This is David Garn’s delightful pair of Bantams – his 1936 grey Bantam 4 door saloon and his dark blue Bantam Tourer. The 4 door Bantam Saloon was bought new in June 1936 by Albert Brown a grocer in Reigate. When Albert became ill sometime in the 1950s, the car was left in his lock-up until his wife died in 1983. It was then sold to a Mrs Shelley in Reigate who stored it in a barn with the intention of putting it back on the road.
The Bantam, pictured at Brooklands in 2001.
In 1989, the Bantam was bought by Phillip Isherwood in Redhill, who stored it outside whilst he had a garage built. Unfortunately he became very ill and the car was sold again. This time it was taken to Littlehampton, where a Morgan enthusiast, Anthony Lindus, dismantled the car completely, repainted the bodywork and reassembled the vehicle before putting it back on the road in 1990. He used it for a couple of years, including taking his daughter to her wedding. Over the next 15 months the Bantam covered just 90 miles, before it returned to Littlehampton in part exchange for another motorbike.
For the next two years the Bantam was driven regularly, taking children to school, before it was once again offered for sale, this time to finance a loft extension.
David has owned the Bantam since 1998, and he has driven and displayed it around the country. This is one of only 14 Singer Bantam cars currently roadworthy in England and the only 4-door 972cc saloon in regular use. Despite being 71 years old this car has driven a total of only 40,000 miles from new.
CLICK HERE to view David’s Singer Bantam Register Site