An auction of classic, collector and performance motorcars held at the iconic and visually stunning Imperial War Museum, Duxford.
Highlights include this 1938 SS Jaguar 100 2.5 Litre - A collector grade example of the first sports car to bear the Jaguar name
Sold for £225,000
Registration No: DOX 996
Chassis No: 49032
MOT: Exempt
Owned by one family from 1938 until 2002, then a second family from 2002-2022
Believed to have only covered 20,000 miles from when new in 1938
A very original example with matching numbers
Subject to recent engine overhaul and mechanical work
Widely considered as one of the most desirable and attractive sports cars of the 1930s and the first to bear the 'Jaguar' name, the iconic SS Jaguar 100 entered pre-production in October 1935 and was launched officially in 1936 as a much improved successor to the SS90 from which it was derived. Improvements included a host of mechanical specifications, most notable of which was upgrading the six-cylinder Standard pushrod engine from side-valve to overhead valve with a new crossflow cylinder head designed by Harry Weslake and William Heynes fed by twin SU Carburettors. The power unit was mated to a four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on all forward speeds apart from first. With 104hp at 4,600rpm, the car could be propelled to 60 mph in 12.8 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 96mph.
Although a very capable car for touring, the SS100 was marketed purely for competition work and in 1936, its first major success came when Tommy Wisdom, crewed by his wife, won the International Alpine Trial - thus beating Bugatti and creating a name for the marque on the continent. This would be the first of many successful rallying forays, which included class wins in the RAC events of 1937 and 1938 and the Alpine Trial was won outright once again in 1948. In total, 190 2.5 litre and 112 3.5 litre SS100s were manufactured by the time production ceased at the outbreak of the second world war, which also spelled the end of the 'SS Cars' name. However, the 'Jaguar' name became carried on with Sir William Lyons' company post war which went on to create some of the most exciting sports cars of all time, all of which owe their heritage to the SS Jaguar 100.
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