Jaguar SS100

- Only two families have owned this car since 1938 — offered for the FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS! - Finished in its original Browns Lane colours: Black coachwork with Olive Green leather - Supplied new via agents Henlys of Manchester and first registered in Cheshire — where the car has spent its entire life for 87 years! - First issued registration is still applied to the car today - Equipped with double spare wheels, original tool kit, tonneau cover, original factory-fitted instruments, and Lucas headlights (not reproductions) - Recorded and registered at the 1979 Classic Jaguar Association — Registrar H. Hollenbeck - Jaguar Daimler Heritage Certificate and new FIVA application included - World champions such as Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio have owned the 3½ LITRE 100, making this car a rare opportunity to join an elite legacy Car number #36 is elegantly finished in its original colours of Black coachwork with Olive Green leather and matching carpets. It is equipped with silver wire wheels featuring two-ear chrome spinners, a set of brand-new Blockley road tyres, original tools, aero screens, and twin spare wheels. According to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Certificate, this example (#36) was built by the factory as a genuine 3½ Litre car (one of the original units), with Black bodywork and Olive Green interior. It was manufactured on 18th February 1938, and rolled off the Browns Lane production line four weeks later on 12th March 1938. Upon completion, #36 was dispatched to Henlys Ltd, 1–5 Peter Street, Deansgate, Manchester. First registered in April 1938, the car still proudly wears its original Cheshire registration — the only one it has ever had. Under the stewardship of just two families, this exceptional vehicle has spent its entire life in the North of England. Its most recent ownership has lasted 50 years, during which the car formed part of a remarkable private collection of Pre-War and Great War road cars, race cars, and steam vehicles. The later owner, as a child, even went on family holidays to North Wales in this very car during the 1950s. Recorded and registered at the 1979 Classic Jaguar Association by Registrar H. Hollenbeck, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a remarkable piece of automotive history. Former SS 100 owners include European royalty and some of the most revered racing drivers in history. The car features a striking and imposing front grille, complemented by powerful Lucas headlamps, making it feel more akin to a vehicle built in Derby than Coventry. Its louvered bonnet not only adds to its aggressive aesthetics but also serves a practical purpose by drawing air into the engine bay. With the hood down, windscreen lowered, and goggles on, this car is ready for action. Tracing the origins of the model: the first production car, #001, was delivered to Prince Michael of Romania. The next nine examples were exported around the world — one to Switzerland, two to Argentina, and others to Czechoslovakia, Portugal (notably Casimiro de Oliveira), the USA, Belgium, Australia, Krakow, Hong Kong, and Berlin — underlining the global importance of these cars. Only 135 examples of the 3½ Litre were ever built. The Model 100 was designed primarily for competition use, as Jaguar and Lyons anticipated the looming conflict of WWII. Its prowess was evident with a 2nd place finish in its class in the 1936 Monte Carlo Rally, followed by a strong result in the Alpine Trial in Switzerland, where it narrowly lost to a 3.3-litre Bugatti. Development of the 3½ Litre engine included high-compression variants capable of lapping Brooklands at over 118 mph, establishing the model as the fastest post-war Jaguar, outperforming even the revered BMW 328. Notable victories followed, such as McEvoy’s class win at the Marne Grand Prix in Reims, and a historic win by Casimiro de Oliveira at Vila Real, where he triumphed over the likes of Max Schaumburg’s Adler, Alfredo Rego’s BMW, and Mario Teixeira’s Aston Martin. Paul Marx, after completing 9,000 fault-free miles in his 3½ Litre 100 — many of them in fierce ARCA Championship competition — wrote a congratulatory letter to Lyons. Notably, no spanners had been required during that time. Lyons himself was no stranger to the track, famously recording the fastest lap of the day at Donington behind the wheel of his own SS 100. A pivotal figure in the car’s engineering history was Wally Hassan, who began at just 15 years old as the 14th timekeeper at Bentley Motors. Over 18 years, he worked alongside W.O. Bentley and the Bentley Boys. After Bentley withdrew from racing, Hassan spent six years at Brooklands, building specials for Woolf Barnato and Bill Pacey, eventually becoming Chief Experimental Engineer, using racing knowledge to refine road cars. The model’s motorsport credentials continued with a long-standing record at Shelsey Walsh Hillclimb by Sam Campbell, which lasted until 1973. The SS 100 also scored a surprise victory in the Monte Carlo Rally, winning its class and the Barclay Cup, though its success was marred by tragedy when driver Jack Harrop was later killed in the war. Post-war, the SS 100 continued to make history: Johnny Von Neumann brought one to the Bonneville Salt Flats, making history as the first sports car to travel 400 mph (note: this claim may be hyperbolic and should be verified), and later campaigned it for Max Hoffman. In the same year, Walter Mathison broke the sports car record at the Queensland Hill Climb, and the year concluded with a win at the Alpine Trial by Appleyard, followed by a 2nd place at the Tulip Rally the next year. Even world champions Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio were proud owners of the 3½ Litre 100 — cementing this model’s place in automotive royalty. Now available for viewing at the DD Classics Dealership in London, please call to book an appointment. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the above information but errors may occur. Please check with a salesperson.