2018-11-26 14:21:20 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 12/18

www.brightwells.com/classic-motoring/leominster-classic-vintage/leominster-class ..._medium=email&utm_source=sharpspring&sslid=Mzc0tTQ2tDA0tLAAAA&ssei ...

Auction description:

Lot No. 20

Registration Date 1936

Make & Model SS Jaguar 1.5 Coachbuilt Saloon

Colour Old English White

Registration Number CUF 415

Chassis No. 20409

Engine size 1,600 cc

Engine No. 32571

Documents V5C; buff logbook; large history file

Estimate £20,000 - £25,000

First registered in Brighton in May 1936, CUF 415 is one of the exceedingly rare ‘Coachbuilt’ ash-framed saloons, distinguishable by the spare wheel on the nearside wing, and only manufactured in 1936 and 1937 before being superseded by all-steel saloons and dropheads from 1938. It retains the early dashboard lay-out with the speedometer on the far left, and has four side windows without the quarter light which was introduced later in 1936, plus the Art Deco sunrise pattern doorcards which were abandoned on the 1937 model on grounds of cost.

By 1952 it was in the hands of one Elsie Miller, passing down the family to Gerald E Miller the following year, who owned it into the 1990s. After his death, it was registered in his wife’s name until 2001. There are details of an early engine rebuild back in 1952 and it was driven on this engine until the mid- 1980s.

Mr Miller was an aircraft engineer and when the car was well-worn in the 1980s, he introduced a few modifications, installing a Ford 1600 OHV Kent cross-flow engine and the excellent Ford synchromesh gearbox to produce a highly practical motor car which drives beautifully to this day.

In August 2001, CUF 415 was sold to Mr JW Scott from Flintshire before being acquired by our vendor in 2005. The month after it was purchased, the car featured in a Channel Five production of ‘Worst Celebrity Driver of the Year Award’, performing faultlessly as they drove from John O’Groats southwards. After this celebrity experience the car was then taken off the road and restored, as close to the original as possible, though leaving the engine and gearbox and a couple of other modifications. The sunburst doorcards were also restored and the car professionally repainted in its original Old English White livery.

Much admired over the years, CUF 415 featured in the UK’s largest Jaguar gathering at Windsor Great Park in May last year, joining the procession around Windsor Castle in front of royalty and being the oldest Jaguar in attendance. Indeed the current keeper, a lifelong Jaguar collector and enthusiast, believes it to be the oldest roadworthy Jaguar saloon in Britain, and one of perhaps only five 1936 Jaguars surviving in the world today.

Supplied with a large history file, this wonderful and exceedingly rare SS Jaguar is in lovely condition throughout and is easily capable of keeping up with modern traffic thanks to the later Ford engine, as we discovered during an enjoyable test drive on the occasion of our visit to take these photos.

2022-03-23 06:14:14 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 3/23/22

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1936-jaguar-ss-nM7Ql8_campaign=Targeted%20%7C%20Tuesday%20New%20Auction%20Email%20Large%20Se ...

Auction description:

1936 Jaguar SS

Colour White

Odometer 11,118 Miles

Engine size 1600

Town Witham

Location Essex

Country United Kingdom

Believed to be one of the earliest road going Jaguars in existence 

Rare 1 year only model 

Beautiful classic styling paired with modern reliability

Courtesy of the wing mounted spare wheel, lack of quarter windows and a host of other subtle cues, we know that the car we see here is a very early 1936 model. First registered in May of that year to the Brighton area, the car is believed to have spent well over a decade under that ownership before transferring to a Mrs Miller in 1952 who passed it on to a Mr Miller who owned it until his passing in the 1990’s. 

Investigation indicates that the car’s original engine was treated to a rebuild around the early 1950’s, however Mr Miller was an aircraft engineer by trade, and like many, he loved the beautiful flowing lines of the SS, but felt the 12hp 1.5 litre left a little something to be desired, and so in the 1980s the car was treated to a 1600c Ford Kent crossflow engine and Ford synchromesh gearbox to boost the cars usability and capability on modern faster roads. 

After his passing in the 1990’s the SS traded hands a couple of times before being sold in 2005 to a new owner, who shortly after purchasing, used the car in a Channel 5 documentary titled “Worst celebrity driver of the year award” in which the SS was driven around from John O’ Groats without fault. After its TV appearance, the car was subject to a restoration back to near original condition, whilst keeping the upgraded engine and gearbox. 

The current owner, an avid Jaguar enthusiast, purchased the car some 5 years ago, and throughout this time, the car has been well maintained and dry stored to an incredibly high standard. Unfortunately due to the loss of storage space, they are looking to move the car on to a new loving home. 

Paperwork 

The SS comes accompanied by a neat folder of paperwork, front and centre of which is an early vehicle registration booklet dating from 1949. Alongside this is the current V5 registration document. 

Within the folder is a comprehensive set of historic photographs from the car's time under the Miller ownership, detailing much of the mechanical work done to the car throughout that time. 

Being a 1936 model, the SS can be registered as both tax and MOT exempt by the new owner due to its historic status, this can be done by filling out the relevant DVLA registration forms.

The Interior 

Sporting a level of craftsmanship simply not seen on the cars of today, the cabin of the SS is a truly marvellous thing. Opening the rear hinged “suicide” doors, we are introduced to an ocean of voluptuous red leather and sculpted woodent trim. Having borne the test of time incredibly well, the interior presents in utterly beautiful condition. 

Seating both front and rear is in excellent shape, the driver and their passengers could almost sink into the deep red leather, with its thick broad cushioning and neat stitching, there is a distinct lack of wear to be seen here. At the sides we find four excellent sundial patterned leather door trims, an exclusive piece for 1936 model years that were cut to save costs by 1937. These are neatly capped off with high quality wooden trim that sculpts its way around the top of the door and window frame. 

Yet another rare piece, unique to these early cars is the placement of the speedometer on the left, a design cue exclusive to the early style dashboard design and layout. The dashboard itself is in great shape, the wonderfully sculpted wooden piece is clean and lacks the fading and damage one would expect of a late 1930’s vehicle. The various gauges and switchgear present in good order and are reported to function fully. 

Draping the cabin floor is a plush red carpet, still fresh and full of colour. We find this carpeting also within the boot and inside the smaller compartment within the tailgate. The top of the cabin is fitted with a clean well trimmed roof liner, noticeably free from staining, rips or tears.

The Exterior 

Looking at the SS from the outside, it's clear to see why William Lyon’s car bodies outsold his motorcycle sidecars. In the SS, he has created a symphony of flowing lines and elegant curves to make up what could quite possibly be one of the finest looking automobiles to date. 

Finished in an excellent cream hue, believed to be Old English White, this particular SS presents in great condition. The paintwork that coats the ash framed body is in good shape, but does show some signs of blemishing in areas, however there is nothing on this front to detract from the look of the car. 

The exquisite chrome trim that adorns the SS is of a wonderful standard, exuding a brilliant shine from all angles, the imposing front grille and lighting cluster sat up front, mirroring this incredibly high quality. The front end is so perfectly finished off with the iconic Jaguar bonnet ornament.

Sculpted lines so quintessential of British coachbuilding, the sweeping wing pieces flowing front to rear are a real feature piece of the SS. The passenger side wing is unique in that it houses the full size wire spare wheel, a feature exclusive to the early SS cars. The car itself sits on four beautiful colour matched wire wheels, finished off perfectly with chrome SS branded centre caps. The wheels themselves are in great order and the paint is of a good quality standard. 

The Mechanics 

The restoration work done in the early 2000s to bring the car back to near original condition has very much worked wonders, presenting almost as the day it rolled off of the forecourt in 1936, it is only upon opening the bonnet that one is presented with the cars non original features, the modern and arguably superior running gear fitted by Mr Miller in the 1980s. 

The 1600cc Ford Kent crossflow engine fitted appears to be in excellent order, the engine appears to be incredibly clean and fits very naturally within the equally clean engine bay. A far cry from the 12hp 1.5 fitted from factory, the current owner reports the SS is more than capable of keeping up with modern day traffic and is comfortable at the higher speeds simply impossible for the original motor.