Description
Source: Classic and Sports Car
DESCRIPTION
chassis #: 18072 engine #: 252608 body #: 4798 Widely considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing sporting cars of the 1930s, the SS100 is also very rare with only 198 2.5-litre and 116 3.5-litre models made. The Jaguar SS100 was the first of William Lyons’ cars to carry the Jaguar name, although at the time it was just a nameplate and would not become the corporation’s brand name until after World War II. More importantly, the car elevated the parent company from relative obscurity to a purveyor of some of the most stirring sports cars of the entire 20th century. This particular example was originally finished in what must have been a uniquely attractive colour combination of ‘Lavender Blue’ over ‘Dark Blue’ interior and delivered in March of 1937 by Henly’s of London to an E.C.B Jenkins. It made its way to the ownership of R.L. Morand in Chester, New Jersey who restored the car to its current livery in 1976. He then relocated to Fallbrook, California where he took his collection of over 60 cars. Morand passed away a few years later and this car has been with his son ever since. This is a complete, rust-free matching numbers example with its original chassis, engine, and body that is the perfect starting point to a sympathetic and straightforward restoration and is eligible for all the finest vintage concours, races, rallies, and tours.
SPECS
Essentials
Year:1937
Colour:White
First registered:1937
Source: Bonhams
LOT 76
1937 JAGUAR SS100 2½-LITER ROADSTER
Sold for US$ 329,500 (£ 251,398) inc. premium
1937 JAGUAR SS100 2½-LITER ROADSTER
CHASSIS NO. 18072
ENGINE NO. 252608
2,663cc OHV Inline 6-cylinder Engine
Twin SU Carburetors
100bhp at 4,500 rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
*Desirable and rare example of Jaguars first sports car
*Retains matching-numbers chassis, engine and bodywork
*In recent ownership several decades
*Eligible for some of the most exclusive driving and concours events
THE JAGUAR SS100
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-Liter 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 carburetors, now produced 104bhp.
Although a fine touring car, the SS100 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-Liter and 116 of the later 3½-Liter cars had been made by the time SS 100 production was prematurely ended by the outbreak of war.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Chassis number 18072 was completed at the works in March of 1937, finished in Lavender Grey over blue trim. The car was supplied new in via Henlys, London to its first owner, Mr. E.C. B. Jenkins. It remains unclear for exactly how long the sporting Jaguar remained in the UK, but by the 1970s, the car was found in the hands of Jaguar enthusiast and collector, Mr. Robert Morand. Mr. Morand had over 60 cars and was really a true collector of motorcars early on. As he sadly passed away, the SS100 was inherited by his son, who has kept it until recently.
Today this sporting Jaguar is finished in a classic Old English White exterior color, while the airplane-like cockpit is trimmed in red hides. The car has resided in the mild California climate for more than 40 year. Very importantly, the car retains its original chassis, engine and body, and would be a spectacular base of a car to further refurbish or treat to a full restoration. With prices of the contemporary BMW 328 Roadster and Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 selling for far bigger figures, these sporting and extremely good-looking Jaguars offer great bang for your buck. Supporting the car’s provenance, accompanying documentation includes various cuttings and photographs, a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate, side curtains in spectacular condition, and an original hand book and parts book. The SS100 was one of the fastest and best-handling sports cars of its day, as its competition record both before and after the war bears witness to. Representing a rare opportunity to acquire a matching-numbers example of the model that can be said to have started the Jaguar legend, ‘18072’ is eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious historic motor sport events.
Footnotes
Please note, this vehicle is titled under the model year 1939.