1956 Singer Hunter – Classified of the Week

For as long as there has been the car, there has also been the ‘home brew’ special. By which we mean cars that, for whatever reason, have been modified to be something else by their enthusiastic, but ultimately not always talented owners. Sometimes this is out of necessity – some cars in some parts of the world aren’t fit for purpose, so they are adapted. Most of the time, however, it’s normally because the owner allows an idea to spiral irreversibly out of control. And nine times out of ten, the word ‘pickup’ is involved. 

Turning a four-door saloon into a convertible is hard. Turning it into a speedboat is even harder. A pickup, however, is easy, right? You just chop 65% of the roof off and call it a day. This is why, if you have a look online, you’ll find all manner of confused looking ex-saloon cars that have a worrying amount of missing metal. But does that mean all ‘home brew’ pickup conversions are bad? No, of course not. As this glorious 1956 Singer Hunter goes to show. 

For every ten pickup driveway pickup conversions, there is one that is good. This Singer is a glowing example of that. To such an extent that we had to double check it wasn’t a factory job. It looks proper. The proportions are right, the lines work and the rear load bed is actually functional, and not full of bolt holes for long absent seats. It’s been planned, it’s been thought about and it has been executed incredibly well indeed. 

It seems the conversion was carried out in the ‘90s, and the current vendor states that there is a full collection of photographs to show the work being carried out. The chassis was completely refurbished, the body too. The cab back, the rear fenders and the rear bed are all made from steel, and have been built to a good standard. The paint is, of course, now a couple of decades old, but it still looks to be in good order. The chrome, too, is in good condition, as is the bespoke teak rear bed. Though the vendor does suggest it may need oiling. 

This unusual Singer, which is running, driving, stopping and starting has been the passion project of a number of owners who have evidently been in it for the build, rather than the drive. As such, this car has seen very few miles over the years. Having just been recommissioned, it’s in excellent health (though there are some small visual jobs to sort) and could be ready for the shows this year. And this will be a proper head turner. There quite literally isn’t another. It’s weird, it’s wonderful and it’s a glowing example of just how ‘right’ a home-build conversion can be if it’s approached in the right way.