The Jaguar SS100 could be considered the mother of all sports cars. Crafted by tiny Swallow Coachbuilding in the mid-1930s, the two-seater was powered by a 2.5-liter OHV engine, making it a worthy race and rally competitor. But this was no rattletrap with a beefy engine: its fitments were of the finest quality. Today, these rare pre-war cars sell in the $300k area. Even when the SS100 was less valuable, fascination with this progenitor of the sports car genre encouraged manufacturers to recreate the SS. Classic Roadsters, Suffolk Sportscars, Finch Restorations, and others have brought interpretations of the SS100 to market. Today’s example is from Intermeccanica, titled as a 1969, and available here on craigslist for $27,700. Thanks, Rocco B, for the very interesting tip!
How faithfully these recreations hew to the original depends on the maker’s philosophy: a nut-and-bolt equivalent using a Jaguar engine, Jaeger gauges, Connolly leather, Wilton wool, burled wood, a steel chassis to factory measurements, and timber-framed aluminum panels – Finch’s method – will cost the prospective owner plenty. A fiberglass body approximating the original, augmented by an American drivetrain, can be had today for mid-teens or less. Turin-based Intermeccanica built fifty of its “Squire” SS100 replicas for a fellow named Frank Felbin, who owned Auto Sport Importers, Inc., of Philadelphia. Intermeccanica followed the fiberglass body/Ford drivetrain recipe. This example runs a Ford 289 cu. in. V8 and a C4 automatic. The car is said to be fully restored and updated; the odometer reads 26,500 miles, said to be original.
Nothing to complain about in the cabin, though I don’t care for the “Christmas display” warning lights on the dash. That’s a Nardi steering wheel. The car benefits from power steering and power brakes, and a modern multi-speed heater. It comes with a folding top and side curtains. When new, the Squire cost almost $10k – a tough sell in the early 1970s.
Those are knock-off Dunlop wires – including the spare. This well-tended car is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, with an owner who notes the title is clear and reminds us this is not a kit. Meanwhile, Squire sales mostly hug the $15k area. Classic Roadster versions will sell for the same or slightly less. A more meticulous recreation issued by Suffolk Roadsters sold for over $70k a few months ago. What do you think – would you own a replica?
Talk about a head turner, and it looks in really nice condition. Plus it has much better innards than the Jaguar it emulates. The only nit I can pick is, you’re going to need a passenger to read the gauges way over on the right side. Nice car all around!
Automatic?
Manual .
I read this example has a Ford 289 and a C4 automatic.js
Says auto in the CL ad.
The ad says C4
Had one car with side curtains (’56 TR2)….. NEVER AGAIN!
Pretty little thing with an interesting back story. It reminds me of the Alfa Quattroroute Gran Sport Zagato of the mid 60s – not intended as a faithful replica but interesting in itself and well-executed. I guess it is a cruiser, not a sports car.
On which note, to describe the original SS100 as the “mother of all sports cars” is rather exaggerated. Sports cars had existed in many countries for about 25 years before SS started to produce their SS100 from various parts bins in small numbers. Gorgeous and well-executed though the SS100 undoubtedly was, a good few of those were already better sports cars cars than the SS100…..
I completely agree with Martin that this is a pretty little thing, but I will be the first to admit that I am not exactly schooled in these. Somewhere along the line I have heard of the manufacturer but that’s as far as my insight goes. Because of that, I have absolutely zero ideas of the value of something like this.
All that aside, I’ll bet that this little cutie is a blast to drive and gets more than its share of looks.
I like it and it is a good looking replica! I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it however it would need to be a stick….. An automatic here is sacrilege….
Gohleee! What a bunch of fuss budgets! You want a sports car with roll-up windows ‘n a stick? You’re willing to let power raise and lower your top and/or windows but prefer to stir your own cogs?
Oh, well…
Priced higher than recent sales figures and this car has had it’s engine swapped. I would have much preferred Ford straight 6 that came as new.
It is a pretty car but I would not consider it a “replica” of an SS 100 Jaguar. It is an SS 100-inspired car, but with smaller wheels to reflect modern realities and with plenty of other differences. However, I would not have a problem with owning one of these because I could enjoy it for what it is. However, I would prefer a Suffolk replica (no longer made as ended by Jaguar), because it REALLY captures the look of the real thing…except for the two exhaust pipes…one on each side of the rear. The Suffolk even has dummy giant drums covering the discs! If you chop one of the exhaust pipes to below the car to make it appear like it has but one, you can fool just about anyone into thinking that it is a REAL SS-100!
Cool car but overpriced.