Description
Source: Bonhams
LOT 124
1937 Jaguar SS100 2½-Litre Roadster
Chassis no. 18076 Engine no. 251308
Sold for € 216,500 (£ 183,479) inc. premium
FOLLOW
Automobiles d’Exception
9 Feb 2008, 18:00 CET
Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles
1937 Jaguar SS100 2½-Litre Roadster
Chassis no. 18076
Engine no. 251308
Colour: Black
Cylinders: 6; 2,663cc
Gears: 4 + reverse
Power: 104bhp
Produced: 1936-1939
Production: 198 (2½-Litre model)
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.
Chassis number ‘18076’ was first registered ‘BWX 32’ (a Yorkshire West Riding mark) on 25th March 1937 to the Jaguar distributor, Glovers of Ripon. Finished in Grey Metallic with Special Silver interior, it was purchased by one Cecil Maddison, of Middlesbrough on 12th April 1937. Ownership was transferred on 9th June 1939 to Guy Alfreds & Co, of Tottenham Court Road, London, who subsequently sold the car Mrs May Vince, of Whetstone sometime during the same year. After 15 years of the Vinces’ ownership, ‘BWX 32’ was transferred to Richard Zimbler, a known collector, residing in Hockliffe near to Leighton Buzzard in Buckinghamshire. In November 1956 ownership passed to Gordon Thomas Tripp, of RAF Cranwell and Sanderstead, Surrey and thence to Chiltern Cars, back in Leighton Buzzard.
Advertised in the May 1958 edition of Motor Sport magazine by Chiltern Cars as ‘unusually sound mechanically and generally attractive in appearance’, ‘BWX 32’ was subsequently enjoyed by two further owners: Derek Francis Ogden, of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire and George Linney, of Rotherham, Yorkshire. At around this time the original engine ‘252607’ was replaced by the current unit ‘251308’, the change being recorded in the old-style logbook. In September 1959 the car was exported to the USA by one C P Brooks, an automobile engineer of Orpington in Kent.
Since arriving in the USA, ‘BWX 32’ has remained for the past 48 years in the same family ownership, firstly with Robert Stokes, an inventor from Vermont who regularly entered the Mount Equinox Hill Climb, well known as the longest paved hill climb in the world, and subsequently with his niece, Consuelo Dodge, of Starke, Florida who inherited the car from her uncle in mid-1984. While in the vendors’ care a limited amount of refurbishment has been undertaken (pictures of which are on file) but essentially the car represents a most exciting opportunity to restore a fine British post-Vintage thoroughbred to its former glory.
The accompanying history file contains numerous copies of original documents retained by the Wakefield Archive, including the original and continuation logbooks; several registration application forms; notifications of ownership changes; and Chiltern Cars’ advertisement in Motor Sport, May 1958. Also on file are period colour photographs of the car in the USA showing it in white livery and on Vermont plates ‘R.1936’, while other more recent ones show it partially dismantled and undergoing refurbishment. In addition the car come with State of Florida Certificate of Title and correspondence confirming original build and colour scheme details.
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 well documented example of the model that can be said to have started the Jaguar legend, ‘18076’ is eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious historic motor sport events, including the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Le Mans Retro, Colorado Grand, Great America, California Mille and many more.
• Single family ownership for 48 years
• Retaining all its original coachwork (no. 4700)