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1938 SS Cars SS 100 Roadster

  • Chassis Number: 39032
Introduced in 1936, the SS100 3.0-Litre sports car represented the pinnacle of prewar performance from the Coventry-based British automaker SS Cars Ltd. - the marque that would later become Jaguar Cars. The SS100 united a powerful 3.0-liter sedan engine with a lightweight roadster body weighing just 2,610 pounds - thereby creating a high-performance, ultra-lithe sports car. The model's name hinted at its theoretical top speed of 100 mph, and zero to 60 mph was possible in a brisk 10 seconds.

This particular car was originally sold to a bicycle company, Parker's of Bolton, in England, then exported to the United States in 1962 by Eugene Faust. It was sold to the well-known antique dealers, the Keno family, and remained in their care for 40 years. Eventually, this splendid SS100 was purchased by K. Clendenning, an active member of the Jaguar Club, and it found its way to Tom and Gwen Price in 2021.
This SS 100 was delivered through the Parker's Bolton agency in Manchester, England, in 1938. It would spend the first 24 years of its life in the United Kingdom, before coming into the care of Eugene Faust, who brought it to New York in 1962. It remained with Faust for seven years and during that time received a restoration. Its original engine, number M 545 E, had been replaced with number M 499E earlier in its life. During the restoration, Faust replaced the original fenders, but they are still with the car as spare parts.

Ron Keno of Mohawk, New York purchased the car in 1969 and kept it for many years, driving it only during the summer and fall seasons.

The car was painted gunmetal gray for much of its life. It has recently been repainted a dark blue with a red leather interior.

In 2009, this SS 100 Roadster was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $250,000 - $350,000 and offered without reserve. As the gavel fell for the third and final time, the lot had been sold for the sum of $341,000, including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009

2021 RM Sothebys : Arizona

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $500,000-USD $600,000 
Sale Price :
USD $415,000

2014 RM Auctions at Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $850,000-USD $1,100,000 
Sale Price :
USD $852,500

2011 RM Auctions - London

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $310,000-USD $380,000 
Sale Price :
USD $423,752

2009 Sports & Classics of Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $250,000-USD $350,000 
Sale Price :
USD $341,000

1938 SS Cars SS 100 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the SS Cars SS 100

(Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3.5-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39016
Sold for USD$434,000
  2022 Broad Arrow Auctions : The Passion for the Drive
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39032
Sold for USD$415,000
  2021 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39048
Sold for USD$474,500
  2018 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 SS 100 Jaguar Roadster
Chassis#: 49049
Sold for USD$572,000
  2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 Jaguar SS100 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39064
Sold for USD$462,375
  2016 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale
 
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39010
Sold for USD$583,000
  2015 RM Sotheby's : Monterey
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 Jaguar SS100 2½ Liter Roadster
Chassis#: 49049
Sold for USD$231,000
  2015 Bonhams : Greenwich Concours
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39032
Sold for USD$852,500
  2014 RM Auctions at Monterey
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39010
Sold for USD$451,000
  2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39039
Sold for USD$852,500
  2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 49028
Sold for USD$396,142
  2013 RM Auction - London
 
1938 SS100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39065
Sold for USD$402,737
  2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor cars and Automobilia
 
1938 Jaguar SS 100 3.5-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39032
Sold for USD$423,752
  2011 RM Auctions - London
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 Jaguar SS100 3.5-Liter Roadster
Chassis#: 39048
Sold for USD$687,500
  2011 RM Auctions at Monterey
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 Jaguar SS100 3.5 Roadster
Chassis#: 39058
Sold for USD$242,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
 
1938 Jaguar SS Coupe
Chassis#: 30182X
Sold for USD$385,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 Jaguar SS100 3.5 Litre
Sold for USD$368,500
  2010 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  
1938 SS100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Chassis#: 39051
Sold for USD$330,313
  2010 Bonhams - Les Grandes Marques a Monaco
 
1938 SS Jaguar 2½-Litre Drophead Coupé
Chassis#: 46131
Sold for USD$154,408
  2010 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia
 
1938 Jaguar SS 100
Chassis#: 39032
Sold for USD$341,000
  2009 Sports & Classics of Monterey
1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 image  

SS Cars SS 100s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1938 SS Cars SS 100's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1938 Jaguar SS100 2 ½ L Roadster490442024 Artcurial : Retromobile $200,000$300,000
1938 SS100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster390832022 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival $400,000$500,000
1938 Jaguar SS100 2½-Litre Roadster490282018 Bonhams : Goodwood Members Meeting $250,000$300,000
1938 Jaguar SS 100 3 1/2 Litre390672017 Gooding & Co. : Scottsdale, AZ $450,000$525,000
1938 JAGUAR SS100 3½ LITRE ROADSTER390832015 Bonhams : The Frederiksen Auction   
1938 Jaguar SS100 2½ Litre The Kuala Lumpur SS100490342013 Coys Techno Classica $265,000$285,000
1938 Jaguar SS Coupé by Graber301822011 RM Auctions Villa d'Este$210,000$300,000$400,000
1938 Jaguar SS 100390272010 Bonhams Automobiles d'Exception á Rétromobile $200,000$250,000
1938 Jaguar 1.5-Liter 2007 Christie's Exceptional Motor Cars at the Monterey Jet Center $50,000$60,000

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1938 SS Cars SS 100 vehicle thumbnail image  1938 SS Cars SS 100 vehicle thumbnail image  
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1938 SS Cars SS 100

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