File:SS Jaguar 100, British Motor Museum 09-2016 (30071370731).jpg

1938 SS Jaguar 100 2.5 litre

In 1935, SS Cars for the first time produced an open two-seater sports car, the SS90. While this was a remarkably handsome car, it lacked the performance to go with its looks. In production only for a few months, a mere 23 examples of the SS90 were delivered.

The introduction in September 1935 of the first cars to carry the 'Jaguar' model name was a tremendous step forward. Apart from the 2.5 litre Jaguar saloon and tourer, there was the SS100 sports car. With the new 102bhp engine and weighing only 23 cwt (1170kg), the SS100 could reach a top speed of 94 mph.

Later the SS100 was fitted with a 3.5 litre version of the same engine which produced 125bhp. This version had a top speed just over the magical figure suggested by the model number: 101 mph. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph was 10.4 seconds, an outstanding figure for the 1930s. The 2.5 litre cost £395 and, at only £445, the 3.5 litre was the cheapest 100 mph car in Britain at the same time.

In styling terms, the SS100 was similar to its SS90 predecessor but featured new headlamps, a revised radiator, a '100' badge on the headlamp crossbar and the 'SS Jaguar' badge on the radiator. A total of 191 of the 2.5 litre cars were built between 1935 and 1939, with an additional 118 of the 3.5 litre variant built from 1938 onwards; a total production figure of 309 cars.

Engine: 6cyl, 2663cc Top Speed: 94mph (151km/h) Power: 102bhp Coachwork: two-seater tourer Price New: £395