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1938 SS Cars SS 100

Before it was Jaguar, it was 'S.S', and before that, it was the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company of Blackpool, England, founded by William Walmsley. Initially, they built sidecars for motorcycles, adding automobile coachbuilding in 1926 using the popular and inexpensive Austin 7 chassis as their platform. The design had been created by Walmsley's partner, one William Lyons. Soon after, the company relocated to Coventry and the Swallow range grew to include models on the Standard Sixteen, Wolseley Hornet, and Morris Cowley chassis. Official marque status arrived in October of 1931 with the introduction of the S.S.I.

The 'S.S.' of the S.S.I represented 'Standard Swallow' (the 'Sidecar' had been dropped from the name in 1927 when it became the Swallow Coachbuilding Company) and the chassis was supplied by Standard, who also provided the four-speed gearbox and the six-cylinder side-valve engine. 2-liter or 2.5-liter displacements were available, while the SS2 came with a four-cylinder 1-liter side-valve engine. Body styles included a coupe or tourer, with a saloon being added in 1934 when the chassis grew two inches wider.

The S.S. 90 sports car was added to the lineup in 1935 and by this point in history, William Walmsley had recently retired and William Heynes had joined as Chief Engineer. The S.S.90 rested on a shortened S.S.I. chassis, re-engineered by Heynes and wore bodies styled by Lyons characterized by flowing lines, cut-away doors, a truncated tail, and a long bonnet. The '90' in the car's name represented its top speed of 90 mph.

Harry Weslake was described as England's greatest expert on cylinder head design. He built an enviable reputation that included working with W.O. Bentley tuning his racing engines cylinder heads, which resulted in the first Le Mans victory. He worked with Automotive Engineering for nearly a decade before setting up his own business in 1935 called Weslake & Taylor. This consultation business collaborated with companies such as Citroen, MG, Austin, and Swallow Sidecars. His work for Swallows included modifying the side valve Standard engine to overhead valves, and when equipped with twin SU carburetors, the 2,663cc Standard six produced 104 horsepower. Installed in the 8-foot 8-inch wheelbase chassis of the S.S.100 was a 'proper' sports car, although marketed as primarily for competition work. The engine grew larger in 1938, to a 3½ liter displacement size and power increased to 125 bhp. The four-speed gearbox had synchromesh on the top 3 ratios. They left the factory with 5.50 or 5.25 x 18-inch tires on 18-inch wheels, and brakes were by Girling.

As the popularity and production of the SS cars had increased, the company's ash-framed construction had become too time-consuming. All-steel bodies were adopted for the volume-selling saloon cars for 1938, and these heavier bodies required more power. Thus, the 2½-liter engine grew to the 3½-liter displacement. boosting output to 125 bhp.

The name '100' suggested 100 mph but period road tests revealed a top speed of 95 mph with the 2.5-liter engine and a zero-to-sixty mph time of 13.5 seconds. The larger 3.5-liter powerplant gave the S.S.100 a 100 mph top speed (its best recorded time was 101 mph) and a zero-to-sixty mph time of 10.4 seconds.

In 1936, the S.S.100 driven by Tommy Wisdom won the International Alpine Trial, the first of many competition successes, including class victories in the RAC events of 1937 and 1938, and the Alpine (outright) again in 1948.

Production of the S.S.100 continued until the outbreak of World War II in Europe, by which point around 198 examples of the 2½-Litre and 116 of the later 3½-Litre cars had been built. The '100' was in reference to its theoretical 100 mph maximum top speed. In March 1945 the S. S. Cars shareholders agreed to change the name to Jaguar Cars Limited. Jaguar would continue to use the vehicle's top speed as part of its model naming scheme, including the legendary XK120.

The introduction of the OHV unit was considered to justify the adoption of a new name for the series. Lyons later recalled 'I immediately pounced on Jaguar as it had an exciting sound to me.' ('Jaguar' would be adopted as the marque name in 1943, 'S.S.' having by then acquired a somewhat tarnished reputation). The SS100 was the first vehicle from Sir William Lyon's stable to wear the famous Jaguar 'leaper,' the marque's feline bonnet ornament in mid-1936. Another example wore a revised Jaguar 'leaper' in early 1937, mounted on the radiator cap. This second 'leaper' was the one that would later become the trademark for Jaguar Cars, Ltd.

by Dan Vaughan

Drophead Coupe
Chassis number: 46037
Engine number: L509

Jaguar introduced the SS 2.5 litre DHC in 1937, and manufactured 249 vehicles before production ceased in 1939. These cars featured a 2.5-litre overhead valve engine, producing 102 horsepower and propelling the car to 90 MPH. This car, chassis number 46037, was completed June 1, 1938. It was the 37th car produced and delivered to a Mrs. A. Sidi.

The car resurfaced and 'acquired' its present owners on May, 29, 2001. It was a rolling chassis with an engine block and 12 boxes of parts. The car was restored by LeStable of Glen Carbon, Illinois. It most recently received a perfect score at the 2008 Concours of the Jaguar Club of Greater St. Louis.

After 1939, Jaguar produced vehicles for the war effort. Civilian automobile production resumed in 1947. However, the now politically incorrect SS was removed and the company name was officially changed to Jaguar Cars, LTD.

Roadster
Chassis number: 39048
Engine number: M 549 E

A name can foster all kinds of emotions. In the days immediately following the conclusion of the Second World War, 'SS' certainly didn't conjure up many happy memories for many Europeans including the British. Instead, 'Jaguar' was born.

Prior to World War II, what has become known as Jaguar was known as SS Cars Ltd. The company was based in Coventry, England. The company had gotten its start as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1934 but would quickly grow out of that to become a maker of small, 2-door sports cars. This suited the company rather well as many of the small British sports cars of the era weren't all that much bigger than some of the sidecars the coachbuilder had manufactured.

One of the last sports cars to be produced before the outbreak of the war for England would be one that would be offered at this year's RM Auctions in Monterey, California. The car was the SS100 and it was built between 1936 and 1940.

The SS100 was a successor of the SS90, a popular model that would come with a 2.6-liter six-cylinder engine. And while their appearance was stunning with its long, narrow nose and sweeping fenders that incorporated into running boards, the performance was lacking greatly, and therefore, was not well received by all.

The SS100 was meant to change that. By 1938, the car was coming with an overhead-valve, 3.5-liter straight-six. When combined with twin SU carburetors, power increased from 70 bhp with the 2.5-liter edition, to 125 bhp with the 3.5-liter engine. This gave the car a top speed of 101 mph and a zero to 60 time of just 10.4 seconds.

Not only was the SS100 the first to take SS Cars Ltd. up to 100 mph, it would also be the first time in which the 'Jaguar' would be seen on a car. This would help set the tone for the company and for its future. While the SS100 wasn't the only car the company offered, with its improved performance, it certainly would be the only one in which most people would really care about.

This particular SS100 would be delivered, with its elegant design giving the effect of its narrow, rectangular nose seemingly splashing through water, to Lt. Col. A.W. Tate in England. Given the fact that many such cars would be taken to auxiliary airfields on days off and used for impromptu racing, it is believed this chassis also saw some time driving in some amateur races.

Such cars were not of much importance during the war as they would likely end up personal vehicles, or stored away. Therefore, not a whole lot is known about the car before it emerges once again in 1964.

At that time, the car would appear heading to the United States and a Jaguar enthusiast Ken Gardner. Upon receiving the car, Gardner would have the car enlisted in a comprehensive restoration. Immediately upon completion the car would be entered at the 1970 Indianapolis Grand Classic where it would earn the victory in the Primary Foreign Class. With a victory under its belt, the car would end up moving on to Floyd Moore of Glenview, Illinois. Things got even better for 39048 as it would go on to earn an AACA National First Prize.

Such a successful car could not be easily parted with and Moore would end up holding onto the car from 1970 until 1984 when he would sell it to Bernard Nevoral of Chicago. The purchase would make the SS100 part of Nevoral's private collection of classic sporting cars. The car would not merely sit there and look good. It would end up taking part in a number of vintage rallies and other events.

In 2010, the car would go through a body-off-frame restoration completed by Jeff's Resurrections of Taylor, Texas. The car would end up finished in correct blue with red leather interior. The car would also come complete with a historical file containing registrations, prior title documents, a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate and numerous other fascinating materials.

An early 3.5-liter SS100, this car remains in a special place in Jaguar history as it is just one of 118 SS100s to be built before the company had to transition over to manufacturing for military purposes. With such a lively, successful history, and yet, a not so welcomed association with the German SS, this SS100 would go on to earn $687,500 at this year's auction.

Sources:

'Lot No. 235: 1938 Jaguar SS100 3.5-liter Roadster', (http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r187&Currency=USD). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r187&Currency=USD. Retrieved 29 August 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'SS 90', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 May 2011, 16:47 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_90&oldid=426911653 accessed 29 August 2011

Wikipedia contributors, 'SS Cars Ltd', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 August 2011, 10:18 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Cars_Ltd&oldid=446465679 accessed 29 August 2011

Wikipedia contributors, 'Jaguar SS100', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 18 July 2011, 15:07 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jaguar_SS100&oldid=440130579 accessed 29 August 2011

by Jeremy McMullen

Roadster
Chassis number: 39010
Engine number: M1398E

William Lyons and William Wamsley set up the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922 in Blackpool, England. The six-man shop made motorcycle sidecars and by 1927 they began offering special sporting bodies on popular chassis for Austin, Fiat, Standard, and other small cars of the period. They moved to Coventry one year later, marketing their first car in 1931. That car was introduced to the public at the Olympia Motor Show in London in October 1931, instantly becoming a sensation. A Standard chassis and engine were used on the first SS1, and on this chassis was built a stunning coupe body with elongated bonnet and an extremely low-slung body. It was underpowered and Lyons immediately set about resolving the lack of power.

The name Jaguar debuted in 1935, coinciding when the first six-cylinder SS 90 was introduced on a shortened SS1 chassis. The roadster was a stunning looking vehicle with numeral 90 used to refer to the top speed. It was a smash hit, but speed merchants immediately wanted more horsepower, so 10 months later the SS 100 was introduced and remained in production to November of 1940. The initial version introduced in 1936 was powered by a 2.5-liter engine, upsized to 3.5-liters in 1938.

In 1936 the first SS 100 was produced. The SS 100 was the first true 100 mph sports car available to the public. In four years of production, the SS100 earned an exceptional reputation in winning road races, endurance contents and rallys. This car has a six-cylinder 3.8 liter engine generating 125 horsepower. The original selling price was $1,925.

The SS 100 was a British 2-seat sports car built between 1936 and 1940 by SS Cars Ltd of Coventry, England. The last one is thought to have been delivered in 1941.

In 1936 the name Jaguar was given to a new saloon car and from then on to all the car. Following World War II, due to the connotations then attached to the initials SS, the company was renamed Jaguar.

The chassis with a wheelbase of 8 feet 8 inches, was essentially a shortened version of the one designed for the 2.5-liter saloon, a car produced in much great numbers, and had first been seen in the SS 90 of 1935. Suspension was half elliptical springs all around with rigid axles.

The engine was a development of the old 2.5-liter Standard unit converted from side valve to overhead valve with anew cylinder head designed by William Heynes. The power output was increased from 70 to 100 horsepower. Twin SU carburetors were bolted directly to the cylinder head.

Widely considered to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing Jaguar cars, it is also one of the rarest with only 198 of the 2.5-liter and 116 of the 3.5 liter models being made. Most stayed on the market but 49 were exported.

This rear-wheel-drive car is powered by a 212.7 cubic-inch, inline six-cylinder engine, fitted with twin SU carburetors, developing 125 horsepower and coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox. The 2,575-pound vehicle is capable of 101 mph and sold for $1,925.

This SS100 Roadster was purchased by Malcolm S. Pray Jr. in 1998. It is a 3½-Litre model, although the present 3½-Litre engine was installed at a later day. The engine is equipped with a performance-oriented, bronze-coated cylinder head, which is believed to have been installed by the factory only on cars intended for competition use. The car was originally finished in black with red leather upholstery before being delivered to its first owner, a Mr. J. M. Archer, in Scotland.

This car was the poster car for the 1999 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, and it was Best in Class at Meadow Brook in 1999, Bridgehampton in 2004, and Cranbrook in 2005.

The body has been refinished in British Racing Green with biscuit-toned seats. There are Lucas headlamps, fender lights, dual fog lights, and both a folding windscreen and Brooklands racing windscreens.

Sports Saloon

Sir William Lyons introduced the 1936 Jaguar Saloons and asked his guests to estimate the selling price. The average guess was over 600 English pounds. The 1.5 Litre sold new for just under 300 English pounds.

The side-valve 1.5 litre engine was replaced by a 1776 CC OHV engine supplied by Standard Motor Company. 1769 Saloons were produced in 1938, about half being the 1.5 litre and the remainder being the 2.5 and 3.6 six cylinder versions.

In this era, the British taxed cars on standing horsepower. The 1.5 litre was rated at 16 HP., though it would develop 65 HP at 4500 RPM. Top speed was estimated at 75 mph.

The restoration was completed in 1990. The Fulton's acquired 'Peaches,' as they affectionately call her, in February of 2000. The engine was rebuilt in the summer of 2000 and new wheels were installed in 2001.

The cars first show was the Euro Auto Festival in October of 2000. She won Best of Class and a Crowd Pleaser Award. Mike and Diane immediately become hooked on the car show scene and have become avid participants, averaging ten shows a year.

Jaguar Club of North America Concours National 2nd Place, Corporate awards at Euro Auto Festival for 2001 and 2006, and Jaguar Club of North American National Class.

Coupe
Chassis number: 30182X

The 1938 SS Cars had a new stiffer boxed chassis, an all-steel body replaced thee wood/steel combination, and a 3.5-liter overhead valve 125 horsepower offered as an option to the 2.5-liter unit.

There were 1,065 examples of the 3.5-liter salons produced, plus 241 drop-head coupes, and 118 OTS built before World War II. Except for one SS 100 built by Jaguar itself, they were coachbuilt to special order.

This example was shipped as a bare saloon chassis to Hermann Graber, at Wichtrach, near Berne, Switzerland, in May 1938. The car was registered in Switzerland as a 'Limousine Coupe' on March 31st of 1949 to Enterprise de Grads Travaux S.A. of Lausanne. In 1953, the car was registered to 'Labhart Thelma Violet' of Geneva and later believed to have been purchased by a Canadian serviceman who retuned to Canada with it. By 1956, it was in the care of Brian Metcalfe of Ontario before eventually being purchased by Frederick Corp, who drove it until 1963, and then put it into storage. It was purchased in the early 1970s by George Baker of Windsor, Ontario.

Richard Van Rozeboom of Fresno purchased it late in 1977. In 1986, it was purchased by Dave Martin of California, then sold it to David Gill of Chicago in 1987, who commissioned its restoration.

Kathy and Gerald Nell purchased the car in 1990 and commissioned RM Auto Restoration to restore the car in 1994. Upon completion, it was painted royal blue instead of the original black and gray.

In 1994, the car was shown at the Meadow Brook Concours and won the Designer's Choice Award. It was JCNA National Class winner in 1995 and competed in seven JCNA shows from 1995-99, scoring 99.96-100 points. It has won a ribbon at the Pebble Beach Concours and won at Eyes on Classics and masterpiece of Style and Speed.

In 2010, this vehicle was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $500,000-$700,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $385,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Sports Saloon
Chassis number: 50038
Engine number: K47

This 1938 SS Jaguar Sports Saloon with factory coachwork was offered for sale at the 2007 Christie's auction of 'Exceptional Motor Cars at the Monterey Jet Center.' This vehicle is black with brown leather interior. It is powered by a four-cylinder, over head valve engine that displaces 1776cc's. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drum brakes.

William Heynes, chief engineer for William Lyons, was commissioned to create the next generation of SS cars which would make their debut at the 1935 London Motor Show. This meant Heynes had five months to complete the project before the public debut.

By 1938 the SS/Jaguar Company standardized their coachwork to a drophead coupe and saloon configuration, utilizing all-metal bodies. The salon bodies were given an additional five inches which provided more interior room for its occupants. The spare tire moved to the trunk and three engines were offered. The engine sizes included a 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 liter versions.

This example was estimated to fetch between $50,000 - $60,000 at auction. This car has been rebuilt as needed, and not restored. The interior retains much of its original components. Most of the original tools are still in tact. It is believed to have been repainted as some point in history. It was in the Roger Moore film 'The Man Who Wouldn't die'. Bidding failed to meet the reserve and this vehicle was left unsold.

The car was later brought to the 2007 Sports and Classic Car Auction presented by The Worldwide Group, in Hilton Head Island, SC where it was estimated to sell for $45,000 - $60,000. There was no reserve on the vehicle, though a high bid of $41,800 was enough to secure new ownership. The lot was sold.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 39032

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 Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 39016
Engine number: M529E

William Lyons and William Wamsley established the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922 in Blackpool, England. Their first car debuted to the public at the Olympia Motor Show in London that year.

The range of sports cars built by the company that became SS Cars and then Jaguar evolved from the SS90 of 1935 to the SS100 2.5-liter of 1935 and finally to the SS100 3.5 liter of 1938. The exterior shape of these cars remained virtually unchanged, but many changes occurred under the simple, but effective body. These were the first S.S. cars to be called Jaguar. William Lyons said that the name represented the feline grace and elegance, power, and agility that set this car apart.

In 1936, Tommy Wisdom won the Alpine Trials in an SS100 and went on to race very successfully at Brooklands and Shelsley Walsh. Three SS100s won the team prize at the RAC Rally in 1937. When SS100 production was cut short by the Second World War in 1939 just 190 of the SS100 2.5-liter cars and 118 of the 3.5-liter variant had been constructed.

This car is a rare 'numbers-matching' example that was completed on December 14th of 1937 and sold in February 1938 to S. Walker of Dorset, England. The car remained in the United Kingdom until it was imported into the United States in 1958, spending the next 40 years in California. It was discovered in a junkyard prior to being purchased and restored by its current owner in April of 2005. Just 116 were produced.

Roadster
Chassis number: 39039
Engine number: M536E

This SS 100 is chassis number 39039. It was delivered new to Harold C. Goozee, of London, on March 11th of 1938. it was given registration HMX 87, a Middlesex issue that began that month. It is the only SS 100 to be painted Snow Shadow Blue. The car competed in the Royal Automobile Club Scottish rally that spring, and again in 1939, with Goozee himself driving. He also raced in rallies at Bournemouth, Buxton, and Scarborough. He raced at Brooklands and Donington, where he was clocked at 110 mph.

After World War II came to a close, Goozee resumed competition. During 1949 and 1950, he raced at Silverstone and Blackpool, and he also competed in Prescott hill climbs. In 1959, the car was sold to G. and J. Smith, of Herefordshire. In 1993, the car was imported to the United States where it was given a full restoration by Terry Larson of Mesa, Arizona. Since restoration, the car has been used regularly.

The car has a four-speed overdrive gearbox from an XK140, installed in the mid-1950s. Turn signals have been installed in the original lighting fixtures. There is also a hidden master switch that disconnects all electrical circuits when the car is not in use.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster

The Jaguar SS100 is a two-seat sports car built between 1936 and 1940 by SS Cars Ltd. of Coventry, England. The Model 100 name reflected the 3.5-liter Model's ability to exceed 100 mph, an unheard of speed for a production vehicle at that time. Because of this performance, an animal name was suggested; once approved by founder Sir William Lyons, the name 'Jaguar' was given to their new sedan in 1936, and from that point forward to all their cars.

The chassis has a wheelbase of 8 feet, 8 inches, a shortened version of their more common 2.5-liter sedan. Suspension is semi-elliptical leaf springs all round with rigid axles; tires are 5.5 inches on 18-inch wheels and brakes are Girling. The engine is a straight six-cylinder model developed from an older 2.5-liter unit, featuring a modern cylinder head with overhead valves and an output of 100 horsepower. Twin SU carburetors were bolted directly to the cylinder head. In 1938 the displacement increased to 3.5-liters and power to 125 horsepower. The four-speed gearbox has synchromesh on the top three ratios.

Widely considered one of the most beautiful Jaguars, it is also quite rare, with just 198 of the 2.5-liter and 112 of the 3.5-liter models made. Only 49 were exported. This particular car made its way to the United States in 1960 and saw a variety of owners until its current owner acquired it in 1988. Originally delivered in Gunmetal Gray, it was refinished in British Racing Green. It has taken first place in a number of notable Concours d'Elegance.

Coupe

Launched in 1936, the SS 100 was the first high-performance model produced by SS Cars Limited and used a new Harry Weslake-developed overhead-valve engine in a shortened SS1 chassis. The SS 100 was capable of over 100 mph, and many of these open sports cars were raced by amateur drivers of the prewar period. A more powerful 3.5-liter engine was introduced in 1938 and placed in a stiffer chassis. Nearly 200 2.5-liter cars and 116 3.5-liter cars were built before production ceased at the outbreak of the war. A few of these more powerful SS 100s received stylish bodies by fashionable European coachbuilders of the time, and this example was bodied by Hermann Graber of Berne, Switzerland, for a Geneva customer, Monsieur Dionisotti in May 1938. It is a one-off two-door, two-window, five-seater coupe body. Each owner since has been well documented. It remained in Europe until it was brought to the United States in the 1960s. The current owner acquired the car in 2010. A restoration was begun in 1987, but after the car was dismantled, the work was halted for six years. Another collector then purchased the parts and rebuilt the coupe after a great deal of research. It was shown at Pebble Beach in 1994 and won a Class Award. It has since been restored again and repainted in this Silver Gray.

The car rides on a 120-inch wheelbase and is powered by a 3,485 cc OHV six-cylinder engine with dual SU carburetors developing 125 hp, coupled to a Moss 4-speed manual gearbox. It is fitted with semi-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel drum brakes.

Roadster

The majority of cars built by the Swallow Sidecar Company in the 1930s were SS saloons but the SS 100 sports cars are better remembered today. The SS 100, which evolved from the SS 90, was introduced in 1936 with a 105 horsepower, 2.5-liter engine, which was replaced in 1938 by a 120 horsepower, 3.5-liter engine. Both engines had a Harry Weslake-designed overhead valve head, giving the SS 100s the extra horsepower that made them so desirable. At the relatively low price of £385, William Lyons ended up building over 300 of them before the war intervened in 1939.

This is one of 118 original 3.5-liter examples. It was bought new by Melville Smith, who kept it in England for 30 years before it was sold and taken to Argentina to be raced by a number of enthusiastic owners in the 1970s and 1980s. It returned to the United Kingdom in 2010 and was recently restored to its original specification.

Roadster
Chassis number: 49049
Engine number: T 9528

This SS 100 was sold new by Henley's Distributors, west of London, to E.A. Day on 27 July 1938, registered as EYU 868. It is not known when it came to the United States, but by the 1960s it was in the care of John Freeman of Baldwin, New York, on Long Island. Geoffrey Howard purchased it in August of 1971 and owned it for the next 43 years until his death in 2014. At that time, it was refinished in red and partially prepared for restoration.

The current owner treated the car to a Concours-quality restoration in the original colors of Gunmetal Gray with a red leather interior and a black canvas top.

Just 308 SS 100 Jaguar roadsters were built from 1937 until 1940. They were the first model to wear the Jaguar name and offered 100 mph performance.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 39010
Engine number: M1398E

The 3.5L SS100 was produced by the Swallow Sidecar 'SS' company. 117 were built between 1937 and 1939. Production ceased as WWII broke out. After the war, SS Cars changed their name to Jaguar, and production of SS models never resumed. The larger 3.5-liter engine, unlike the previous 2.5-liter version, comfortably achieved the namesake 100mph, hence SS100.

This car is rare because it is fitted with a pre-war competition cylinder head and block modified by John Heath of HWM Jaguar fame. Pre-war, the car competed in RAC rallies at Blackpool and Edinburgh. Post-war, it saw action at Brands Hatch and Brighton. The car was considered the fastest SS100 in the United Kingdom. The car has undergone an extensive restoration completed in 2018. It is finished in suede green a precursor to British Racing Green.

Roadster
Chassis number: 39067

William Lyons and William Wamsley set up the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922 in Blackpool, England, debuting their first car at the Olympia Motor Show in London that year. The company introduced its first six-cylinder model, the SS100 (referring to its top speed) at the London Motor Show in 1935 while also using the Jaguar name for the first time.

Built between 1936 and 1939, the Jaguar SS100 is considered to be among the most stylistically complete cars of the 1930s. This car was originally owned by Sir Dave Garroway, the original anchor and host of NBC's Today Show. It is one of 49 exported models, serial number CNP 947. Purchased in the 1950s, Dave was a Jaguar lover and raced this car enthusiastically. He changed the seats and installed an Alligator interior, an alligator steering wheel, a stopwatch for racing, and then, because it wasn't fast enough, put in a Jaguar XK120 engine. This engine was provided to Garroway from Jaguar Motorcars and was the first XK 3.8-liter engine sold privately. The leaping cat on the radiator, large headlights, emblems, and throaty rear exhaust all make this a very special SS100.

Garroway raced the car at Watkins Glen, Road America, Bridgehampton and Lime Rock, among others. Wanting more performance, he fitted a new Jaguar XK engine in 1951 in Stanley Arnoldt's shop in Chicago. He installed an alligator interior in 1953, retaining the car until 1978.

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.

The origination of the SS letters designated by Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons has always been debatable. As his original firm was known as the 'Swallow Sidecar Company', that seems a logical explanation. The SS-100, was the first in a long line of high-performance production cars that looked as fast as they went. They were one of the first cars to bear the Jaguar name, although at the time it was just a nameplate; it wouldn't become the corporation's umbrella brand name until after World War II.

William Lyons was born in 1901 and became a keen motorcyclist in his teens. This lead to a friendship with William Walmsley, an individual who was building motorcycle sidecars in a garage on his property. Soon, Lyons was assisting Walmsley's business, and soon the Swallow Sidecar Co., was formed.

The company was formed on September 4, 1922, Lyons' 21st birthday. Production was small at first, but soon drew the attention of the motoring press. This led the company to broaden its horizons to motor cars.

The Swallow Sidecar company became the Swallow Sidecar and Coach Building Co., in 1926. It would continue to move towards full-scale car production. In 1931, the word sidecar disappeared from the company's name, became the Swallow Coachbuilding Co., Ltd. The acquired new facilities in Coventry, which was in close proximity to the Standard Motor Co., Ltd, which supplied engines, underpinnings, and other parts for the Swallow company. A short time later, the companies name was again changed, this time to S.S. Cars, Ltd. and became a publicly-held company.

The SS90 made its debut in 1935. It had a long, louvered hood and low slung coachwork. The 2.7-liter Standard side-valve six-cylinder engine was suitable but was not a performance powerhouse. It did, however, served as a transition step between the SS1 roadster and the SS100. In total, only 21 examples were produced.

The SS100 had a similar underslung chassis similar to the SS90. The wheelbase measured 104 inches. Under the hood was a Standard six-cylinder engine with a new overhead-valve design with aluminum pistons, augmented by a robust bottom end and seven main bears. With the help of two SU carburetors, the engine was capable of producing just over 100 horsepower at 4500RPM, compared to 68 horsepower.

The engine was fitted to a four-speed gearbox with synchromesh engagement in the top three gears. 15-inch Girling aluminum drum brakes were rod-actuated and brought the 18-inch center-lock Dunlop racing wheels to a stop. The suspension was typical for the period, with semi-elliptic leaf springs at all four corners.

The SS100 soon earned a reputation for its performance and handling characteristics. Along with performance, the car had rakish good looks. The '100' in its name was supposed to represent its top speed, but in testing the car did not achieve this figure. Its top speed was close, at 95 mph. Zero-to-sixty was achieved at about 12 to 14 seconds.

Further work was done on the engine, increasing the bore from 73mm to 82mm, and the stroke received similar treatment, being stretched from 106 to 110mm. This resulted in a displacement size increase from 2664cc to 3486cc. Valve diameters expanded, connecting rods were a high-strength steel alloy, and the crankshaft turned in sturdier main bearings. The compression ratio was reduced from 7.6:1 to 7.2:1, and the engine's peak output rpm diminished slightly, thanks to the longer stroke—from 4,600 rpm to 4,250.

Horsepower rose from 102 to 125 horsepower. A new transmission, driveshaft, and differential were added. The result was a zero-to-sixty time in just over 10 seconds and finally capable of topping the 100 mph barrier.

There were 190 examples of the 2.5-liter SS 100s to leave the factory. There were 118 examples of 3.5-liter vehicles. A SS100 Coupe was created for the 1938 London Motor Show at Earls Court but never made it past the prototype status.

by Dan Vaughan

In 1935 the 'Jaguar' name sprang upon the scene for the first time with a completely new saloon and sports car range. William Heynes had been working to produce a completely new box section cruciform braced chassis for a vastly improved new model range. Meanwhile Weslake had been turning his talents to the Standard engine and by adopting overhead valves he succeeded in increasing output from 75 hp of the previous 21/2 litre sidevalve engine to no less than 105 hp. For the new chassis and engine unit, Lyons designed a fresh body style, less flamboyant than previous models, yet still stylish. Indeed it was closer to contemporary Bentleys which cost nearly four times the price!

Sophistication was increasing, and now customers were offered four doors for the first time on an SS. Indeed so different were the new models that it was felt that a new model name was needed. The Company's advertising agency suggested 'Jaguar' and though Lyons took some persuading, it was finally adopted. Thus the new cars would be known as SS Jaguars. The 'Jaguar' name was an ideal choice - feline grace and elegance, combining docility with remarkable power and agility. The cars have matured and developed to justify the analogy in every way. With typical showmanship, Lyons had arranged a lunch at the Mayfair Hotel in London to launch the new model to the press a few days before the 1935 Motor Show. The SS Jaguar 21/2 litre saloon was unveiled to much favourable comment and the assembled company were asked to guess the price. The average guess was £632. The actual price… just £395.

All the earlier SS designs had been superseded with the exception of the larger Tourer body which lived on with a revised radiator grille and the fitment of the new 21/2 litre engine. The superb new sports car design, which had been glimpsed just briefly as the SS 90, reappeared in similar form as the SS Jaguar 100. With a revised treatment around the fuel tank area at the rear, and more importantly, the adoption of the new chassis and engine, the company now produced a sports car to be proud of. For many, the SS 100 is a pre-war classic amongst sports cars. The price, incidentally, was just £395. This new model was to be used to considerable effect in competitions, both national and international.

In 1936 the motoring journalist Tom Wisdom, driving with his wife Elsie, won the International Alpine Trials in an SS 100. This car, which came to be known as 'Old Number 8' was run very successfully at the Brooklands circuit by Wisdom and in the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb by Coventry garage and theatre owner, Sammy Newsome. A year later a team of three cars was entered by the factory in the RAC Rally, the premier rally event in Britain. The team, which included the Hon. Brian Lewis (later Lord Essendon) took the Manufacturer's Team Prize but outright success eluded them. Instead the event was won by a privately entered SS 100! A new, enlarged 31/2 litre engine had been developed and tested in 'Old Number 8'. In September 1937, this engine, together with a new 11/2 litre unit, joined the 21/2 litre version in a completely revised model range. The new models were not very different in appearance, distinguished from their predecessors by the lack of the side mounted spare wheel, but the range now employed 'all steel' construction. Additionally the old Tourer was replaced by Drophead versions of the saloon in each engine size.

Heynes had designed a further stronger chassis for the new body construction resulting in more interior space and bigger doors. Prices ranged from £298 for the 11/2 litre saloon to £465 for the 31/2 litre Drophead Coupe. The new 31/2 litre engine was fitted to the '100' model and this gave genuine sports car performance with sixty miles per hour reached from a standstill in 10.5 seconds and a top speed of over 100 mph. At £445 the bigger-engined SS 100 was in a class of its own. Meanwhile the experimental 31/2 litre unit fitted to 'Old Number 8' was being increasingly modified. Responsible for this work was a man who had accepted the position of Chief Experimental Engineer with SS in 1938. His name was Walter Hassan, a man destined to become a legend in the motor racing world and one who would play an important role in the Jaguar story. For the Motor Show of that year Lyons had designed a stylish closed body for the SS 100. Reminiscent of the Bugattis of the period, just one was made before the outbreak of World War Two decreed an end to car production.

by Jaguar

by SS Cars