Vehicle Description
The company we know today as Jaguar Cars evolved gradually,
starting from a partnership between William Lyons and William
Walmsley, initially formed in 1922. Walmsley had a motorcycle
sidecar business for some time before when Lyons joined him, and
together they founded Swallow Sidecar Company. Lyons had a keen
sense of style, and he designed a series of handsome sidecars
intended to complement the motorcycle to which they were attached.
They ventured into motorcars when Austin released the 7, and Lyons
felt he could produce something altogether more attractive than its
staid and practical factory bodywork. Swallow Sidecar Company soon
branched into a full-fledged coachbuilder, offering uniquely
stylish bodies for the Austin Seven, and eventually, larger cars
like the Wolseley Hornet and Standard Nine. The enterprising
William Lyons soon bought out his partner Walmsley and continued
growing his coachbuilding firm into a proper car company. Building
on the success of his lovely Austin Seven bodies, Lyons developed a
close relationship with Standard Motor Company of Coventry, and he
drew closer and closer to building a complete car of his design. He
grew frustrated with the limitations of the production chassis
available to him, so he persuaded Standard's managing director R.W.
Maudsley to produce a frame to Lyons' specification that would
accept a Standard driveline. With that, SS Cars was born... though
it was never entirely made clear if that stood forStandard
SwallowofSwallow Special. The SS 1 and its small-engine sibling the
SS 2 debuted at the 1931 Olympia Motor Show to great acclaim. In
practice, the SS 2 was disappointing, with Sir William Lyons
himself admitting the car did not quite live up to its looks. But
there was no such criticism of the six-cylinder SS 1, particularly
in the handsome open tourer configuration. Eager to break into the
sporting market, Lyons expanded the model range in 1935 to include
a smartly-styled 2-seat roadster called the SS 90 - named so for
its potential top speed. The handsome styling came from Lyons' own
pen, featuring the long, sweeping wings, long bonnet, and short
deck that would become hallmarks of Jaguar styling into the 21st
century. The SS 90 was undoubtedly a stylish machine, although the
production-based Standard engine left a bit to be desired in terms
of refinement and performance. The company quickly addressed this
later in 1935 with the introduction of the much-improved SS 100
Jaguar - the first car to use of the company's future name. SS Cars
brought in engineer Harry Weslake to reinvent the Standard engine
into something altogether more potent. The 2 �-litre version gave a
significant enough boost in performance to warrant a name change to
reflect the increased top speed. Enthusiasts quickly recognized the
SS 100 Jaguar as a highly capable sports car, and it was soon
winning rallies and road races in the hands of privateers. The
gorgeous styling and impressive performance continue to make the SS
100 Jaguar one of the most esteemed British sports cars of the
pre-war era. Fabulously presented in British Racing Green with a
saddle leather interior, this SS 100 Jaguar is a gorgeous example
of the quintessential pre-war English sports car. Chassis number
49026 is one of just 198 SS 100s built through 1938 and is a superb
motorcar in every respect. The accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage
Trust Certificate shows 49026 was completed on December 24, 1937,
and dispatched through Henlys Limited of London - the official
SS/Jaguar distributor at the time. The car was originally finished
in black with a gray interior, and fitted with the 2 �-litre
six-cylinder engine good for 100 horsepower. The original owner is
not known; however, the car came to the United States sometime in
the early 1960s, eventually coming into the stewardship of Mr.
Robert Wood, a successful businessman and philanthropist from
Allentown, Pennsylvania. The SS 100 stayed quietly in Wood's
collection for the next three decades. In the late 1990s, it
transferred to Gary Ford, who undertook an extensive cosmetic
restoration, resulting in a Best in Class at the 2002 Amelia Island
Concours d'Elegance. After passing through the hands of respected
expert Brian Classic in England, 49026 came into the care of Mr.
John H. Murphy of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He took the restoration to
an even higher level, to include reupholstering the cockpit in
stunning saddle brown leather and extensively detailing the engine
and mechanical components. Murphy's efforts were rewarded with
class wins at the 2005 Radnor Hunt Concours, the 2010 Santa Fe
Concorso, and the Prewar Class Champion award at the 2007 JCNA
National Concours. With subsequent owners, it scored 999.8 points
at the 2014 Jaguar Club of Houston concours and earned a
well-deserved class win at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance. In the hands of its most recent custodian, this
marvelous SS Jaguar has enjoyed meticulous care and regular
enjoyment. It presents in superb condition, with finish quality and
detailing befitting a former high-level concours competitor. The
paintwork is gorgeous, and it beautifully highlights the exquisite
styling. Body-color wheels and black wall tires give it a
distinctly sporting and purposeful stance on the road, particularly
with the windscreen folded. It retains its numbers-matching
inline-six per the Heritage Certificate and has been serviced and
dialed-in for road use while in the care of its most recent owner.
Some light signs of use are visible on the chassis and mechanical
components, which only serve to make the car even more inviting to
drive. The sale includes black canvas weather equipment, a partial
tool kit, original handbook, and a factory parts book. The SS 100
is Jaguar's first proper sports car and is also one of the best of
the pre-war era. Cherished for their superb road manners and
breathtaking style, SS 100s rarely become available on the open
market. The sale of 49026 represents an excellent opportunity to
acquire a beautiful and proven SS 100 Jaguar suited to continued
concours participation yet is also eligible for entry into the
world's premier driving events, including the Colorado Grand and
Mille Miglia. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6600-1937-jaguar-ss-100-roadster/