1937 SS Cars 100 SS Roadster

The sports car that earned Jaguar its name, this SS100 was built by Swallow Sports, SS Cars in 1937. These sports cars were celebrated for their sleek designs and impressive performance. The streamlined, open-top body had elegant lines and a distinctive front grille, reflecting the Art Deco styling of the era. Powered by a 3.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine, it offered smooth and powerful performance, contributing to its reputation as a high-performance sports car of its time. The SS100's combination of advanced engineering and stylish design has made it a prized collector's item and a symbol of Jaguar's early automotive excellence.

When 'SS' became infamous under the Nazis, this was no longer acceptable after the war -thus a new name for the company in 1945 - Jaguar. The SS100 designation came from Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons for the recorded speed of 100 mph, a tradition later used to name the post-war Jaguar XK 120, XK 140 and XK 150. This SS100 bears the original license plate - BWX 243 from its Yorkshire delivery in April 1937. Production was brought to an end by World War II just a year later.

The Swallow Sidecar Company began its life building motorcycle sidecars. When partners William Walmsley and William Lyons began building bodies on the Austin 7, it became the Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Company. Eventually, the sidecar business was dropped altogether. A new car was introduced in 1931, using a custom chassis from the Standard Motor Company, resulting in the SS1. By 1934, the firm was called S.S. Cars Ltd. The SS1 was followed by the SSII, and then the SS90, and finally the SS100, built between 1937 and 1941. Approximately 309 examples of the SS100 were built before the war ended production.

The SS100 'Jaguar' was a very capable performer. The 3.5-liter overhead valve engine was introduced in 1938, and many of the 2.5-liter cars were later uprated to this new engine.

This SS100 car still retains its North Yorkshire license plate, BWX 243, and documents dating back to the original owner, A.C. Crowther, of Harrogate, who bought it on April 13, 1937. Two more UK owners would care for the car before it was exported to the United States. The car was owned by a Mr. Brown of New Albany, Ohio, J.S. Volmer, of La Grange, Illinois, and George Stauffer of Blue Mounds, Wisconsin.

Kathy and Jerry Nell were the car's next owners. They had it restored in 1984 with the intention of showing the car. The Nells competed in 28 JCNA concours events between 1986 and 2000, winning national class trophies in the process. The car also appeared at Meadow Brook in 1988, Pebble Beach in 1999, the CCCA Grand Classic, the Chicago International Concours, and Masterpieces of Style and Speed in 2008.

The current owners acquired the car from the Nells. The car is powered by an overhead valve six-cylinder 3.5-liter engine with dual SU carburetors. There is a Moss four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes.

In 2012, this car was offered for sale by RM Auctions at their Monterey, CA sale. The car was estimated to sell for $300,000 - $375,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $352,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012