1937 SS Jaguar 2½-Litre Sports Saloon
William Lyons’ distinctive styling gave the 2½-Litre Sports Saloon a commanding presence with its long bonnet, flowing wings, and proportions that would influence future Jaguar models.
The design exemplified the company’s approach of combining sporting aesthetics with competitive pricing and above-average specifications. When the model debuted in 1935, it introduced a newly developed overhead-valve engine that finally matched the visual drama.
The 2,663cc six-cylinder powerplant, engineered with the input of consultant Harry Weslake, produced 102 horsepower through twin carburetors. Chief Engineer William Heynes refined the chassis to handle the increased performance.
Lyons chose the “Jaguar” name for this series in 1935 because it had “an exciting sound.” The company itself continued as SS Cars Ltd. until 1945, when the Jaguar name was officially adopted to replace the SS designation that originated from the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company.
Between 1935 and the outbreak of World War II in 1939, approximately 6,800 SS Jaguar 2½-Litre saloons were built, making it the company’s most popular model of the period. By contrast, the now-famous SS100 roadster was produced in fewer than 320 examples, highlighting how central the saloon was to Jaguar’s prewar success.
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