Help needed to identify our family car bought in the 1950s
Discussion
Don't think its a pre-war SS as they had a chrome coach strip that the full length of the car, along the bonnet, over the shoulder of the scuttle and onto the doors. also, the windscreen and scuttle profile don't look right for an SS
I was thinking maybe an Alvis but the horizontal strakes on the bonnet and the weird indicator/running light lenses awkwardly mounted in the front wing dont fit with anything I've seen before really
I was thinking maybe an Alvis but the horizontal strakes on the bonnet and the weird indicator/running light lenses awkwardly mounted in the front wing dont fit with anything I've seen before really
Thanks GT3 for your input.
My first thought was an Alvis. However, I do have the rear quarter on the original photo. I had to leave out the person standing near the door for privacy. The outline of the rear quarter window does match the SSAirline suggestion in the way the SSAirline on the Jaguar Heritage site shows.
The registration is still active and they call it an SSAirline on the DVLA website.
So it all fits.
Thanks for your interest though.
My first thought was an Alvis. However, I do have the rear quarter on the original photo. I had to leave out the person standing near the door for privacy. The outline of the rear quarter window does match the SSAirline suggestion in the way the SSAirline on the Jaguar Heritage site shows.
The registration is still active and they call it an SSAirline on the DVLA website.
So it all fits.
Thanks for your interest though.
SS1 Airline Sports Saloon.
The SS1 was also available as a Tourer, Sports Saloon (Coupé) and a Drophead Coupé.
Before WW2, most of the mechanical assemblies came from the Standard Motor Company.
SS Cars Ltd also produced the SS2 Saloon & Tourer, although these were little more than rebodied Standard Nines.
The SS1 & SS2 cars were replaced in 1936 by the first SS Jaguars.
The SS1 was also available as a Tourer, Sports Saloon (Coupé) and a Drophead Coupé.
Before WW2, most of the mechanical assemblies came from the Standard Motor Company.
SS Cars Ltd also produced the SS2 Saloon & Tourer, although these were little more than rebodied Standard Nines.
The SS1 & SS2 cars were replaced in 1936 by the first SS Jaguars.
https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-edito...
1934 SS1 Airline Coupé
Registration number: AHP 270
Chassis number: E248365
Engine number: 248365
Cylinder/Capacity: 6/1608cc
Coachwork: Four-Seat Airline Coupé
Although SS Cars Ltd had a very clear idea of style and marketing, the
way it designated its early cars was confusing. The 1933 SS1 was really
a new model range, and so was the line introduced in 1934 - the Airline
Coupé should really have been called the SS4 or SS5. Apart from the
distinctive new body line, there was a new chassis frame with the
cross-bracing moved forward to give larger footwells and the front track
was two inches wider. As before, the running gear was from the
Standard Sixteen or Twenty so there was a new synchromesh gearbox
and the two engine options were each 100cc larger.
The sum of these relatively small individual changes was a big increase
in refinement. There was a further improvement for the 1935 model year
when SS Cars fitted a high compression cylinder head and a new
camshaft - it was a clear indication that SS was moving towards being a
self-contained manufacturer. Since the car we offer was first registered
in November, 1934, we believe it to have these modifications.
The Airline Coupé was one of four body styles available and these
models, which maintained SS Cars' reputation for handsome cars at a
bargain price, helped the company grow ever stronger in the market
place. One can see cues in its design which would be developed into the
distinctive Jaguar house style.
That auction was Norman Cole Classic Car Auction Alexandra Palace London 2/11/71
Here's a random write up of that auction
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...
A 50-page softback auction catalogue for the sale of veteran, vintage and post-vintage thoroughbred cars and selected miscellanea held at the Great Hall, Alexandra Palace on the 2nd November 1971. Vehicles in the sale included -
BW 1029 1911 Daimler 15hp Tourer TG15
AH 136 1897 Soame Steam Cart Wagonette (built in Marsham, Norfolk by Mr G S Soame - a manufacturer of agricultural machinery)
IA 5 1909 Delaunay Belleville 40hp Roi-des-Belges Tourer by Mulliner
286 RBJ 1906 Prosper-Lambert 16/20hp 2-seater with replica body
OK 6538 1923 Autocrat 12hp Doctor's Coupe
ESO 896 (was M 387) 1924 Fiat 11hp Tourer by Garavini of Turin
UO 7767 1925 Dodge 24.3hp Landaulette by Mulliner
MR 9021 1927 Rover 9hp Open Tourer
CJ 7321 1924 Ford 22.5hp Tudor saloon
NM 4895 1924 Daimler 20hp Landaulette
RY 4116 1927 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom I with bodywork by Dudley Heath of Much Hadham
YX 6842 1928 Rolls-Royce 20hp Boat-Decked 2-seater replica body
VA 6888 1927 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom I with bodywork by Ritches of Edinburgh/Glasgow
GP 1993 1931 Bentley 4½-litre supercharged Sports Tourer by Vanden Plas
GN 3614 1931 Buick 33hp Hearse
YY 5910 1932 Invicta 12hp saloon
GW 4133 1932 Alvis 12hp Beetle Back by Carbodies
AMY 937 1932 Vauxhall 17hp Cadet Light Coupe
AHP 270 1934 SS 20hp Airline saloon
VJ 8767 1936 Alvis 16.9hp Silver Eagle saloon by Cross & Ellis
BDU 9 1935 MG P-type 8hp
BGD 2 1937 Bentley 4¼-litre Saloon by Park Ward
75 HYU 1936/7 SS 100 Roadster
DYR 67 1937 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom III Sedanca de Ville by Windovers
ARA 61 1937 Bentley 30hp DHC by Park Ward
FPB 770 1937 AC 2-litre DHC
EGH 514 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III with bodywork by Hooper
BWD 299 1937 Talbot 6 Light Saloon by Darracq
END 2 1938 Daimler 24hp Limousine
RPB 836 1951 MG TD
JNT 698 1953 Bentley Saloon by Mulliner
RKA 553 1954 MG TF
SYK 6 1956 Lancia Aurelia Spyder
1934 SS1 Airline Coupé
Registration number: AHP 270
Chassis number: E248365
Engine number: 248365
Cylinder/Capacity: 6/1608cc
Coachwork: Four-Seat Airline Coupé
Although SS Cars Ltd had a very clear idea of style and marketing, the
way it designated its early cars was confusing. The 1933 SS1 was really
a new model range, and so was the line introduced in 1934 - the Airline
Coupé should really have been called the SS4 or SS5. Apart from the
distinctive new body line, there was a new chassis frame with the
cross-bracing moved forward to give larger footwells and the front track
was two inches wider. As before, the running gear was from the
Standard Sixteen or Twenty so there was a new synchromesh gearbox
and the two engine options were each 100cc larger.
The sum of these relatively small individual changes was a big increase
in refinement. There was a further improvement for the 1935 model year
when SS Cars fitted a high compression cylinder head and a new
camshaft - it was a clear indication that SS was moving towards being a
self-contained manufacturer. Since the car we offer was first registered
in November, 1934, we believe it to have these modifications.
The Airline Coupé was one of four body styles available and these
models, which maintained SS Cars' reputation for handsome cars at a
bargain price, helped the company grow ever stronger in the market
place. One can see cues in its design which would be developed into the
distinctive Jaguar house style.
That auction was Norman Cole Classic Car Auction Alexandra Palace London 2/11/71
Here's a random write up of that auction
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...
A 50-page softback auction catalogue for the sale of veteran, vintage and post-vintage thoroughbred cars and selected miscellanea held at the Great Hall, Alexandra Palace on the 2nd November 1971. Vehicles in the sale included -
BW 1029 1911 Daimler 15hp Tourer TG15
AH 136 1897 Soame Steam Cart Wagonette (built in Marsham, Norfolk by Mr G S Soame - a manufacturer of agricultural machinery)
IA 5 1909 Delaunay Belleville 40hp Roi-des-Belges Tourer by Mulliner
286 RBJ 1906 Prosper-Lambert 16/20hp 2-seater with replica body
OK 6538 1923 Autocrat 12hp Doctor's Coupe
ESO 896 (was M 387) 1924 Fiat 11hp Tourer by Garavini of Turin
UO 7767 1925 Dodge 24.3hp Landaulette by Mulliner
MR 9021 1927 Rover 9hp Open Tourer
CJ 7321 1924 Ford 22.5hp Tudor saloon
NM 4895 1924 Daimler 20hp Landaulette
RY 4116 1927 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom I with bodywork by Dudley Heath of Much Hadham
YX 6842 1928 Rolls-Royce 20hp Boat-Decked 2-seater replica body
VA 6888 1927 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom I with bodywork by Ritches of Edinburgh/Glasgow
GP 1993 1931 Bentley 4½-litre supercharged Sports Tourer by Vanden Plas
GN 3614 1931 Buick 33hp Hearse
YY 5910 1932 Invicta 12hp saloon
GW 4133 1932 Alvis 12hp Beetle Back by Carbodies
AMY 937 1932 Vauxhall 17hp Cadet Light Coupe
AHP 270 1934 SS 20hp Airline saloon
VJ 8767 1936 Alvis 16.9hp Silver Eagle saloon by Cross & Ellis
BDU 9 1935 MG P-type 8hp
BGD 2 1937 Bentley 4¼-litre Saloon by Park Ward
75 HYU 1936/7 SS 100 Roadster
DYR 67 1937 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom III Sedanca de Ville by Windovers
ARA 61 1937 Bentley 30hp DHC by Park Ward
FPB 770 1937 AC 2-litre DHC
EGH 514 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III with bodywork by Hooper
BWD 299 1937 Talbot 6 Light Saloon by Darracq
END 2 1938 Daimler 24hp Limousine
RPB 836 1951 MG TD
JNT 698 1953 Bentley Saloon by Mulliner
RKA 553 1954 MG TF
SYK 6 1956 Lancia Aurelia Spyder
Edited by s p a c e m a n on Saturday 18th September 18:38
MDMA . said:
The ss Jag REG AHP 270 WAS PURCHASED BY MY FATHER, IT WAS ORIGINAL BLACK AND HE COACH PAINTED WHITE AND THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT THE TOP OF HIGHFIELD ROAD DERBY. I HAVE A PHOTO WITH ME STANDING AT THE SIDE OF IT, I WAS ABOUT 16 AT THE TIME. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WERE THE CAR IS NOW.MRS VALERIE TURNER
Hi Valerie
Our family owned the SS Airline AHP 270 in the early '70s. My dad bought it in, I think, early 1972 from Reg Parnell's garage near Lichfield. I am thinking that Parnells bought it from the auction mentioned in a previous post. It was white with maroon wheels, but I think dad painted them that colour. He used it as a wedding car and we as a family had many adventures with it- holidays, car race meetings and steam rallies. Dad sold it around 1976 when he bought a 1947 SS Jaguar.
In the Jan 1998 Jaguar Enthusiasts magazine there is an article about the JDHT (Jag Daimler Heritage Trust) which says that the founder of a chain of Chemist shops and Jag enthusiast, gifted his extensive collection of Jag and SS cars to the trust, and one of the cars was our Airline AHP 270, a photo in the article showing it now painted grey, having been restored. It has no reg plate, but there are unmistakable features that identify it to me.
As far as I know the trust does not now have the car, though they have another Airline AWR 564.
I hope this helps fill in some gaps!
Our family owned the SS Airline AHP 270 in the early '70s. My dad bought it in, I think, early 1972 from Reg Parnell's garage near Lichfield. I am thinking that Parnells bought it from the auction mentioned in a previous post. It was white with maroon wheels, but I think dad painted them that colour. He used it as a wedding car and we as a family had many adventures with it- holidays, car race meetings and steam rallies. Dad sold it around 1976 when he bought a 1947 SS Jaguar.
In the Jan 1998 Jaguar Enthusiasts magazine there is an article about the JDHT (Jag Daimler Heritage Trust) which says that the founder of a chain of Chemist shops and Jag enthusiast, gifted his extensive collection of Jag and SS cars to the trust, and one of the cars was our Airline AHP 270, a photo in the article showing it now painted grey, having been restored. It has no reg plate, but there are unmistakable features that identify it to me.
As far as I know the trust does not now have the car, though they have another Airline AWR 564.
I hope this helps fill in some gaps!
AHP 270 appears to currently be in the Robert Lewis Collection, which is a private museum at Churt, Surrey.
https://www.thefmi.co.uk/recent-events/visit-rober...
https://www.thefmi.co.uk/recent-events/visit-rober...
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