Lot 127: Jaguar SS100 3 � Litre

Ask any motoring enthusiast to nominate 20 cars for a Fantasy Collection and you would not bet at long odds against there being an SS100 on the list. It is one of those rare cars which epitomises a period. It is not just its looks that were remarkable, it was also an exceptional performer and its distinguished list of competition successes would have been even longer had not the war intervened. When the 2 � litre SS100 was announced in 1936 it was the most beautiful car in the world. You could also go to a dealer and buy one whereas normally with a car of this quality you chose the chassis and then selected a coachbuilder. The body is one of the loveliest ever designed, everything about it, from its long louvred bonnet to details such as the stoneguards over the headlights, is perfect. It is one of those rare cars which is right from every angle.

It also had an exceptionally competent chassis and soon the SS100 was making a name for itself in competition, particularly in rallies. As late as 1948 a 3 � litre SS100 was able to win the Alpine Rally outright.

Because the SS100 featured so often in competition results, one would be forgiven for thinking they were built in large numbers, but only 314 of all types were made. The company's main preoccupation was with its saloon car range the sports cars were intended merely to draw attention to the 'Jaguar' saloons.

This example, Chassis 18100 was one such car used in anger in period. Delivered new in 1937 to Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland and used occasionally until it was purchased by the celebrated race driver and team owner Jock McBain, noted for his Borders Reivers team that became the nursery for both Jackie Stewart and Jim Clarke. The car was purchased by McBain in 1948 and it was under his tenure that the current 3 � litre engine was fitted for increased performance. This was very much common practice at the time and McBain ran it at Winfield where he claimed to have hit 118 mph on the straight.

In the early 1950s the car changed hands and resided south of the border in the north east of England, but was still campaigned at various club events and hillclimbs. Chassis 18100 was then sold back to Jock McBain in exchange for a Formula 3 Cooper Norton.

In later years the car was exported to the US and resided in California for many years where it let a cosseted life as part of a large collection and thus during that time saw little use. The car was extensively restored including an engine rebuild some years ago and has seen little use since.

The car has been the recipient of several awards at concours events with the coach work finished in black and has picked up just a tiny patina to give the car a driven rather than fresh restoration feel. The interior is finished with burgundy hide and carpets and the hood has also been replaced with new double duck.

Supplied with a plethora of paperwork and correspondence from previous owners allowing one to trace the cars wonderful period race history, this fantastic motor car is a welcome entrant to many historic motor sport events and indeed rare to find an SS100 with competition history in such good order.