Jaguar SS100 2.5 Litre

This is an early-production SS100, chassis 18047, from the run of cars built up to October 1936 (chassis 18001 to 18051). These cars are distinguished by a one-piece exhaust manifold and single exhaust pipe, among other small details. It was registered DLB 135 in December 1936 and supplied new through Henlys of London.

The history is unusually complete. Nine ownerships are documented in four leather-bound files, beginning with the three original buff logbooks. Early owners included Eric Edwards, later Lord Chelmer, and a long stretch from 1960 with Michael Shelley, who kept it for over 42 years. During that time it appeared in a Players Cigars television advertisement and was the model for the Matchbox SS100.

The current owner commissioned a full restoration by Ashton Keynes Vintage Restorations, completed in July 2020, returning the car to its original black after earlier repaints in white and British Racing Green. It won Best in Class at the Salon Privé Concours d'Elegance and a Best of Show award at the Hurlingham Club Concours that year. The only change from standard is a five-speed synchromesh gearbox, with the original rebuilt gearbox and propshaft supplied with the car. No price or mileage is stated.