Black Plate Barn Find: 1934 Jaguar SS1

The Jaguar SS1 stands as a reminder of how impressive the company’s trajectory must have looked back in the 1930s. Designed by William Lyons, whose achievements in the automotive industry are too numerous to list here, the SS1 represents the combination of luxury and performance that, while it sounds cliche, is truly what set the Jaguar brand apart from other high-end marques. It truly makes the current collapse of the modern-day brand even more tragic. This SS1 is also a bit of a tragedy in that it has been allowed to literally collapse in on itself, and it’s listed here on eBay for $39,500.

When the SS1 was introduced, Jaguar was truly in its formative years. The “SS” designation serves as a reminder that it was still more or less the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company that built and marketed this car, but the subsequent metamorphosis into Jaguar often lumps the two together, especially with the Lyons connection. To me, the SS1 is significant for a variety of reasons, but it’s the design that still blows my mind decades later. For a car to so clearly transmit the aura of luxury and speed in one package is a rare achievement, and Lyons knocked it out of the park with the SS1. A tiny, cramped passenger compartment, short rear overhang, and outlandishly long hood made for a striking appearance that has withstood the rest of time.

When you peek inside a restored car, you’ll see he didn’t stop at the exterior when creating an identity that would serve Jaguar well. A genuine wood dash (we didn’t use faux garbage in those days), gorgeous instrumentation, richly appointed seats, and all manners of high-end touches made it an environment you looked forward to spending time in. While I’m not an expert on the economics of the era, it’s often been said that Jaguar was a pioneer of sorts in providing drivers with a high-end experience, coupled with impressive performance, at a price point better than most other marques in the same category. Today, the market seems a bit unpredictable as to what it feels an early SS1 is valued at, with some recent sales showing restored or nicely preserved examples selling for just over the seller’s asking price.

Here’s a Bring A Trailer listing from 2025, where a similar car in seemingly excellent condition sold for $66,000. In the pandemic bubble of 2022, one sold at Broad Arrow for a staggering $224,000! That’s quite a spread, but I have a feeling sub-$100,000 is going to be the norm as vehicles of this era slowly start to lose the bulk of their enthusiast following. Personally, I believe a model with a significant designer and role in the formation of an iconic brand should always be sought after, but that’s a subjective take. This SS1 will require extensive restoration to return to roadgoing use – likely in the neighborhood of $80,000 – $100,000 if using a specialist to oversee repairs – so it’s likely best suited for a DIY restoration to hedge against market fluctuations.