1937 S.S. Cars Ltd. 2½-Litre Sports Saloon

'SS' originally stood for the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company, which had been founded in Blackpool, England by William Walmsley. The company branched out into motor manufacture in 1926, its first major success being an attractive sports saloon on the Austin Seven chassis, designed by Walmsley's partner, one William Lyons. Marque status arrived in October 1931 with the launch of the SS1 which went some way towards establishing the pattern for future Jaguars, combining sporting good looks with a better-than-average specification and all at a bargain price.

By the time the SS90 sports car arrived in 1935, William Heynes had joined as Chief Engineer. Based on a shortened SS1 chassis, re-engineered by Heynes, the SS90 again demonstrated Lyons' consummate skill as a stylist, its long bonnet, smoothly flowing wings, cut-away doors and truncated tail making it every inch the epitome of the 1930s sports car. Although undeniably handsome and good for 90mph, the SS90 was handicapped by the limitations of its sidevalve engine, a deficiency that would soon be rectified by another of Lyons' new recruits, gas-flow consultant Harry Weslake.

In 1936, the new Weslake-developed overhead-valve 2,663cc power unit appeared in two new models: the 2½-Litre saloon and SS100 sports car. The introduction of the OHV engine was considered to justify the adoption of a new name for the series, William Lyons later recalling: "I immediately pounced on Jaguar as it had an exciting sound to me." ('Jaguar' would be adopted as the marque name in 1943, 'SS' having by then acquired a somewhat tarnished reputation.) With 104bhp on tap from the twin-carburettor 'six', the newcomers' performance at last matched the style that had already become a company hallmark.

This beautifully restored SS 2½-Litre saloon would undoubtedly have turned a lot of heads when it landed, brand new, in Queensland Australia in 1937.

In 1968, it was purchased by a Mr. Carter who felt that a restoration was on the cards, but it was only when his son inherited it in the 1990s, that he definitely decided it was worthy of a top restoration and he commissioned the Nantes Brothers, renowned in Australia for top quality SS Jaguar restorations. Besides an excellent restoration, a few improvements were made which included fitting a post-war 3½ litre crankshaft which was a period modification at the time offering more power and better reliability. This was an Australian domestic market upgrade because of the high mileages covered there by owners.

The car was repatriated to England in 2004 and has been enjoyed on the showground, in concours competition, collecting trophies en route, featuring in various magazines and generally being admired. Classically presented in Old English White with Apple Green leather and gleaming hardwood, the exceptional quality of the Nantes Brothers restoration still is a sight to behold and would give any new owner a great sense of pride at any Jaguar event or tour.