1939 SS JAGUAR 100

Owner : MR. JACKIE SHROFF

Year of Manufacture : 1939

Engine : Six-cylinder inline, 2664cc, 103.4PS

Transmission : 4-speed manual

Vital stats :

Length - 3810.0 mm

Width - 1574.0 mm

Height - 1270.0 mm

Wheelbase - 2641.6 mm

Weight - 1203.38 kg

Performance : 160 km/h top speed (approx)

Model History :

The very first car from William Lyons to incorporate the Jaguar name into his firm's - SS Cars Limited - products was the SS Jaguar 100 (this is the correct manner in which this model should be addressed) which first appeared as a 2.5-litre model in 1935. Some of the greatest automotive engineers in the world worked on this car, including William Heynes who went on to design the brilliant XK six-cylinder engine which went on to win at Le Mans five times in the 1950s and Harry Weslake, the master of combustion chamber optimization. The production versions began hitting the market from 1936 with a 2663cc engine featuring a small bore, long stroke configuration. A year later a larger 3485cc engine was also offered. This car when tested in its time by an automotive magazine did zero to 100km/h in 13.5 seconds and went on to max out at a shade close to 100mph or 160km/h. Truly scintillating performance for its time.

Provenance :

The only example of the SS Jaguar 100 in India, this car was shipped out to India from the SS Cars factory on May 23, 1939, ordered by the French Motor Car Co., Calcutta. Bearing chassis no. 49043, its body was in gunmetal finish with a red leather interior. It was raced at Barrackpore with aplomb and for many years it was owned by Dr B K Burman who was a big shot at Castrol. Noted cine star and motoring aficionado Jackie Shroff acquired it in 2000 in a decrepit state after which it was completely restored to the fine condition it is in today.