SS Jaguar 100: A British barnfind in the USA

Those of us who have the habit of going out for a walk in the mountains are used to finding unexpected things. We have already said it before. And no, we are not just referring to running into a herd of wild boars, some clueless hunter or an enlightened man meditating on a stone 3.000 meters high, claiming to be listening "The messages that the wind brings me."

We also refer to remains of mechanical devices typical of the war. From the remains of a battle of the War of Independence to metals forgotten in old trenches of the last civil war.

Starting from this point, we are sure that Terry larson He had a feeling similar to that of an intrepid hiker when he found, after 60 years of oblivion, a precious work of engineering that symbolizes sports motor racing of the years immediately prior to World War II, when an imminent warlike climate was already reigning.

Recognizable Jaguar front end. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

Rear prepared to carry the suitcases. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

It is not that it is a tank, but both its name and the fact that it was easily transported from England to the United States has an obvious connection with World War II. The machine in question is a SS Jaguar 100 from 1938, rescued from oblivion in a garage and which is currently being restored at Terry Larson's classics workshop in Arizona.

SS 100, ONE OF THE FIRST JAGUAR

It is true: Jaguar's origins are in the 20swhen a car bodybuilder and a sidecar body builder founded the Swallow Sidecar Company in Blackpool. In a quasi-artisan way, the company launched everything from small models based on Austin chassis to imposing luxury sports cars like the SS1 / 2. However, the business grew and the branch that had more to do with cars than with motorcycles was segregated in 1934, when William Lyons -one of the two original partners- founded the SS Cars Limited.

What a time to found, in a democratic country like the United Kingdom, a company with the initials SS… In full rise of a Germanic nationalism that had Himmler's SS the spearhead of the most belligerent Nazism! Being british, william lyons He was not fine when it comes to marketing, no. Either in the choice of shield ...

That is why in 1935 he decided to make up the name of the company by adding “Jaguar”Behind the SS emblem, although it was not until 1945 that the terrible initials were definitely discarded. Little by little, the soul of the feline taking control of the predecessors of the postwar models XK, D and E. This is the case of this SS Jaguar 100 ...

The heart of the car, an engine that in 1938 received an extra power to take it up to 125CV. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

Its state of conservation is really good despite 6 decades of abandonment. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

In the logo we see the names SS and Jaguar together. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

Curious red upholstery in the interior. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

This SS 100 is therefore one of the first Jaguars. It has all the sporty and elegant inertia that from the beginning marked a company that followed and remains faithful to these codes and that in 1935 changed its name for political reasons. A copy with a chassis number dated 1938 and which he was brought to the United States after the war.

And it is that, after 1945, there were many american soldiers who returned from their military service in Europe, but not before taking advantage of the strength of the dollar to acquire powerful European sports cars in need of a commercial outlet with which to enjoy or do business in their country. In short, had we been American soldiers discharged from our service after the defeat of Nazism, we would not have hesitated to carry a cheerful English sports car under our arms.

ABANDONED AFTER AN ACCIDENT FOR 60 YEARS

Although there is a strong network of classic Jaguar fans in the United States, this unit had not yet been tracked down. Why? Well, because neither more nor less than 60 years have passed abandoned in a family garage. And all for a most prosaic reason: in the 50s, and according to the son of its first American owner, the car suffered a small accident. That was something that, namely ... Scared or intimidated this driver, who left the car unused in the family garage.

In the background our copy, in front one already restored. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

Terry Larson with the model. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

In the end… You have to know how to handle it. Let us remember that it is a light sports car "to the european”With an engine that, just in the year in which this unit was produced, underwent an evolution in its engine that took it with a double carburettor up to 3 liters of displacement.

All this until recently, his heir contacted Jaguar collector Terry Larson to study his rehabilitation. And well, it seems that it is finally taking place, specifying with just fine-tune its mechanics but hardly touch the sheet, to preserve the terrible originality and the patina that it shines.

Beautiful front grill. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

English print. Source: Bob Golfen-Terry Larson.

There is currently an active debate around restoring or simply putting models that have been exceptionally well preserved, such as this case, back into operation. What would you do? Comprehensive restoration or recommissioning, how do the english say Tell us in the comments ... 😉