The quintessential pre-war British sports car is the 1936 S.S. Jaguar 100 also known simply as the SS100. These diminutive roadsters have all the hallmarks of a competitive race car in an attractive body reminiscent of Jaguar’s first tourers. This model was also the first to carry the Jaguar nameplate.

With 125 bhp from a 3.5-litre Inline-6, the car’s performance credentials helped launch the company onto the international scene. Name for the car came from its theoretical top speed of 100 mph, although 95 was the norm.

The very first SS100s were powered by a 2664cc version of the Standard Six. Bill Heynes and Harry Weslake modified this unit to 3486cc by increasing both the bore and stroke. Only 118 cars came from the factory with this more-potent unit.