and December 2012 (both with no advisories recorded) show that the car has been in regular use until fairly recently, covering some 7,200 miles between December 2007 and December 2012, with another 2,200 miles added since then (the clock currently showing some 24,200 miles).

Due to have a fresh MOT in time for the sale , it is only reluctantly for sale due to imminent loss of storage and is being offered it here at no reserve so the highest bid takes it!