LOT 367

1938 RAC Rally works team entry 1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster Registration no. DHP 735 Chassis no. 39054 Engine no. M775

Sold for £425,500 inc. premium

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Lot 367

1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Registration no. DHP 735 Chassis no. 39054 Engine no. M775

Goodwood Festival of Speed: Collector's Motor Cars and Automobilia|24 June 2022, 14:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

1938 RAC Rally works team entry
1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
Registration no. DHP 735
Chassis no. 39054
Engine no. M775

• One of circa 112 3½-Litre cars
• Matching numbers
• Believed the car driven by E H Jacobs in the 1938 RAC Rally
• Present family ownership since 1980

Footnotes

Launched for 1936, the SS 100 was the first real high-performance model produced by SS Cars Limited and used a new Weslake-developed overhead-valve engine in a shortened S.S.I chassis. The introduction of the OHV unit was considered to justify the adoption of a new name for the series, SS Cars boss William Lyons later recalling 'I immediately pounced on Jaguar as it had an exciting sound to me.' ('Jaguar' would be adopted as the marque name in 1943, 'SS' having by then acquired a somewhat tarnished reputation).

'SS' originally stood for the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company, which had been founded in Blackpool, England by William Walmsley. The company branched out into motor manufacture in 1926, its first major success being an attractive sports saloon on the Austin Seven chassis, the design being the work of Walmsley's partner, one William Lyons. Relocation to Coventry followed and the Swallow range expanded to include models on Morris Cowley, Wolseley Hornet and Standard Sixteen chassis. Marque status arrived in October 1931 with the launch of the SSI, the chassis of which was supplied exclusively to Swallow by Standard, who also provided the six-cylinder sidevalve engine and four-speed gearbox. Although unspectacular in performance, the SSI went some way towards establishing the pattern for future Jaguars, combining sporting good looks with a better-than-average specification and all at a bargain price.

By the time the SS 90 sports car arrived in 1935, William Heynes had joined as Chief Engineer. Based on a shortened SSI chassis, re-engineered by Heynes, the SS 90 again demonstrated Lyons' consummate skill as a stylist, its long bonnet, smoothly flowing wings, cut-away doors and truncated tail making it every inch the epitome of the 1930s sports car. Although good for 90mph, the SS 90 was handicapped by the limitations of its sidevalve engine, a deficiency that would soon be rectified by another of Lyons' new recruits, gas-flow consultant Harry Weslake. Launched in 1936 alongside the 2½-Litre saloon, the SS 100 Jaguar sports car marked the company's first use of the 'Jaguar' name. Beautifully styled in the manner of its SS 90 predecessor, the newcomer employed a shorter, 102"-wheelbase chassis and a revised version of the 2,663cc Standard six which, equipped with Weslake's overhead-valve cylinder head and breathing through twin SU carburettors, now produced 104bhp.

Although a fine touring car, the SS 100 was marketed as primarily for competition work. Its first major success came early, if somewhat unexpectedly, when Tommy Wisdom, crewed by his wife, won the arduous International Alpine Trial in 1936, beating Bugatti and bringing the fledgling marque to the attention of the Continental public. This would be the first of many successful rallying forays, including class wins in the RAC events of 1937 and 1938, and the Alpine (outright) again in 1948. Around 190 2½-Litre and 112 of the later 3½-Litre cars had been made, plus a handful as chassis only, by the time SS 100 production was prematurely ended by the outbreak of war.

The SS 100 offered here is one of three works team cars entered in the 1938 RAC Rally, the others being 'DHP 734' and 'DHP 736'. This car is believed to be the one driven by E H Jacobs. There was no overall winner, though 'DHP 736', driven by J Harrop, finished 1st in the Group 5 category (open cars over 15hp). A Jaguar letter on file confirms that 'DHP 735' (chassis number '39054') was manufactured on 24th March 1938 with engine 'M 775' and despatched to dealer Mr D W Hanley as a 'Rally Car'. The original colour combination was Gunmetal with grey interior. 'DHP 735' is listed in the Classic Jaguar Association's SS 100 Register as one of three works cars in the 1938 RAC Rally (copy extract on file). There is a photograph on file of 'DHP 735' on Blackpool promenade taking part in the brake test, and another of it competing in different event (believed post-war).

The copy of an old-style (1970s) continuation logbook on file lists only one owner: Wallis & Linnell Ltd of Kettering, Northamptonshire from May 1945. It is believed that Arthur Linnell may have purchased the SS 100 from the factory but there is no documentary evidence to support this. The lady vendor's late husband purchased 'DHP 735' from Arthur Linnell in October 1980. 'DHP 735' was repainted in Rolls-Royce Regal Red and re-trimmed in red leather with a tan hood in 1990. Ownership was transferred to the lady vendor in February 2009.

In addition to the aforementioned paperwork, the car comes with a history file containing period photographs (some taken at the '38 RAC Rally); photocopies of related literature; assorted correspondence; old V5/V5C documents; sundry bills; expired MoTs; instruction books; JDHT Certificate; and Twyford Moors' bill for getting the car running in April 2022.

The SS 100 was one of the fastest and best-handling sports cars of its day, as its competition record both before and after the war bears witness to. Representing a rare opportunity to acquire an example of the model that can be said to have started the Jaguar legend, '39054' is eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious historic motor sports events including the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Le Mans Retro, Colorado Grand, Great America, California Mille and many more.

Saleroom notices

Please note an SS100 is unlikely to be eligible for the Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic and Targa Florio as catalogued.

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