1937 Jaguar SS100 Roadster

This rare, original SS100 is being sold online with our friends at Bring-A-Trailer. The auction is now live and can be accessed directly here:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/193...

The SS100 was built from 1936 to 1939. Initially it was offered in 2 1/2-liter configuration and later the engine was increased in size to 3 1/2-liters. Actual displacement however for the 2.5-liter was 2.663cc and 3.485cc for the 3.5-liter.

Only 314 examples were completed, 198 with 2 1/2-liter engines and 116 with the 3 1/2-liter engines. Assigned UK registration / plate number FPE 299 this SS100 was completed late in April of 1937, issued first registration and log book on May 6th and delivered new by the official London distributor, Henlys of London the following day, May 7th, 1937

The original owner was Malcolm Clifford Kenney of Wolverhampton, UK, a small community, just north west of Birmingham in the Midlands. It appears that Kenney may have raced this SS100 as a rally dashboard badge was issued to him for the 1952 RAC Rally. No other details regarding any race history are recorded that we are aware of.

In 1960 Mr. Kenney sold this Jaguar to a used car dealer C/A of Sedgley Stafforshire, UK, which was also located nearby Birmingham. A year later on January 15th, 1961, the car was purchased by the well known dealers, Thorobred Cars in London, UK.

Later that year on October 2nd, Thorobred sold the car to the last UK owner, Mr. Ward Thompson a London resident.

The UK log book shows continuous UK registration with annual stamps until 1962 when the UK registration was canceled and the car purchase by John L. Mead Jr of St. Petersburg, Florida who imported the car to the States.

Mr. Mead was a prominent local businessman who purchased a local beachwear company called Ermee’s in 1944. His wife Pat and him operated the company very successfully and clearly profited well over the years leading to his pursuit and purchase of this rare SS100. There store finally closed in 1994 after 51 years in business.

Mead enjoyed the car after his purchase for several years and then in the Fall of 1964, he undertook extensive maintenance and repairs.

Upon completion of all the work, “Car & Driver” magazine sent a staff photographer to Mead’s home where the car was professionally photographed for an upcoming article.

The following year, Mead offered the car for sale in “Car & Driver” magazine. The listing appeared in the Spring of 1965.

On August 12th, 1965, mead began corresponding with Sr. Angel Cespedes. In as series of preserved letters, they discussed the vehicle in detail as well as terms of the sale and arrangements to fly the car to Mexico, City for an additional $500.

On August 31st, 1965, this SS100 was formerly invoiced and sold by John Mead and purchased by Sr. Angel Cespedes via his agent, Mr. Leopoldo Ruiz, Jr. in Laredo, Texas for a total of $3,800 or just over $38,500 in today’s money.

This SS100 then passed to the well-known, Mexican Anglophile, Raymundo Fernandez. Sr. Fernandez was an English car collector but also a die hard fan of everything that came out of the UK. He owned for many years one of the most famous restaurants in Mexico City, the Winston Churchill which remained open for almost 50 years:

   • SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL`S · MEXICO CITY  

The restaurant opened in 1972 after the success of an earlier project, an English Pub, The Picadilly Pub, on Copenhagen Street, in the Zona Rosa, Mexico City. Winston Churchill was built using a tradition English Manor “Tudor” styled estate on Avenida del Castillo.

Sr. Fernandez always had an English classic car in the front foyer to greet guests as they arrived, including on many occasions, this SS100. Upon his passing his wife decided not to continue the business and many of the decorations and adornments were sold here at auction in 2020:

https://issuu.com/mortonsubastas/docs...

Prior to his passing way, Sr. Fernandez sold his prized Jaguar to the current museum collection. Over the next decade, the car was completely disassembled and then fully restored to the current condition it appears in today.

During the restoration, the car was confirmed to retain the original “matching number” engine and found to be remarkably free of any corrosion and little to no damage. During the restoration, the car was given a color change to dark blue with a red interior. There are currently just 195 miles on the odometer since the completion of the restoration.

I spent four incredible days behind the wheel and out in the field getting the photos, video and drone footage. This SS100 will deliver endless decades of practical and total fun for the very fortunate, future custodian.

Kind regards and best of luck,

Bill Noon

Phone 619 840 7811
Email [email protected]
Website www.symbolicinternational.com