2018-04-08 15:31:50 | pauls writes:

Car was at auction 3/18
www.bonhams.com/auctions/24874/lot/95/

Auction description:
Lot 95
1938 Jaguar SS100 2½-Litre Roadster
Registration no. EUL 923
Chassis no. 49028
£ 250,000 - 300,000
US$ 350,000 - 420,000
Goodwood Members' Meeting
18 Mar 2018, 14:00 GMT
Chichester, Goodwood

* Previous long-term ownership (1938-2000)
* Four owners from new
* Restored in the late mid/late 1980s
* Formerly owned by the Chairman of Jaguar Cars
* Well maintained
* Fully documented

Chassis number '48028' was supplied new in 1938 via Henlys, London to its first owner, Mr N Brown. Within twelve months Brown had sold the SS100 to one William Whitfield, who, remarkably, would own the car until 2000, a period of 62 years. The relevant sales invoice, framed and glazed, is included in the sale.

While in Whitfield's ownership the Jaguar was fastidiously maintained, and from 1969 onwards remained garaged until he decided to have it restored in 1985. By that time the original engine had been removed and replaced with another period-correct 2½-litre unit. The comprehensive rebuild was carried out by specialist restorer, Rob Pollock of Downton Engineering, Bournemouth, as detailed in an accompanying six-page report. The work was completed in 1989 and for the succeeding decade or so the SS saw relatively little use.

Some years later, press coverage of this SS100's remarkable story brought it to the attention of Jaguar's former chairman, Sir Nicholas Scheele. Purchased by Sir Nicholas in 2000, the car was despatched to respected marque specialists, Davenport Cars to be fully sorted. Davenport Cars continued to maintain the SS100 apart from during its brief sojourn with the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust while its owner was working for Ford in Detroit.

Supporting the car's provenance, accompanying documentation includes various press cuttings and photographs, a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate, a quantity of expired MoTs, service receipts accumulated by both Whitfield and Scheele and V5C documents in their names, while the original owner's handbook is available also. The current (fourth) owner purchased 'EUL 923' at a UK auction in October 2013, since when it has been maintained by Racing Green Cars of Hampshire (see bills for circa £15,000 on file).

Finished in its original Gunmetal Grey with red-piped black leather upholstery and red carpets, this remarkable SS100 - with its history of long-term ownership and subsequent association with a senior Jaguar executive - would grace any collection of fine Jaguar motor cars.