1936 SS Cars SS 100

The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley (who sold his shares in 1935). Manufacturing initially focused on small cars based on the Austin Seven. The company's name was changed to SS Cars in 1933, and larger, sportier cars were built. On March 23rd, 1945, S.S. Cars Limited became Jaguar Cars Limited.

The first of the SS cars was the 1932 SS1 equipped with a 2-liter or 2.5-liter side-valve engine supplied by the Standard Motor Company. The chassis and four-speed gearbox was also by Standard. Although its performance was rather lackluster, it set the tone for future 'Jaguars' with sporting good looks, better-than-average specification, and a reasonable price. The SS2 had a four-cylinder 1.0-liter side-valve engine. Body styles initially included a tourer or coupe, with a saloon being added in 1934 when the chassis grew two inches wider.

The SS 90 arrived in March of 1935 and was the first of the open two-seater sports body styles. By this point, William Heynes had joined as Chief Engineer. The '90' in its name was in reference to the 90 mph top speed, courtesy of its 2.5-liter, side-valve, six-cylinder engine. The sporty bodies benefitted from Lyons' talents as a stylist, with a long bonnet, cut-away doors, a truncated tail, and smoothly flowing wings. Limited by its side-valve engine, the SS 90 range evolved into the SS 100 with 2.5-liter power and soon with 3.5-liter power.

With a newly designed overhead valve head by Harry Weslake and twin SU carburetors, output increased by 30 (over the SS90) for the SS 100 to approximately 104 bhp. Coupled with a lightweight and shortened 102-inch wheelbase SS1 chassis, the SS 100 was the company's first real high-performance model. Essentially hand built, the SS 100 offered class-leading performance with equally impressive aesthetics. The short 8-foot, 8-inch wheelbase had a 4-foot, 6-inch track and was disarmingly compact for its curvaceous coachwork, low bonnet line, and sharply sloping tail.

Launched in 1936 alongside the 2½-Litre saloon, the SS 100 Jaguar sports car marked the company's first use of the 'Jaguar' name. Production of the sporty SS 100 would remain limited as the company focused on its saloon cars. Equally adept on both the road and track, the SS 100's earliest success was when Tommy Wisdom, crewed by his wife Elsie, won the International Alpine Trial in 1936. Many rallying successes followed, including wins in the RAC events of 1937 and 1938, and the Alpine (outright) again in 1948.

From September 1937 onwards, a larger 3486cc engine was offered, which boasted a stiffer chrome-iron crankcase turning in sturdier main bearings, larger valve diameters, six individual exhaust ports and steel alloy connecting rods. The cylinder bore had been increased from 73 mm to 82 mm, and the stroke was stretched from 106 mm to 110 mm, expanding displacement from 2,664 cc to 3,486 cc. 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. With the modifications and larger displacement, the engine offered 125 bhp at 4,500 RPM. Along with a new transmission, driveshaft, and differential, the 3.5-liter six SS 100 could sprint from zero-to-sixty mph in 10.4 seconds with a top speed of 101 mph.

The 3.5-liter SS 100 was unveiled in 1937 at the London Auto Show.

Before production was prematurely ended by the outbreak of World War II, around 190 examples of the 2½-Litre and 116 of the later 3½-Litre cars were built. Production was low due to the craftsmanship that went into building these hand-built machines, with demand far outstripping supply.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster Tourer
Chassis number: 18030
Engine number: S1187

This 1936 Jaguar SS100 is powered by a 3,486cc overhead valve inline six-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors and delivers 125 horsepower at 4,500 PRM. There is a four-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel Girling mechanical drum brakes, and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs and adjustable friction dampers.

This SS100 originally wore a Silver Metallic exterior paint scheme with a Power Blue interior and was equipped with a 2.5-liter engine. It was originally to an Eli Toft in Wolverhampton, England, and by 1951, it was advertised for sale for £295, painted red, and fitted with a 3 1/2-litre engine.

By the mid-1960s, the 'Jaguar' was in the care of Eric Hook, who imported the car into California and gave it a restoration.

Don Marsh acquired this vehicle in 1998 and restored it in 1996. In Mr. Marsh's care, the Jaguar received cosmetic attention and mechanical enhancements, including an engine and gearbox rebuild and the fitment of an aluminum radiator and fuel cell.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster Tourer

In 1936 SS Cars Ltd. began producing an open two-seat sports model called the SS Jaguar 100. Along with the saloon (sedan) version, this was the first car to bear the Jaguar name, later adopted for the entire marque. Very much a hand-built car, it was treated as a showcase model by the manufacturer and not many more than 300 were produced. Its rarity makes it one of the most desired classic sports cars. It has all the design features typical of an English sports car of the 1930s, sweeping curved fenders, long hood, larger headlights and grille and huge wheel radius. No wonder a magazine called the SS 100 'the cad's car.' The car is powered by an overhead-valve, inline, 2663 cubic-centimeters, six-cylinder engine producing 102 horsepower. Coupled to the four-speed transmission the car has a top speed of 90 mph and sold for about $2,000 in 1936-37.

Although the origins of this body are not certain, this unique example is very similar to a Saoutchik bodied SS100. This car came to the United States in 1955 and is believed that its body was customized in England either before or shortly after World War II by an unknown coachbuilder. In addition to its unusual aubergine color, it features alligator upholstery with matching luggage and a rosewood trimmed interior.

Roadster Tourer

In 1936 SS Cars Ltd. began producing an open two-seat sports model called the SS Jaguar 100. Along with the saloon (sedan) version, this was the first car to bear the Jaguar name, later adopted for the entire marque. This vehicle was the 11th car of the first production and the only one to leave the factory in red. They were very much hand-built and were treated as a showcase models by the manufacturer. Not many more than 300 were produced between 1936 and 1940. Noted for balance and symmetry of line, the SS 100 had a lower center of gravity which made for excellent handling. Its modified standard engine, with a cylinder head designed by Harry Weslake, made the car quicker by far than anything else available for the price. The car sold for about $2,000 in 1936.

Roadster Tourer
Chassis number: 18018

When the Swallow Sidecars company moved into auto production, the name changed to SS Cars, which became Jaguar Cars in 1945. The SS100 was available with a 2.5 liter or 3.5 liter engine, the '100' referring to the 100 mph maximum speed.

This SS100 was dispatched in May 1936 to Mr. C. B. Newman with cream exterior with blue interior. The car disappeared until 1959 when it reappeared in British Racing Green and was purchased by Mrs. Bruce Herbert of Southampton for her husband. The couple enjoyed the SS100 until 1979 when it was garaged in need of repair. Eventually, the car was fully restored in England and acquired in 2022 by its current owner.

Roadster Tourer
Chassis number: 18030
Engine number: S1187

This SS-100 Jaguar Roadster was built prior to World War II by the SS Car Company of Great Britain. With the SS name having an unsavory connotation, SS Cars took on the model name and, hence became Jaguar.

The SS 100 was designed by Sir William Lyons. Built on a 102-inch wheelbase, this car is powered by a 3.5 litre overhead-valve, six-cylinder engine that sports dual SU carburetors. The horsepower was rated at 125 at 4,350 rpm.

The SS-100 was a lot of sports car for the money, yet only 116 of the 3.5 litre version and 198 of the 2.5 litre version were produced from 1936 to 1938.

'The Autocar' magazine reported the new 2.5-liter (20 Royal Automobile Club horsepower rating) car, with the windscreen lowered, to have a maximum speed of 95 mph and a zero-to-sixty mph time of 13.5 seconds. With the 3.5-liter (25 RAC hp rating) the top speed reached the magic 100 mph with a best of 101 mph over the quarter mile and the 0-60 mph coming down to 10.4 seconds.

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.

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