Lucille’s British darling: the Singer Roadsters of Hollywood

You wouldn’t expect to find a Singer Roadster basking in the California sun—let alone in the garage of one of America’s brightest stars. Yet Lucille Ball was the proud owner of this charming piece of British motoring, a car more commonly associated with the leafy lanes of Sussex than the sidewalks of Sunset Boulevard.

The car in question? A Singer Nine Roadster. “Oh! That’s a post-war creation, isn’t it?” Yes, it is—but we couldn’t resist sharing it with you nonetheless. With its rakish swooping wings, cut-down doors, wire wheels, and old-world trafficators, the Roadster carried a strong pre-war flair—already nostalgic in America’s chrome-hungry post-war market.

Ball wasn’t alone in her appreciation for this little roadster, either. She likely acquired the car through British car dealer William Vaughan, who introduced several Hollywood stars to the Singer. Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, and even Marilyn Monroe were all seen with them. Perhaps they were drawn to the car’s understated elegance—a quiet confidence that stood apart from the flashier Cadillacs and Packards of the day.

Just like Lucille herself.

Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture: Pinterest

Published:

Friday May 30th, 2025

Steve Diggins

01 June 2025, 23:45

They were sold in Canada. I had one. So, I am sure they were sold in most Commonwealth countries.

Phillip

01 June 2025, 16:17

The Roadster was actually introduced in 1939 as the "R Series", so was indeed a 'pre-war car'. It was based on the Singer Bantam chassis and running gear suitably tweaked to make it a more sporty proposition, although it still retained the 3 speed gearbox and rod brakes of the Bantam. Singer were careful not to market the car as a real sports car, but, rather, an open-air 2/4seater with a sporty flair. "From the inspiration of the Le Mans models", as the advertising crowed. The car in the photo (taken in New York) is a post-war 'A Series' Roadster, which included many improvements and which was based on the slightly longer "Light 10" chassis that was designed just before the outbreak of war. Vaughan was a keen promoter of the Marque and did much to sell these cars in North America. The later 4AD series Roadsters enjoyed success in USA sports car racing in the early to mid-fifties. Sadly, Singer were absorbed into the Rootes Group in 1956 and the last Singer-badged car left the factory in 1970.

Tony Press

01 June 2025, 00:42

And unfortunately, they cracked badly in the rear panel ! This lost them a lot of support in Australia

Graeme Miller

31 May 2025, 16:52

The car shown does not have wire wheels, it has pressed steel wheels which were standard fitment.

Mike Costigan

30 May 2025, 16:04

Contrary to your suggestion, 90% of all Singer Roadsters was exported, a large proportion to the USA. Australia and India were other large markets for the car.

Lucille’s British darling: the Singer Roadsters of Hollywood

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