Chassis Number: 18066
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.”
“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, a design that was 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 6-cylinder side-valve engine and 4-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 SS 90 sports car arrived in 1935, William Heynes had joined as Chief Engineer. Based on a shortened SS1 chassis, re-engineered by Heynes, the SS 90 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 90 mph, the SS 90 was handicapped by the limitations of its side-valve engine, a deficiency that would soon be rectified by another of Lyons’ new recruits, gas-flow consultant Harry Weslake.
Launched in 1936 alongside the 2.5-liter saloon, the SS 100 Jaguar sports car marked the company’s first use of the “Jaguar” name. Beautifully styled in the manner of its SS 90 predecessor, the newcomer employed a shorter, 102-inch-wheelbase chassis and a revised version of the 2,663-cc Standard 6 which, equipped with Weslake’s overhead-valve cylinder head and breathing through twin SU carburetors, now produced 104 hp.
Around 198 2.5-liter and 116 of the later 3.5-liter cars had been made by the time SS 100 production was prematurely ended by the outbreak of war.
Originally a 2.5-liter model, chassis number 18066 is one of only 314 SS 100s built. The car was supplied new in 1937 to Henlys, Jaguar’s main distributor in London, for use as a demonstrator and show car.
The SS 100 was one of the fastest and best-handling sports cars of its day, as its competition record both before and after the war indicates. Representing a rare opportunity to acquire an example of the model that can be said to have started the Jaguar legend, “18066” is eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious historic motor sports events.
