Description
This is very pretty. Presented in factory Pippen Red with Foam White stripe with matching Red and White leather interior and fabulous Deep Red mohair hood, this is a car that certainly turns heads. A RHD Export model, the Gazelle lived overseas (possibly Australia or South Africa) until returning to the UK in 1979 and has been in the care of just a handful of owners since. Comprehensively restored and repainted around 30 years ago, it is a car that I have known for some 25 years and one that I have been chasing to buy for most of that! With only around 12 Convertibles believed registered on UK roads, this is indeed a very rare opportunity for any Rootes Group enthusiast or anyone seeking a truly evocative early 1960`s 4-seater tourer.
After the acquisition of Singer by the Rootes Group in 1956, the Gazelle was the first model to be produced and like its sister car, the Hillman Minx, was a mid-sized 4-door saloon of “Audax” design (a collaboration between Rootes and North American designers Raymond Loewy Associates). Unlike the Minx, the Gazelle was fitted with a 1497cc overhead cam engine and was more upmarket with Walnut dashboard and optional leather trim. A convertible variant was offered alongside the saloon with an estate version coming a year later with the introduction of the Series II. Some interior, suspension and styling tweaks came with the new designation with the IIA seeing the employment of the pushrod Hillman engine from 1958 onwards, albeit now developing 56BHP against the original 49BHP. In late 1958, the model changed again to Series III branding with better seats and distinctive two-tone paint schemes with the IIIA introducing small tail fins, a bigger windscreen and twin Solex carburettors from September 1959. Home market cars were now available with overdrive gearboxes and an optional automatic transmission, Smiths Easidrive, a somewhat complicated system involving magnets! In September 1960, the IIIB was launched moving back to single carburettor for fuel consumption and easier maintenance - the car by now was becoming hugely popular overseas and simplicity was deemed the key. The final Series III car, the IIIC, was introduced in July 1961 and featured a larger 1592cc engine. Further Audax-styled designations came over subsequent years with the Series VI of 1965 being the last before the all-new “Arrow” range hit production from 1967 onwards. Today, it is believed that around 260 Gazelles are registered on UK roads of which around 12 are genuine factory convertibles.
Our car was built in 1961 with the chassis number (B7039623E) correctly showing it to be a Series IIIB Export model. Many were produced for the markets in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as well as other overseas territories such a Malta, Cyprus and Gibraltar. In 1979, it returned to the UK and was properly registered on an age-related plate. I first knew the car around 25 years ago when it was owned by the sales manager of a Somerset-based Ford dealership. He had commissioned a full body restoration and repaint of the car in his own workshops and took great pride in showing the car regularly across Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset. At the time, I owned an identical car (same model, same year and same colour scheme) albeit mine was a Smiths Easidrive variant. We often showed the cars together which, unsurprisingly, caused quite a stir with many a photo was taken for local newspapers at the time. I was keen to buy his car and use them for wedding hire but he always resisted! Life moved on and I sold my car and I assume that he did the same. The paperwork accompanying the Gazelle conforms that by 2009, it was residing in the care of a hotelier in Eastbourne who undertook some re-chroming (bumpers and over-riders) as well as Walnut dash refurbishment. Around 5 years ago, the car had moved to Thatcham, Berkshire to notably its 5th owner since 1979. A publican, he retained the car for 3 years before selling to an enthusiast in Yeovil who for around 12 months shared the Gazelle with his daughter. In July 2025, the car popped up again for sale and before I could act, it had sold to another enthusiast in Devon. There is has remained for the past year albeit has travelled little more than a mile or two owing to the declining health of our new keeper. Up for sale again - I was in the right place at the right time. Since acquiring the car, we have undertaken a deep clean, full check-over and are out currently enjoying the September sunshine while it lasts.
The car presents just as can be seen in the photographs. It is evidently an older restoration and repaint but has stood up very well to the test of time. The underside is superb whilst on the topside, panel fit is excellent and paint finish very good. Just a few touched-in stone chips and some light scratches indicate the age of the work but the overall presentation is still show-worthy. Chrome is excellent as are the painted wheels and Continental tyres whilst the Deep Red mohair hood is almost as new. Indeed, it is also very easy to operate, has 2 positions (a landeau style or full convertible) and is a superb fit. The cabin boasts the original two-colour leather trim, evidently treated at some point, good carpets (replaced in 2007) and a very nice Walnut dashboard with full range of period instruments. Turn the key and with a little choke, the 1500cc fires into life settling down to a low burble. Select 1st and the Gazelle pulls forward sweetly moving up swiftly through the gears. On the road, the car feels very at home with positive steering, excellent brakes plenty of peppy performance more than capable of keeping up with modern-day traffic. On a sunny September day, I took the Gazelle out for a run across the West Dorset Downs and it immediately took me back of driving my original car some 25 years ago. Very user-friendly with light controls well-balanced road manners, it is a car that could be used and enjoyed by the whole family. Being an Export model, this is a non-overdrive example despite being fitted with a later overdrive gearstick, but frankly doesn’t look for this extra gear with current ratios set-up nicely for long distance cruising.
The Gazelle comes with some original sales and marketing literature, an Owners Handbook, magazine articles, a small file of bills and receipts for parts, an MoT Certificate from 2021, a current V5C and set of keys. Registered as Historic, the car is naturally both MoT and road-tax exempt.
A rather fabulous and exceedingly rare Convertible variant ready to show or just enjoy.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today. We are happy to take a reservation fee to hold a vehicle but as a dealership, we don`t operate a structured distance selling scheme.
