Jaguar - Jaguar SS1
The SS name stands for "Swallow Sidecar", from the origins of the company. The cars bearing the SS name were built using chassis supplied by the Standard Motor Company, so arguably SS was an abbreviation for Standard Swallow. Either way, the SS name was dropped when production resumed after the war in 1945. To quote William Lyons in 1945, "Unlike S.S, the name Jaguar is distinctive and cannot be connected or confused with any similar foreign name".
The SS Jaguars were built on the Standard chassis and with the flair Williams Lyons had the cars looked fantastic. Initially 2 litres in 1931 and selling well because they appeared incredibly good value when compared to anything else. These were tough economic times with the ongoing world wide Depression, but Lyons managed to keep things busy, adding the SS2 4 cylinder 1 litre model from 1932, later enlarging to 1343 and finally 1608cc. The Standard built SS1 engine was initially rated at 16hp, whether from its original 2054cc or its later 2143cc , the horsepower tax being calculated on bore size irrespective of stroke. The 20hp SS1 introduced in 1935 had a considerably larger capacity at 2552cc, which also similarly later got stroked to 2663cc in 1935 which kept it in the same road tax bracket. These SS1 models were available in saloon and open tourer, with the Streamline SS1 which later Lyons said in retrospect wasn't one of his favourites.
For 1935 came the first 2 seat sports car in the form of the SS90 using a new cylinder head design by Harry Weslake built for the Standard made engine, converting this side valve engine to an overhead valve one with better porting and twin carburettors. A few SS90 were made before the slab rear tank SS100 (100 denoting 100 mph from its 100hp engine) became available from 1936. For 1938 the 3.5 litre engine became available.
All SS1 and SS100 were fitted new with 5.50x18 tyre size. The Blockley 5.50x18 with triple stud tread pattern and sidewall is accurate to what The SS1 was fitted as standard in period. We also make our "A6C pattern" version of the 5.50x18 Blockley tyre which has the same dimensions as our 3 stud pattern tyre, for those that prefer a later look. See full details of these tyres below:
As an aside, the smaller SS2 was originally fitted with 27x4.75 . For these we recommend the Blockley 450/500x18.
