Solved - MJW #443 - Sulman Singer Special at Bathurst GP 1947

[woodinsight]

Quite a small racing car but what is it and when was it built?
Where was it competing and when in the picture?
One point for a full answer only.

[woodinsight]

Not much interest in this one, only 15 views so far.
Moving up to see if the Pros have the answer

[Otto Puzzell]

At Brooklands?

[woodinsight]

At Brooklands?

A long way from there.......

[Allemano]

British, 500cc class?

[Otto Puzzell]

US?

[woodinsight]

Not USA......

[Allemano]

British, 500cc class?

[Otto Puzzell]

Does it come from a land down under?

[woodinsight]

British, 500cc class?

Originally British but shown modified/rebuilt in a different country.
Not 500cc

[woodinsight]

Does it come from a land down under?

Yes!

[woodinsight]

Another more recent view -

[Otto Puzzell]

I'm sure I've seen it. Darned if I can recall where...

[woodinsight]

Thanks for the front page exposure!

[woodinsight]

So far I think we have established that this was originally a British car (well-known by the way) that ended up in Australia being modified and raced there.

[D-type]

Is this the ex-works Austin Seven from 1932 or so that went to New Zealand and later Australia where it was known as "Rubber Duck"?

[woodinsight]

Is this the ex-works Austin Seven from 1932 or so that went to New Zealand and later Australia where it was known as "Rubber Duck"?

It looks a bit similar doesn't it?
Not that but another British make that was racing successfully at the same era.

[woodinsight]

Time for another clue.
The car was known by two words - the owners surname and the make.
They both started with the same letter.

[Otto Puzzell]

Derived from an MG?

[woodinsight]

Not MG
The name we're looking for is S----- S----- Special (that's a big clue)

[Wendax]

Sulman Singer Special

[woodinsight]

Sulman Singer Special

That's the car.
Can you complete the puzzle by answering the remainder of the points asked for?
Locked for you in the meantime.

[Wendax]

The Sulman Singer Special was built by Tom Sulman in 1936. Was the picture taken at the Australian Grand Prix, held at Mount Panorama Circuit on October 6, 1947, where it finished 5th place?

[woodinsight]

The Sulman Singer Special was built by Tom Sulman in 1936. Was the picture taken at the Australian Grand Prix, held at Mount Panorama Circuit on October 6, 1947, where it finished 5th place?

Yes, yes and yes!
The original car it was based on dated from 1934 by the way.

[nicanary]

The car was built in England in the 1930s whilst Tom Sulman was working there. He raced it in hillclimbs and even dirt-track midget events before taking to the track when he returned to Australia.

Here's a photo of him at Dancer's End hillclimb in 1935(?).  A nice smooth surface .