SS 1

SS 1
Four-seater tourer made 1933
Overview
Manufacturer	1931–34 Swallow Coachbuilding Company 1934–36 SS Cars Limited
Production	1931–36
Body and chassis
Class	sports saloon
Body style	in order of introduction — 2-door 4-seater: fixed head coupé tourer sports saloon Airline sports saloon drophead coupé
Layout	front engine rear wheel drive
Chronology
Predecessor	Swallow bodied Standard Fifteen
Successor	4/5-seater SS Jaguar 2½ litre

four-seater fixed head coupé 1933

instrument panel
tourer 1936

four-seater sports saloon made 1933

tourer 1936

Airline sports saloon made 1935

tourer 1936

The SS 1, the top of its radiator says SS One, is a British two-door sports saloon and tourer built by Swallow Coachbuilding Company in Foleshill, Coventry, England. It was first presented to the public at the 1931 London Motor Show.^[1] Slightly modified it was then manufactured between 1932 and 1936, during which time 148 cars were built.

Walmsley Lyons and Co as SS Cars Limited purchased Swallow at the end of July 1934.
In 1945 SS Cars changed name to Jaguar Cars Limited.

The SS 1 was noted for its apparent value-for-money and its attractive appearance rather than its performance. It used a 15hp six-cylinder side-valve Standard engine of 2054 cc 48 bhp (36 kW) or 20hp 2552 cc 62 bhp (46 kW) from 1932 until 1934 which was enlarged to 2143 cc 53 bhp (40 kW) or 2663 cc 68 bhp (51 kW) for the 1934 to 1936 models. The chassis was also made by Standard and changed to underslung suspension in 1933. With a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h), the cars were remarkable for their styling and low cost rather than performance. In 1932 the basic coupe cost £310. Just over 4200 cars were made.

The car was initially supplied as a four-seater fixed head coupé. In 1933 a tourer was launched. For 1934 the chassis was modified to give a wider track and better front footwells. The gearbox also gained synchromesh. In 1934 a saloon version and in 1935 an Airline coupé and drophead coupé were added to the range.

The car was 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m) long and 5 feet 3.5 inches (1.613 m) wide (growing to 5 feet 5¹⁄₂ inches in 1934) and typically weighed 2300 pounds (1043 kg).

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References

External links

• SS 1 fixed head coupé sales brochure
• instruction leaflet for the R.A.G. carburetter as used on all SS cars with the original sidevalve Standard engines