Vehicle Description
Launched at the Mayfair Hotel, London on 23 September 1935, this
was the first model to carry the Jaguar name. When the car was
revealed to the assembled journalists, William Lyons asked them to
write down the price they expected the new car to sell for. The
average guess was �632 and there were gasps of surprise when Lyons
announced that the car would cost �395 for the 2�-litre saloon
model. This was the first four-door car offered by the SS Company.
Together with the new body and the new name came a new overhead
valve engine, developed with the help of consultant engineer Harry
Weslake. This six-cylinder engine gave 102bhp, a great improvement
on the 70bhp which had been available from the SSI side-valve
engine.�For the first two years, the Jaguars had coachbuilt bodies
with ash frames until the company adopted an all-steel body for the
1938 model year.�The 2�-litre saloon was to remain in production up
until 1949 by which time over 6,777 had been built, of which 3,444
were the original coachbuilt cars. The 2��litre could reach a top
speed of 86mph and represented extremely elegant touring car, the
road ahead illuminated by imposing�P100 headlamps. Classic &
Sportscar first featured this exact car in January 1998; they were
impressed by the compact, tasteful and quietly up-market air of
this�model, with chrome 'spears' running the length of the
waistline and long, elegant door handles. Owned by one�Jaguar
enthusiast for the last 19 years, it carries an air of grace and
patina. Restored comprehensively in 1974 by the�previous owner, it
has been kept in good order and is�eminently reliable. More
recently, both the brakes and clutch have been re-lined as well as
general service items. To�increase�reliability and�usability, a
modern radiator has been fitted alongside an oil cooler,
multi-blade fan,�additional�Kenlowe fan and upgraded
lighting.�Supplied with a comprehensive file, this charming and
highly useable classic�Jaguar is ideal for UK and European rallies
and has the looks to back it up. It is no surprise that 'The Motor'
described it at the time as�possessing 'fine performance tempered
by an�inherent smoothness." Understated maybe, but true. For sale
by auction on Saturday 23 September 2017 with Historics at
Brooklands, Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit, Weybridge, Surrey,
Call 01753 639170
