The Swallow Sidecars Company’s marketing literature declared that the company’s slinky Jaguar 100 Roadster was “designed primarily for competition work…(but) equally suitable for ordinary road use, for despite the virility of its performance, it is sufficiently tractable for use as a fast touring car without modification”. Enthusiasts quickly recognised that this machine was built to devour the road, and the SS Jaguar 100 was a regular participant in hill climbs, rallies, and road races, running at all the premier meetings, such as Donington Park, Brooklands, Shelsley Walsh, and in the RAC Rally.

This fine 2½-Litre Roadster departed the factory on 1st July 1937, and it was delivered through Henly’s, of London, to a Mr Head. In 1955, like many other SS 100s, it was exported to the United States, and it would spend the next 55 years in California, owned firstly by Don Schoenert, then Bud Fisher, and most prominently by Elliot Weiner, who kept the car for four decades and regularly displayed it at local shows. The car was a regular Jaguar Auto Club entrant, and on file, there is a copy of a 1981 club newsletter when it achieved a First in Class. Along with this club newsletter, this Jaguar comes with its Jaguar Heritage Certificate, copies of assorted SS100 Registers, and the original owner’s instruction book. Several display plaques can be seen under the bonnet, as well as a competitor’s plaque from the 1956 Stockton Road Races!

This car’s engine was replaced at some point with a correct 2½-Litre SS stamped unit. The car’s current owner has undertaken a cosmetic restoration, in which the coachwork was taken back to bare metal and refinished in deep black cellulose with a contrasting mid-blue leather interior. Chrome wire wheels are fitted, including twin spares, and as a result, the car looks quite stunning. All chrome is in excellent condition, and the car is fitted with such appropriate period accessories as mesh headlamp guards, two original factory spotlights, a single pillar-mounted spotlight, and “fishtail” exhaust trims, as well as an early wood-rim steering wheel.

The car is in excellent running order and is a lovely example of the legendary sports roadster that begat the modern Jaguar. It would be ideal for the Mille Miglia Retro, the Colorado Grand, and other rallies.