Singer Vehicle Design – Thing 1
Today, we take a closer look at the Singer Vehicle Designs “Thing 1” (we’ll get to the name in a second). This car is a Dynamics & Lightweighting Study which means it is restored by the team based at Singer’s UK center of operations. It looks like it was completed in September 2022.
As a reminder, Dynamics & Lightweighting Study cars are all powered by a specially developed 4.0L, 4-valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated, air-cooled flat-six that was a combination of Singer and Williams Advanced Engineering investments. The 4.0L flat-six is paired with a 6-speed, manual transmission, driving the rear wheels. Titanium valves are used, together with upper and lower injectors, to enhance performance.
Named “Thing 1” by its owner, this car is presented in Parallax White with an interior in Black. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling supported the decision to locate air intakes in place of the rear side windows. Air traveling along the sides of the car enters the intakes and then is fed into a U-shaped, carbon fiber intake. Finally the airflow is fed down into the engine, making use of a ram-air effect created by the intake system to increase pressure and optimize performance. The intake system developed through the Dynamics and Lightweighting Study is not only an integral part of the engine’s performance, it also contributes to the unmistakable sound of the flat-six.
There are also other elements that illustrate the wider aero development, informed by CFD analysis, undertaken during the study. There is a unique front spoiler and splitter and behind the spoiler sit twin oil coolers, and just ahead of the front wheels the exits for hot air from these coolers are visible, next to small winglets. Locating the exit vents in this position prevents the hot air from disturbing the airflow underneath the car. This combination eliminates front axle lift and also enables the rear diffuser, shown in the second image, to work more effectively.
Looking higher up on the car, there is a lowered channel running down the center of the roof. Airflow over the roof travels down this channel and then underneath the integrated bridge spoiler on the trailing edge of the roof. This combination helps to guide airflow down the back of the car and feeds the rear ducktail spoiler, to increase downforce. The angle of attack, height and Gurney flap developed for the ducktail were carefully optimized, as were the angle of the main plane and depth of the fences on the rear diffuser. These elements, from the front to the rear of the car, work in combination to support optimized aero balance and dynamic performance.
The inside of this DLS is definitely on the sporty side compared to other Singer cars we have seen. In this car, lightweight, carbon fiber seats are specified in Black with contrast weave seat centers and polished titanium grommets.
The central tachometer is presented in platinum with visible carbon fiber and black leather used across the instrument panel. The exposed titanium shift linkage of the lightweight, 6 speed manual transmission can be seen below the carbon fibre centre tunnel. In the rear compartment, visible carbon fibre is paired with black leather.
