2012-09-17 17:30:31 | Lofty writes:

Car was at auction 9/12
www.bonhams.com/auctions/20145/lot/119/

Auction description:
15 Sep 2012 2:30 p.m. Chichester,Goodwood
Collectors' Motor cars
119
1937 SS100 Jaguar 2½-Litre Roadster
Registration no. MG 5680
Chassis no. 49017
Engine no. L368E (originally L1017E)
Sold for £219,900 inc. premium

As confirmed by a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Production Trace Certificate, chassis number '49017' was manufactured 2 December 1937 and supplied new via Henlys 8 December 1937 to first owner H C Gilman. Its next known owner, from 1948 to 1953, was the Jaguar distributor John McVitie, who installed the works reconditioned engine currently fitted (number 'L386E') for a subsequent owner at sometime during the late 1950s/early 1960s. Between 1979 and 1982 the SS100 was displayed at the Stratford Motor Museum and then sold to the well-known Swedish collector, Steffan Svenby, who despatched it Tony Merrick, who became the registered keeper and undertook a no-expense-spared total restoration (engine excepted) and fitted a period Moss MkIV gearbox (the rebuilt original 'box is also included). Subsequently, it was shipped back to the UK for a complete engine rebuild, including conversion to unleaded compatibility, by Don Law.

Featured in many magazines, 'MG 5680' has been enjoyed by the current vendor since acquisition in July 1999, covering only some 9,500 miles of non-competitive motoring tours since restoration. Further refurbishment carried out while in current ownership includes works to the steering box and suspension (Holman Engineering), servicing and fitting new front springs (Dave Davenport) and a back to bare aluminium repaint, the latter in 2012 (bills on file). Other noteworthy features include full weather equipment (frame, with hood and side screens virtually unused, and full length tonneau) and later-type flashing indicators operated by a switch concealed beneath the dashboard.

Finished in Gunmetal Grey with blue leather interior (re-trimmed at time of restoration and now nicely patinated), the car is described as being in superb condition and comes complete with tools correctly stowed in a well detailed engine bay, history file, correspondence, JDHT Certificate, MoT to May 2013 and old/current Swansea V5/V5C registration documents.

The SS100 was one of the fastest and best-handling sports cars of its day, as its competition record both before and after the war bears witness to. Representing a rare opportunity to acquire an example of the model that can be said to have started the Jaguar legend, '49017' is eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious historic motor sport events.