In the early ‘30s, William Lyons’ design influence began to take its full effect. The Swallow Sidecar Company evolved into Swallow Coachworks with a highly successful line of Lyons-designed bodies, mostly for the Austin Seven and 6-cylinder Wolseley-Hornet. Swallow’s first complete car, the SS-I, based on the Standard (later to become Standard-Triumph) Sixteen (2-liter) and Twenty (2.5-liter) chassis, was introduced in 1931, followed by the SS-II on the Standard Little Nine (1-liter).

SS cars offered value, performance and, most important of all, Lyons’ signature long and low look which developed on these cars and became particularly recognized in the SS I Tourer and the later 1935 SS-90. By then the company was SS Cars, Ltd. and motorcycle sidecars were fast becoming a footnote to its history.

In 1936 the first SS-100 was produced, and for the first time the name Jaguar was used. (Tradition suggests that the “SS” name wasn’t very marketable in mid-‘30s England.) The SS-100 was the first true 100-mph sports car available to the public and was beautifully proportioned, epitomizing power when viewed from any angle. In four years of production, the SS-100 earned an exceptional reputation with winning performances in road races, endurance contests and rallies throughout England and Europe.

The first 126 cars built in the 1936-37 period were equipped with a 2.5-liter engine based on the side-valve Standard engine used in the SS-90, but carrying an overhead-valve cylinder head designed by the legendary Harry Weslake (who would still be developing good breathing engines three decades later for Dan Gurney’s Formula One Eagles). Starting in 1938, a 3.5-liter version was adopted. Today these 3.5-liter roadsters are among the most prized of all prewar sports cars.

The 3.5-liter SS-100 pictured here is fully restored and features the bronze competition head. It is fully sorted and ready for vintage competition or touring.

This 1938 Jaguar SS100 Roadster Review and Buyer's Guide appeared in the January, 1999 Issue of Sports Car Market Magazine.