1936 Jaguar SS DHC Restoration Project

William Lyons (later Sir William) had not put a foot wrong since he had joined William Walmsley in founding The Swallow Sidecar Co. in Blackpool in 1922. He progressed quickly from sidecar manufacture to bespoke coachbuilding for car manufacturers such as Austin, Morris, Fiat, Swift, Wolseley and Standard cars and ultimately setting up SS as a marque in its own right. The gifted Lyons enjoyed a rare combination of business acumen, combined with a flair for exquisite design, and a canny awareness of what the market was seeking. The SS marque was launched late in 1931 with the 2-litre SSI and 1-litre SSII models, both side valve-engined cars with outstandingly stylish coachwork, whether in coupé or tourer form. The new 1½-litre Jaguar the first time the Jaguar name had been adopted by SS was introduced in September 1935. In saloon form it retailed at £285, boasted a top speed of 75mph and fuel economy of 28mpg. The styling was distinctive and so successful that it could clearly be evidenced even in models built after World War II.

Acquired by its last custodian in 1973 this Jaguar SS was in a sorry state as can be seen in the photographs included in the cars restoration diary. Originally a Saloon, the car was stripped, the body removed and work was started to restore the chassis and rebuild the engine.

The rolling chassis was completely restored and eventually completed to a high standard in July 1975

The original engine unit was too far-gone and a replacement 1.5ltr over head valve engine was sourced. This engine was stripped and rebuilt with a 40thou overbore before being mounted in to the newly restored chassis.

Whilst this work was being undertaken the body was converted from it's original saloon specification in to its current rather handsome drop head coupe configuration.

The cars restoration, it would seem, slowed and over the next 30 years it was worked on only on rare occasions to bring it to the condition that it appears in today.

Currently the car runs and drives and the original, but refurbished, seats are mounted. The body appears to be completed however may need some finishing work and will also need painting. From what we can see the only interior items present are the dashboard binnacle and the lovely original instruments along with the seats.

Presented with the car is an excellent history file including the original buff logbook, an old style V5C along with a handwritten restoration diary up to 1978, many past invoices and some images of the car in the late 1970s. There are even several invoices and an MOT dated in 1961. Certainly the oldest MoT Certificate we have seen!

This car poses as a superb restoration project for any enthusiast to complete and own a rare and unique car with good history.