Jaguar SS

GB, 1931 to date

(1) Swallow Coachbuilding Co Ltd, Coventry, Warwickshire, 1931 – 1934

(2) S.S. Cars Ltd, Coventry, Warwickshire, 1934 – 1945

(3) Jaguars Cars Ltd, Coventry, Warwickshire, 1945 to date

William Lyons and William Walmsley started the manufacture of sidecars in Blackpool in 1922, following this up in 1927 with a line of handsome open and closed sporting bodies on popular chassis such as Austin, Morris, Fiat, Swift and Standard. The company moved to Coventry in 1928, and from the Swallow saloon version of the 16hp Standard came the first SS I of 1931. This used Standard mechanical components throughout, but a special underslung frame was made for the Swallow through the 2.054cc 6-cylinder sv engine was left untuned. The long bonnet, diminutive coupé body and helmet-type front wings gave it a distinctive look, which suggested a price in the region of £1.000 – the SS I car, in fact, cost £310. A 2½-litre 20hp engine was available, and there was a companion SS II car based on the 1.052cc Standard Little Nine. A sale of 776 SS machines the first season was remarkable for a new make at the depths of the Depression. The 1933 6-cylinder SS car models with full-flow wings were better proportioned, and a sports tourer by SS was available for the first time. 1934 SS cars had X-braced frames, synchromesh gearboxes, and larger and more powerful engines – the 2.7-litre SS Twenty gave 68bhp. Twin carburetors and a higher-lift camshaft featured on SS cars in 1935, in which year the SS car company’s first sports car made its appearance: this SS 90 was sold only with the 20hp engine, and had a short chassis and slab-tank two-seater bodywork.

The Jaguar name first appeared in 1936, on a handsome 4-door Jaguar sports saloon, with a 2.7-litre ohv 104bhp engine, still made by Standard, but redesigned by Harry Welake and W.M. Heynes. These Jaguar cars were good for 85 – 90mph and the Jaguar car sold for only £385. The sv SS I and SS II models were continued for one more season with Standard engines, a Standard unit also being used in the 1.6-litre version of the Jaguar car, but much more exciting was the short-chassis ohv Jaguar SS 100 two-seater. Its handling was tricky, but it proved hard to beat in British rallies of the later 1930s. In 1938 the 2½-litre was continued, but the small sv four had given way to a 1.8-litre unit, used after the war by Standard in their versions of the Triumph. A new 125bhp 3½-litre was listed not only in saloon and drophead coupé forms, but also as a SS 100 two-seater, offering a genuine 100mph for only £445. Over 5.000 SS cars were sold in a year interrupted by war. The 1940 SS models were available with heaters.

In 1945 the SS name of the company was changed to Jaguar Cars Ltd, and the sidecar interests were sold. Under idderent ownership the Swallow company was responsible for the Swallow Doretti in 1954.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com

Stearns (-Knight)

US, 1899 – 1930

F.B. Stearns Co, Cleveland, Ohio

The Stearns car company’s first product was a typical gas buggy in the American idiom with horizontal underfloor engine, planetary transmission, chain drive, and bicycle-type wheels. In its 1901 form the Stearns car had one enormous cylinder (6¼in bore and 7in stroke) and wheel steering. By 1902 the Stearns cars had grown into a bonneted 5½-litre 25hp twin retailing for $3.000. 1905 Stearns cars were altogether more European, with their mechanically-operated side valves, paired cylinders, and Mercedes-style radiators. A 40hp four Stearns car sold for $4.000, and led to even greater things, such as a chain-driven 45/90hp six Stearns car, with the rear pair of cylinders vanishing into the scuttle of the Stearns car. Capacity of the Stearns car was 13-litres, and the Stearns car could achieve close on 90mph. The smaller 8¾-litre 4-cylinder 30/60 Stearns car was a 60mph car available with shaft or chain drive, this Stearns car was priced at $4.600. In 1909 there was a modest 15/30hp town Stearns carriage with a monobloc engine. The trademark of these Stearns cars was the white line running round the inside of the radiator shell. Sporting Stearns cars subsequently gave way to staidier Stearns cars with the Knight double-sleeve valve engine, 1914 Stearns car versions being a 5.1-litre four and a 6.8-litre six, both with electric lighting and starting. By 1917 Stearns cars were cashing in on the V8 fashion with a 5.4-litre Stearns car, but fours and sixes engaged the Stearns car company’s attention during the early and middle 1920s, the former disappearing in 1926, one year later the Stearns firm had been acquired by Willys-Overland. This change of ownership did not affect the quality of the Stearns cars, which was kept on as a prestige line. During the Stearns car make’s last two seasons – 1929 and 1930 – there was a 27.3hp six Stearns car retailing at $2.095, and a big 6.3-litre straight-8 Stearns car with a 9-bearing crankshaft and 12ft 1in wheelbase, for which prices started at $5.500.

US, 1900 – 1904

Stearns Steam Carriage Co, Syracuse, N.Y.

Designed by E.C. Stearns, this Stearns car had no connection with the better-known Cleveland-built Stearns. This Stearns car was a steam car of conventional design using a 2-cylinder side-valve engine of 8hp, chain drive and steering by side tiller. A wide variety of body styles was offered, including a six-seater Stearns car with three rows of seats and roll-down canvas sides. The latter model Stearns car was introduced in 1902, and has been called, probably correctly, the world’s first production station wagon.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS, GNG

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com