Description
Source: Coys
LOT 126 – 1937 JAGUAR SS 100 2 ½ LITRE
£326,600
Auction The Spirit of Motoring, Ascot October 2015
Auction Date
Day of Auction
LOT DETAILS
Lot Number 126
Reg. Number DXT 65
Chassis Number 18056
Year 1937
Make Jaguar
Model SS 100 2 ½ litre
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DESCRIPTION
Launched for 1936, the SS100 was the first real high-performance model produced by SS Cars Limited and used a new Weslake-developed overhead-valve engine in a shortened SS1 chassis. The introduction of the ohv unit was considered to justify the adoption of a new name for the series, SS Cars boss William Lyons later recalling ‘I immediately pounced on Jaguar as it had an exciting sound to me.’ (‘Jaguar’ would be adopted as the marque name in 1943, ‘SS’ having by then acquired a somewhat tarnished reputation.)
‘SS’ originally stood for the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company, which had been founded in Blackpool, England by William Walmsley. The company branched out into motor manufacture in 1926, its first major success being an attractive sports saloon on the Austin Seven chassis, the design being the work of Walmsley’s partner, one William Lyons. Relocation to Coventry followed and the Swallow range expanded to include models on Morris Cowley, Wolseley Hornet and Standard Sixteen chassis. Marque status arrived in October 1931 with the launch of the SS1, the chassis of which was supplied exclusively to Swallow by Standard, who also provided the six-cylinder sidevalve engine and four-speed gearbox. Although unspectacular in performance, the SS1 went some way towards establishing the pattern for future Jaguars, combining sporting good looks with a better-than-average specification and all at a bargain price.
By the time the SS90 sports car arrived in 1935, William Heynes had joined as Chief Engineer. Based on a shortened SS1 chassis, re-engineered by Heynes, the SS90 again demonstrated Lyons’ consummate skill as a stylist, its long bonnet, smoothly flowing wings, cut-away doors and truncated tail making it every inch the epitome of the 1930s sports car. Although good for 90mph, the SS90 was handicapped by the limitations of its sidevalve engine, a deficiency that would soon be rectified by another of Lyons’ new recruits, gas-flow consultant Harry Weslake. Launched in 1936 alongside the 2½-Litre saloon, the SS100 Jaguar sports car marked the company’s first use of the ‘Jaguar’ name. Beautifully styled in the manner of its SS90 predecessor, the newcomer employed a shorter, 102”-wheelbase chassis and a revised version of the 2,663cc Standard six which, equipped with Weslake’s overhead-valve cylinder head and breathing through twin SU carburettors, now produced 104bhp.
Although a fine touring car, the SS 100 was marketed as primarily for competition work. Its first major success came early, if somewhat unexpectedly, when Tommy Wisdom, crewed by his wife, won the arduous International Alpine Trial in 1936, beating Bugatti and bringing the fledgling marque to the attention of the Continental public. This would be the first of many successful rallying forays, including class wins in the RAC events of 1937 and 1938, and the Alpine (outright) again in 1948. Around 198 2½-Litre and 116 of the later 3½-Litre cars had been made by the time SS 100 production was prematurely ended by the outbreak of war.
As confirmed by a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Production Trace Certificate, chassis number 18056 was manufactured in February 1937 and supplied new via Henlys in Lavender Grey with a red interior.
The car was the subject of a no expense spared restoration by its previous keeper Dr Busson of Newmark and completed by Sherwood restorations in 1992. The restoration (photos available in the cars file) took 34 months to complete and cost some £86,000. Dr Busson continued to enjoy the car and covered 999 miles after it was restored before it was sold through Sherwood to the current vendor in 1997.
In its current ownership the car has been regularly displayed at Concours events throughout the UK, where it has performed very well indeed receiving trophies at most events it attended.
Offered in excellent restored condition, this wonderful matching numbers 2 ½ litre motor car would suitable to grace the most precious Jaguar collections in the world or any concours event it might be entered into.