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1939 Jaguar SS100 |
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The Car: |
1939
Jaguar SS100
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| Years: 1936 - 1940 |
| Description |
The Jaguar SS100 was sold from 1936 to 1940. Sir William Lyons, founder of Jaguar Cars, originally designed the landmark car that would be a model for all sports car Jaguars in the future.
EHP 203, currently at Winning Makes, is one of three factory team cars. Tommy Wisdom drove this car in the RAC Rally in 1939.
The ‘100’ could achieve 100 mph with the larger 3 ˝ litre engine. Known for its stylish body and great performance, its pleasing look made the car an instant winner. The standard-base inline six-cylinder engine had 125 bhp. It was able to reach 60mph from standing in 10.4 seconds. A total of 308 are thought to have been built.
Walter Norton, driver of the Jaguar SS 100 (EHP 201) noted, “In its day, the SS 100 was an outstanding-looking sports car with a very high standard of finish and had a powerful and deep gurgle that rose in tone very quickly in the most satisfying manner. Roadholding was excellent. Sure it slid on curves under power, but it was most controllable and had an excellent lock. When required, the tail could be made to slide by the sudden and hard application of the fly-off handbrake and this was the fastest way of getting around pylons…so long as you could approach with sufficient speed!”
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