2015-06-16 02:42:52 | Larry writes:

This is the most famous Dave Garroway ss100. It is white in color with brown alligator skin upholstery. It is and was fitted with the XK twin cam motor by Mr. Garroway and campaigned on many east coast race tracks.It spent many years in Denver Colorado in the custody of Steve Sim Roberts, an avid collector and Jaguar enthusiast.

2015-08-24 10:17:35 | M A Scott writes:

There is a reference to this car in "The Automobile" magazine of May 1983 in a letter from the then owner Steve Sim ROBERTS of Denver U.S.A

He mentions that it is a 1939 car and there is a photograph. This shows an attractive young lady in a swimsuit draped over the wing and the caption to the photo says "Never has the beauty of the SS100 wing-line been so well illustrated" !!

2016-12-10 19:45:53 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 1/17

www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1938-jaguar-ss100/

1938 Jaguar SS 100 3 1/2 Litre

Lot 144 Scottsdale 2017

1938 Jaguar SS 100 3 1/2 Litre

Estimate: $450,000 - $525,000

Chassis: 39067

On September 20, 1938, this SS 100, dressed in Gunmetal Grey with Silver interior, was sold new to H.P. Terry of England, with the registration CNP 947. Mr. Terry immediately raced the car in a Jaguar-sponsored event, where it placed first - the beginning of the car's illustrious race history. Subsequently, the car was shipped to the US and in 1948 was acquired by broadcaster Dave Garroway, who a few years later became the first host of NBC's Today show. Mr. Garroway repainted the SS 100 in off-white and fitted the engine with a Roots Blower. In 1951, the car developed mechanical problems and the original 3.5-litre engine was retired.

Mr. Garroway persuaded Jaguar to send him what is thought to be the first independently sold DOHC XK120 engine from England. Requiring some bespoke adjustments, the new engine was fitted along with racing camshafts, twin H8 SU sandcast carburetors, and special ported and polished manifolds, which together facilitated a top speed of 118 mph. Between 1949 and 1952, Mr. Garroway raced the car and built an impressive competition history. In 1954, he purchased six full alligator skins and covered the seats, steering wheel, and dash in the rich brown hide, as can be seen today.

Jaguar collector Steve Sim Roberts purchased the SS 100 in 1978 and campaigned relentlessly to chronicle its history, resulting in a staggeringly comprehensive automotive file including more than 70 magazine articles featuring the car.

Eventually, the SS 100 was shipped back to the UK and acquired by Henry Pearman of Eagle E-Types and then by Luay Allawi, an investment banker and classic car collector. In 2010, Mr. Allawi obtained the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate for the car and assigned the SS 100 to DK Engineering for a comprehensive yet sympathetic recommission costing more than £40,000. The car has since been driven sparingly while receiving regular maintenance, and it is offered a correct SS 100 3.5-litre engine and gearbox.

Since its restorative work, this unique SS 100 has been used sparingly and is ready for the next phase of its history to commence under its next owner - perhaps a Jaguar connoisseur with a deep passion for the marque as well as an appreciation for this unique car's history and driving event potential.

2017-01-23 15:20:51 | Newdl writes:

I believe the high bid on this car was around $380,000. It seems it did not sell.

2026-10-19 17:51:06 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 11/26

www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6612328?

Retromobile New York Auctions

1938 Jaguar SS 100 3 1⁄2 Litre

Estimate USD 400,000 – USD 475,000

Chassis No. 39067

Provenance

H.P. Terry, England (acquired new in 1938)

Samuel Lortz, St. Louis, Missouri (acquired in 1948)

Dave Garroway, New York (acquired from the above in 1948)

Steve Sim Roberts, Englewood, Colorado (acquired from the above in 1978)

Henry Pearman, East Sussex, England (acquired from the above in 2007)

Luay Allawi, Hadley Wood, England (acquired from the above in 2010)

Wayne Carini, Portland, Connecticut (acquired in 2018)

Current Owner (acquired from the above)

Literature

Featured Media

Sports Cars Illustrated, November 1955

Speed Age, 1952,“Near Disasters – at Bridgehampton,” by J.M. O’Shea

Exhibited

Race Highlights

GP Watkins Glen, 1949, Garroway, No. 16 (18th)

Mt. Equinox Hillclimb, October 1951, Garroway (10th)

Giant’s Despair Hill Climb, December 1951, Garroway, No. 30 (11th)

Match Thompson, April 1952, Garroway (2nd)

SCCA National Bridgehampton, May 1952, Garroway, No. 11 (16th)

Bridgehampton Cup Race, 1959, Dave Garroway, No. 24 (DNQ)

Prominently Owned for Three Decades by Today Show Host Dave Garroway

Numerous Period Modifications, Including Factory-Supplied XK120 Engine

Offered with Period-Correct 3 1⁄2 Litre Engine and Fascinating History File

Refurbished in Recent Years in Striking Black over Tan Scheme

A Unique Piece Of Jaguar History with Notable Racing Pedigree

The Today show is one of the cornerstones of New York City, a program that originally welcomed New Yorkers, and eventually the rest of the nation, to the world as it was happening in real time. It was where news stories broke and, for many, the fuel that kickstarted the day. The institution began in 1952 with Dave Garroway as its original host – and an original owner of this very SS 100. His balance of seriousness and down-to-earth manner earned him the nickname “The Communicator.” Garroway’s success on screen followed an equally successful radio career, which began in 1938. He was not so much a car collector as an enthusiast, and in this respect, he was among the first prominent celebrities to champion old cars. When this SS 100 became available in 1948, it proved irresistible to Garroway.

This SS 100 also began its career in 1938, delivered on September 20th as part of the second series of cars, which featured an enlarged 3 1⁄2-litre powerplant. It was originally supplied finished in Gunmetal Grey with Silver interior, and sold new to H.P. Terry of England, with the registration “CNP 947.” Mr. Terry immediately raced the car in a Jaguar-sponsored event, where it placed 1st, marking the beginning of the car’s illustrious race history.

After acquiring the SS 100, Mr. Garroway soon repainted the car off-white and enlisted Stanley “Wacky” Arnolt to fit the engine with a Roots blower, which may have overstretched it. In 1951, the car developed mechanical problems and the original 3 1⁄2-litre engine was retired. Mr. Garroway then persuaded Jaguar to send him what was reportedly the first independently sold DOHC XK 120 engine from England as a replacement. Requiring some bespoke adjustments, the new engine was fitted along with racing camshafts, twin H8 SU sandcast carburetors, and special ported and polished manifolds, which together facilitated a top speed of 118 mph. Interestingly, this period switch was also carried out by Arnolt. Between 1949 and 1952, Mr. Garroway raced the car and built an impressive competition history. In 1954, he purchased six full alligator skins and covered the seats, steering wheel, and dash in the rich brown hide.

After 30 years under Mr. Garroway’s care, the SS 100 passed to Steve Sim Roberts, a prominent collector of the marque and specifically this model, in 1978. Roberts also kept the car for nearly 30 years, during which time he exhaustively chronicled its history, sourcing more than 70 articles and features on the car, which accompany the sale.

At the end of Roberts’ tenure, the SS 100 returned to the UK in 2007 for a brief sojourn before coming back to America in 2016. It still retained its Garroway-era color scheme and, by then, was bearing the patina of considerable use. Its next custodian was another television personality, Wayne Carini, presenter of Chasing Classic Cars, the automotive “Antiques Roadshow.” Under Carini’s care, the car underwent an extensive restoration at his own facility, receiving its current black over tan color scheme and a replacement interior trimmed in tan alligator-print leather. The SS 100 subsequently passed to the consignor and, following its refurbishment, has been presented at a number of events, including the Concours d’Elegance of America in 2021 and this year’s Highlands Motoring Festival in North Carolina, where its handsome appearance and throaty engine note proved especially popular with spectators.

An important model in the development of Jaguar’s sporting identity, this SS 100 is distinguished not only by its remarkable celebrity provenance, but also by its deeply rooted connection to America and, in particular, New York City.