Description
Source: ConceptCarZ
Sold for $286,000 at 2010 RM Auctions – Sports & Classics of Monterey.
Sold for $352,000 at 2012 RM Auctions – Monterey.
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, resulted 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-litre overhead valve engine was introduced in 1938, and many of the 2.5-litre cars were later uprated to this new engine.
This SS100 car still retains its North Yorkshire license plate, BWX 243, and documents date 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