1938 SS100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Registration no. CWX 333
Chassis no. 39083
Engine no. M1059E

Launched for 1936, the SS100 was the first real high-performance model produced by SS Cars Limited, powered by a new Weslake-developed overhead-valve engine in a shortened SS1 chassis. SS Cars felt that the introduction of the overhead valve unit justified the adoption of a new name for the series. As SS Cars boss William Lyons later recalled: "I immediately pounced on Jaguar as it had an exciting sound to me". In point of fact, "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, where the design 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 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 90 mph, the SS90 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 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 inch wheelbase chassis and a revised version of the 2,663 cc Standard six which, equipped with Weslake's overhead-valve cylinder head and breathing through twin SU carburettors, now produced 104bhp. In 1938, a 3½-Litre version producing 125bhp was added to the range, the larger engine's extra power making the SS100 a genuine100 mph car.

Although a fine touring car, the SS100 was marketed as suited 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 SS100 production was prematurely ended by the outbreak of war.

According to the SS100 register published by the Classic Jaguar Foundation, chassis number '39083' was completed by SS Cars on 11th August 1938 and two days later was delivered new by Appleyard of Leeds to a certain W A G Watson. The original colour was Battleship Grey, complemented by a silver interior. The car's first registration was 'CWX 333'.

According to the car's FIVA pass, '39083' belonged to Howard Kerr in Oklahoma, USA from around 1940 until his death in 1965. A wealthy businessman with interests in oil and gas and co-owner of Howell-Kerr Inc, Howard Kerr was an Oklahoma governor and later senator. During his ownership, '39083' was displayed in Oklahoma City in Preservation Hall, home of the Howell-Kerr Collection. It seems that after Mr Kerr's death, his son Robert sold off some of cars, including the SS100.

The car later turned up in Switzerland. According to the history file (in German) that comes with the car, a certain Monsieur Duse in Switzerland owned '39083' "for a very long time", having purchased it from a fellow Swiss who wished to remain anonymous. On 10th April 1979, Monsieur Duse sold the car to a dentist named Jean-Paul Imesh of Sjön, Switzerland. Imesh commissioned a restoration that was carried out by Isidor Elsig in Mollens, Switzerland. Sometime after this restoration was completed, the car was damaged in a fire.

On 12th August 2000, '39083' was acquired by Hans-Dieter Hensel of Meschede, Germany in a deal that, possibly, was brokered by a certain Monsieur Perego in Lausanne. At the time of Mr Hensel's acquisition, the car was in deplorable condition, and it was evident that it had been in storage for an extended period of time. The engine was free, but in poor condition with several non-original ancillaries. It was obvious that the body and interior had suffered some fire damage, while the rear wings, bonnet, grille and headlights had also been damaged by falling objects. The interior was incomplete and partially incorrect, while various unoriginal switches had been used to facilitate repairs over the years.

The car was completely disassembled and the body removed from the chassis. Then followed a 'last nut and bolt' restoration of the engine and all other mechanical parts on the chassis, including brakes, front and rear axles, drive train, suspension and cooling system. The chassis was sandblasted and painted, while the body was stripped to bare metal and repairs to the original panels were performed with great care. Finally, the body was painted in a Gunmetal Grey with clearcoat. A new stainless steel exhaust and fuel tank were manufactured, and the electrics rewired. The brightwork was re-chromed and the interior and tonneau cover restored in accordance with original patterns by professionals in Coventry. All ancillaries, switches and lights were brought back to correct, original specification using original items procured with great difficulty and substantial expense.

In the end, more than 1,300 hours were spent bringing this classic sports car back to life, at a cost of €110,000. Two large folders accompany the car, which contain detailed restoration invoices, as well as an original handbook. By 2007, the car was in the possession of Jürgen Niedermeyer in Frankfurt, and was then acquired by Henrik Frederiksen, passing to a new owner when the Frederiksen Collection was auctioned by Bonhams in September 2015 (Lot 7). The buyer brought the SS100 back to the UK where it passed via a dealer to the current owner. The car remains in very good order, and in recent years has competed in the historic Mille Miglia and was paraded in front of the Royal family at Windsor Castle.

It is difficult to imagine a British sports car that is more classic in every sense of that word than the SS100. The shape is iconic and instantly recognisable. It is a car that is perhaps the purest expression of wind-in-the-hair motoring with nary a creature comfort to spoil the fun. The wind, the noise, the smell of oil and leather – all combine with the powerful engine to blow away the cobwebs and provide a no-nonsense hands-on thrill that no closed car can ever deliver.