Description
Source: XK Jaguar
Auction in Vienna-Vösendorf on June 24th, 2017
This year there is a unique opportunity at the Dorotheum’s “Classic Vehicles” auction in Vienna’s Vösendorf in the Vehicle and Technology Center.
Among other things, the Jaguar SS 100 2 ½ liter from 1937 presented here will be put up for auction. Not only that the vehicles are extremely rare – only a total of 300 were built – the SS 100 is considered the prototype of the pre-war sports car and is considered poor the icon that founded the Jaguar myth.
The car is offered with chassis No 18106. This car is special because it has been documented to this day. The Appleyard dealership shipped from Leeds in England. (Small side note: The son of representative Ian Appleyard later became known as a racing driver and ski racer and was married to William Lyon’s daughter Patricia. The first owner, SC Duckworth, had registered the vehicle on June 11, 1937 with the license plate ABT274. Today, almost to the day exactly 80 years later, there is another chance to buy this car.
In 1938 the vehicle should have participated in the Seventh Annual Blackpool Rally and participation in the Morecambe Rally of 1952 is certain. The SS 100 were still very successful on the race track in the early 50s.
ownership chain
BE Rutland from Isleworth, Middlesex
1961 Chris Coburn from Portola Valley, CA – exported to California
Sam Housten from Palo Alto
Van S. Hurd
1968 Hugo Molnar
1998 Christopher Hutchins, Maine
2008 Import to Austria by the current owner and contributor to the auction.
Before 1961 the 2 ½ engine was exchanged for a 3 ½ – in order to maintain the competitiveness with the more powerful engine.
The SS 100 already had cult status in 1968 and so the owner Hugo Molnar began to restore the car. He was in contact with the previous owner Hurd, who gave him tips on maintenance and spare parts in a documented correspondence. Substantially, the car was always in good condition and probably never needed what is commonly described as a “restoration”.
After restoration, Molnar drove his SS 100 to numerous vintage races, including Laguna Seca, and was an integral part of the California SS 100 scene, which had already developed in the 50s and 60s. In his old age, Molnar finally separated from his SS 100 in 1998 and the car moved to Maine on the east coast.
Finally, in 2008, the current owner and contributor brought the Jaguar from the USA to Austria in the auction. The car did not need any further restoration and from then on was used at various events. For the first time in his career, the SS 100 started at the Mille Miglia in 2013. In 2014 the car got an original 2½ liter SS 100 which largely restored the factory condition. In 2016, the Mille Miglia started again, this time with aerodynamically shaped headrests – which certainly also contributed to the comfort of this 1600 km long race.
The author was able to inspect the vehicle at the classic car fair in Tulln. The vehicle presented itself in an impeccable, ready-to-use condition – a vehicle that you can see that it is being used and in no way a trailer queen that is being driven to lawn events. It is to be hoped that the new owner will keep it like the current one and actively use the vehicle at events.
Details of the vehicle
VIN FIN 18106
License plate UK ABT274
2½ liter engine with 2,663 cc
4-speed gearbox
Power registered 102 PS / 75 kW
EUR 290,000 to 390,000
The vehicle will be on June 24th. Auctioned in 2017.
Here are the auction details:
Classic vehicles
Date: 06/24/2017, 4:00 p.m. in a private calendar
Auction location: Vienna-Vösendorf Vehicle and technology center
Viewing: June 22. – June 24th, 2017
Link to Lot Lot No. 368 V
Photos: original-18106-013 to 017
Source: Car and Classic
1937 SS 100 Jaguar 2 1/2 litre #18106 For Sale by Auction
DOROTHEUM Classic Car & Motorcycle Spring Sale Saturday, June 24, 4pm 1937 S.S. 100 Jaguar 2½ Litre Documented from its first day! One of just 198 2 ½ litre S.S. 100s! Two-time contestant in the Mille-Miglia! € 290.000 – 390.000 Appleyard, the Leeds-based agent, whose son Ian became a famous race driver and skier and also went on to marry Lyons’s daughter Patricia, delivered chassis number 18106 to its first owner, S.C. Duckworth. He registered his new sports car on 11 June 1937, receiving the license plate ABT274. A badge on the dashboard suggests that the car took part in the 1938 Seventh Annual Blackpool Rally. It certainly competed in the Morecambe Rally in 1952. The S.S. 100 held onto its dominant position on the racetracks of the early post-war years, but new and better race cars gradually brought its era to an end. Before setting off on its journey across the Big Pond in 1961, the 18106 was owned by B.E. Rutland from Isleworth, Middlesex; then, though, Chris Coburn from Portola Valley imported the car to California. Sam Huston from Palo Alto purchased the S.S.100 from him, before selling it on to Van S. Hurd. Sojourning briefly with another owner, the vehicle finally made its way to the man who would keep it for 30 years: Hugo Molnar, a native of Hungary who emigrated to Vienna in 1956 and later on to the United States. In a written response to a letter from Molnar, Hurd revealed a certain irritation that the car had been sold to someone who was just looking to make a fast buck. Evidently he would have preferred to keep the car, but he did give Molnar a few tips on how to obtain assistance, as the S.S. had started to show its age by then and was needing some attention. In the following years, Molnar set about restoring his S.S. with immense dedication. Like many of its kind, the engine had already been replaced with a larger, more competitive 3 ½ litre model back in England, but the rest of the car was in a good condition, as shown by photographs. After completing the restoration, Molnar drove his S.S.100 in numerous vintage races, among them in Laguna Seca, becoming an active member of the Californian S.S. scene. Photos show Molnar at various races, meets and parades. Growing older, Molnar finally sold his S.S. to Christopher Hutchins on the eastern seaboard in Maine in 1998. The consignor, a Jaguar collector, brought the 18106 from the United States to Austria in 2008. Although repainted again in the meantime, the S.S. 100 had evidently benefited from the decades spent in the dry climate of Palm Springs. The new owner submitted the S.S. to a specialist for maintenance, and from then on drove the vehicle at numerous events. He competed in the Mille Miglia for the first time in 2013. At the start of 2014, he purchased a completely overhauled, original 2 ½ litre S.S. 100 engine from the English S.S. specialist Davenport, restoring the car to its initial specification. He then successfully took part in another Mille Miglia in 2016. Today, the S.S. 100s have a special place in automobile history, and it is rare to find such a comprehensively documented specimen. This one will turn 80 today, and immediately captivates devoted enthusiasts. It is beautiful, fast and the embodiment of a seemingly endless history. A legend in its own lifetime. Online Catalogue: https://www.dorotheum.com/en/auctions/current-auctions/kataloge/list-lots-detail/lotID/368/lot/2230308-1937-ss-100-jaguar-2-litre.html?search_phrase1=jaguar&search_type=1&source=search&view=text&search=Quick%2BSearch&search=Quick Search
Source: Collection Car
1937 JAGUAR SS 100
1937 Jaguar SS 100 3 1/2 liter Sports Roadster
Chassis number 18106
498,000.00 USD
Ask any motoring enthusiast to nominate 20 cars for a Fantasy Collection and you would not bet at long odds against there being an SS100 on the list. It was one of those rare cars which epitomizes a period. It is not just its looks that were remarkable, it was also an exceptional performer and its distinguished list of competition successes would have been even longer had not the war intervened.
When the 2 l/2 litre SS100 was announced in 1936 it was the most beautiful car in the world. The body is one of the loveliest ever designed, everything about it, from its long louvered bonnet to details such as the stone guards over the headlights, are perfect.
This is one of those rare cars which is right from every angle. The model had an exceptionally competent chassis and was soon making a name for itself in competition, it featured so often in competition results, one would be forgiven for thinking they were built in large numbers, but in fact only 314 of all types were made. The company’s main preoccupation was with its saloon car range – the sports cars were intended merely to draw attention to the ‘Jaguar’ saloons. Until 1939 Jaguar was the name of a range of models, but the name struck a chord with the public and therefore Sir William Lyons renamed the company Jaguar in 1945.
This excellent example of these immortal pre-war sport cars was delivered new in the summer of 1937 and first registered on the 11th of June to an S. Duckworth with the registration number ABT 274. In later years as with so many of the greatest British sports cars 18106 found its way to the United States and into the long term ownership of Mr. Hugo Molnar of Palm Springs – California. During this very long period of over 30 years Mr. Molnar was known to have evented the car at the famous California racetrack – Laguna Seca.
The car has obviously benefited immeasurably from being in such a perfect climate for virtually half its life and this can be immediately seen upon inspection. The car has a three and a half litre engine with magneto ignition and a pre war SS two and half litre is also offered with the car. In recent times the car has also benefited from a thorough service by Doc’s Jags specialist engineers and brand new set of Blockley tyres. The car has been newly painted its current silver color in 2005. Maroon hides grace the interior.
These landmark cars acted as the mainspring for the development of a remarkable line of post war Jaguar sports cars and 18106 is sure to provide its next custodian with much touring pleasure and if required is ready to be entered for a number of the most elite international events to be held in this season’s calendar of historic motorsport.
Mechanically reliable, with unbelievable handling, sticking to any of the back roads like glue; she is fully Eligible for every major world vintage event, including, the Mille Miglia in Italy, the Colorado Grand, the Great America race, the California Mille, the Sicilian “Targa Floria”, and the LeMans Retro, etc.
Doc will use her this September in the Euro “Jaguar Challenge” with 55 other classic Jaguars, through seven countries, starting in Holland and ending in Monte Carlo. Doc also intends to tour Tuscany, and Positano, Italy afterwards with this, one of the finest, most beautiful and fastest of prewar race machines ever built. Then its off by night “car train” to Budapest. (Watch for the photos and video records of this journey in October, 2005)
Nearly 70 years old, better looking than nearly all newly built sport cars, and most amazing, still better handling and faster than most. Imagine owning such a piece of historic art ! REMEMBER YOU CAN’T DRIVE A CD !
Very fairly priced