Description
Source: Bonhams
LOT 388
1938 Jaguar SS100 3?-Liter roadster
? 380,000 – 440,000
? 320,000 – 370,000
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The Great Brands of the World at the Grand Palais
6 Feb 2014, 14:00 CET
Paris
Matching numbers
1938 Jaguar SS100 3?-Liter roadster
Chassis # 39044
Engine # M523E
Launched in 1936, the SS100 was the first true high-performance car produced by SS Cars Limited and used an overhead valve engine designed by Weslake in a shortened SS1 chassis. In the eyes of William Lyons, the boss of SS Cars, the appearance of an overhead valve engine justified a new name for the car which later said: ‘I immediately thought of Jaguar, because the name sounded well to my ears’ (Jaguar was adopted as the name of the brand in 1943, the letters SS having acquired at that time an unenviable reputation).
Originally, SS stood for Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company, a company founded by William Walmsley in Blackpool which started out in the automobile industry in 1926. Its first major success was an attractive sedan bodywork based on Austin Seven which was designed by Walmsley’s partner, a certain William Lyons. The brand acquired its notoriety with the SS1, the exclusive chassis of which was supplied to Swallow by Standard, which at the same time supplied it with the six-cylinder engine with side valves and the four-speed gearbox. Despite its anemic performance, the SS1 served as a model for future Jaguars, combining a sporty look with above-average characteristics for a low price.
When the sportswoman SS90 appeared in 1935, William Heynes had been hired as technical director. Resting on a shortened SS1 chassis, the SS90 once again showed the undeniable stylistic talents of Lyons, with its long hood, its wavy wings, its scalloped doors and its truncated rear which made it the archetype of the sportswoman of the 1930s. Despite its 90 miles per hour (145 km / h), the SS90 was handicapped by the limitations of its side valve engine, a defect that was to be remedied by another Lyons recruit, circulating fluid engineer Harry Weslake. Launched in 1936, at the same time as the 2? Liter sedan, the sporty SS100 Jaguar marked the first appearance of the name Jaguar. Beautifully drawn in the same vein as its predecessor SS90,
Although it was a pleasant passenger car, the SS100 was first marketed as a competition car. His first success, a little unexpected, was not long in coming, Tommy Wisdom who teamed up with his wife, won the very trying International Alpine Trial in 1936, in front of a Bugatti, pointing the spotlight on the young brand that the mainland public was discovering . It was the first of many rally successes for the brand which won class victories at the RAC Rally in 1937 and 1938 and again in the general classification in the Alpine Trial of 1938. About 198 2? Liter models and 116 3? Liter models had been built when the war prematurely ended production of the SS100.
According to his JDHT certificate, the car with chassis number 39044 was built in March 1938 and delivered to the Wolverhampton dealership, Charles Attwood, for use as a demonstration vehicle. It was red with a black interior and matching hood, its first registration is believed to be BJW 507.
Exported later to the United States, it became the property of well-known architect John Lyon Reid of San Francisco. Apparently, when Reid was no longer able to drive due to illness, he deposited the car in the Briggs Cunningham Museum. When he died, his widow sold it to a certain Michael Gartner from Newport Beach, California (copy of a letter from Briggs Cunningham in the file).
In the late 1980s, the car was bought by a Belgian living near Antwerp. Imported into Italy, it is believed in 1997, it underwent a restoration of the bodywork around 1998, while its mechanics was restored by a specialist of the mark in northern Italy, three years ago. Described by its seller as being in excellent general condition, the Jaguar has participated without any problem in several regularity rallies in recent years and has shown itself to be very fit during a recent test drive. The documents include the Italian registration papers, ((Libretto and Certificato di Proprieta), FIVA identity, ASI papers and the JDHT certificate mentioned above.
The SS100 was one of the fastest and most efficient sports cars of its time, as evidenced by competition reports both before and after the war. It is a rare opportunity to acquire a copy of this model which was at the origin of the legend Jaguar. 39044 is eligible for a large number of prestigious historical events.
1938 SS100 Jaguar 3?-Liter Roadster
Chassis no. 39044
Engine no. M523E
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. 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, 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 2?-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 wheelbase and a revised version of the 2,663cc Standard six which,
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 2?-Liter and 116 of the later 3?-Liter cars had been made by the time SS 100 production was prematurely ended by the outbreak of war.
According to its accompanying JDHT certificate, chassis number ‘39044’ was manufactured in March 1938 and despatched to distributor Charles Attwood of Wolverhampton, serving as the company’s demonstrator. The original finish was red with black interior and matching hood, and the first registration is believed to have been ‘BJW 507’.
Subsequently exported to the United States, the car was owned there by well known architect and motoring enthusiast, John Lyon Reid of San Francisco. Apparently when Mr Reid became too ill to drive he loaned the Jaguar to the Briggs Cunningham Museum. After Mr Reid passed away, his widow sold the car to a Michael Gartner of Newport Beach, California (see copy of letter from Briggs Cunningham on file).
In the late 1980s the car was purchased by a Belgian living near Antwerp. Believed to have been imported to Italy in 1997, it underwent a bodywork restoration circa 1998, while three years ago the mechanicals being restored by a marque specialist in Northern Italy. Described by the vendor as in generally excellent condition, the Jaguar has performed faultlessly on regularity rallies in recent years and it certainly sounded lovely on a recent inspection and short test drive. Accompanying documentation consists of Italian registration papers (Libretto and Certificato di Proprieta), FIVA Identity Card, ASI papers and the aforementioned JDHT certificate.
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 an example of the model that can be said to have started the Jaguar legend, ‘39044’ is eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious historic motoring events.
Saleroom notices
This lot has been withdrawn.
Photos: original-39044-01 to 28