Description
1934 SS Car Company SS II 10hp Two-Door Sports Saloon
THE present owner bought this now fabulous car as a non runner in August 2023. Subsequently the car was recommissioned to a schedule on file - to view by request - including steering box, new brakes fitted by Davenports, drums skimmed, new oil seals, new exhaust system, carb tuned, seals replaced. Recent work total cost is over £14, 000
What a truly lovely and stylish car this is. The sunburst upholstered doors close with a clunk like an old slam door railway carriage door. She starts readily and pulls well. The body frame appears to be as quiet and tight as can be given the car is 90 years young this year.
The second photo shown here was taken for factory publicity purposes on a damp day in 1935...
William Lyons’s first complete car, the SS1 was launched in 1931, which was a long, low and rakish Coupe based on a chassis provided by Standard and powered by a 2 litre of 2 ½ litre 6 cylinder side valve engine. It was soon joined by the SSII, an equally rakish model available in two door sports saloon and tourer forms - and offered with an easy to work on willing 10hp side-valve engine of 1343cc. By 1934 the company name was changed to SS Cars Ltd and sidecar production was ended.
Through the 1930s other SS Models followed including the fabulous SS100, until the War put a halt to car production, which was not resumed until 1945 under the name of Jaguar, the pre war model name for SS Cars.
This Sports Saloon was constructed by SS Cars Ltd in April 1934, originally supplied through Henlys London, was first registered to Dawlish Priory, Dawlish, Devon in December 1934. After a change of ownership in 1947, it was rescued in 1977 from the garage at a house being demolished, where the car had been slumbering for many decades. This car was given a full restoration by the new owner, the well known proprietor of a vintage car business in Birmingham that regularly advertised in the 1970s and 1980s, Ashted Service Station, by a Mr Arnold Crowe, recalled by me well.
We understand the work included in a body off, chassis up professional restoration including a new ash frame, stripping and rebuilding all the mechanical parts including the engine, together with retrimming the interior in finest Connolly hide. The instruments were restored, the mileometer was reset to zero. It is now showing 4454 miles in distance travelled since 1977, with only 554 miles covered since 1989.
Since being sold by its long term owner in 2008 the SSII has been in two major UK collections, and more recently has been a part of the Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Collection at Gaydon. During their ownership it starred alongside Ewen McGregor in the 2016 Disney film ‘Christopher Robin’.
This car is a rare example of a mid 1930s SS Car Company Sports Saloon which went on to provide the successful foundation for Jaguar cars that continues to this day. So called as a Sports Saloon with 4 side windows, this later model replaced the earlier two-window 2-door Coupe.
Reason for sale : Having recently invested over £14, 000 in this car - mainly at Jaguar specialists Davenport – through poor health he is disappointed not to enjoy this car as he had hoped and is currently looking for an easier to access vehicle as an alternative conveyance.
HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP is recorded as:-
As provided to the SS Register, the ownership history gleaned from the old logbooks and MOTs
1st Owner Leonard Babbage Short 31st December 1934 – 13th May 1947 – The Priory, Dawlish Devon - (see house photo)
2nd Owner Edwin George Sambell 13th May 1947 - Woodside Kingsteignton Devon - (see house photo)
3rd Owner Arnold Crowe owner of Ashted Service Station purchased the SS found in a garage at a derelict house about to be demolished
Full restoration took place
New Ash Frame
New Connolly interior or quite possibly NOS interior.
Full Mechanical rebuild including engine, instruments rebuilt, and reset to zero.
Ashted Service Station -3rd May 1977 to 10th January 1988 1st MOT 03 miles Windmill Service Station Rawsley – Cannock – to May 1982 at 3513 miles Royal Service Station Saltley Rd Birmingham, Batley Road, Birmingham B8
4th Owner Ownership transferred to the owner of Ashted Service Station
Arnold Crowe 10th January 1988 – 2007 – Last taxed 2007
The Willows, Kenilworth Coventry CV8 1PU
Sold by Brightwells Spring 2008 sale Lot 34.
5th Owner Purchased at Brightwells March / April 2008 £20500 + premium at 4000 miles fully restored by previous owner. Peter Harper. Stretton House, Warrington, WA4 4PE, on 12th April 2008 to 21st March 2012. Last MOT 8th February 2012 – Warrington Annual Road Tax reminders on file
6th Owner Dr James Hull, Hill Farm, Llancloudy, Herefordshire HR2 8QP 21st March 2012 - 5 June 2015
7th Owner Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Museum 5th June 2015 – 8th September 2023. During the JLR ownership it was lent in 2016 to Disney films for use in their production of ‘Christopher Robin’ starring by Ewan McGregor. Pics on file from JLR
8th Owner The SS II was imported by the 8th owner a resident of Jersey, as a non runner in August 2023. Subsequently the car was recommissioned to a schedule on file - to view by request - including steering box, new brakes fitted by Davenports, drums skimmed, new oil seals, new exhaust system, carb tuned, seals replaced. Work total over £14, 000
PLEASE ENQUIRE
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SUPPORTING FILED DOCUMENTS
Scan of County Registration Ledger 30th December 1934 ATT 39
April 2012 Jaguar Driver Article – shows 1935 publicity photo of ATT 39
Jaguar Heritage Certificate ATT39
Buff log book – 1947 showing first two owners
V55s in name of Ashtead Service Station and Arthur Crowe
Brightwells auction catalogue April 2008 detailing car and photographs
2015 Dr. James Hull digital article
Jaguar Land Rover Trust short video of car in museum plus pics
On loan to Disney Productions for ‘Christopher Robin’ with Ewan McGregor
2023/ 2024 Recommissioned for the road.
2024 Passed Jersey Department of Vehicle Standards Vehicle Entry Test prior to registration in Jersey as J1033
September 2024 re-registered as ATT 39 following permanent return to mainland UK
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Will this car fit in my garage?
Wheelbase : 8’ 8”
Track : 3’ 10”
Width : 4’ 7”
Height : 4’ 8”
Length : 13’ 2”
Engine : 1343cc, side valve
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Although we attempt to ensure accuracy of any statement or detail, the customer must make his or her own judgement in purchasing this car. The purchaser of the above car understands that he or she is purchasing a historic motor car with components that are up to 90 years old and sold as a collector item. There is no warranty given or implied due to the age of the car.
