1938 SS Cars 100 Jaguar 3½-Litre Roadster
- Engine
- 3.5L inline-six, dual exhaust manifold, ~125 hp
- Colour
- Factory blue
Chassis 39048 is a 3½-litre SS 100 Jaguar roadster, one of only 118 built, delivered new in England to Lt.-Col. A.W. Tate. Exported to the United States in 1964, it subsequently won its class at the 1970 Indianapolis Grand Classic and earned an AACA National First Prize in 1972. After passing through several documented American owners, the car received a comprehensive body-off restoration by Jeff's Resurrections of Taylor, Texas, in 2010–2011, including a rebuild of its matching-numbers engine.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$747,500
- 1964 → 1970-12-01Acquisition unknownKen Gardnerpartial documentation
Early Jaguar enthusiast who imported the car to the United States and commissioned a thorough concours-standard restoration prior to showing.
- 1970-12-01 → 1984Private saleFloyd Moorepartial documentation
Resident of Glenview, Illinois; entered the car in national-level judged concours events during his ownership.
- 1984 → 2009Private saleBernard Nevoralpartial documentation
Chicago-based collector who kept the car in a private sporting-car collection for roughly 25 years, participating in vintage rallies and using specialist mechanics for upkeep.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryLt.-Col. A.W. Tatepartial documentation
Original recipient of the car when new, based in England; believed to have used it in amateur motorsport events.
Competition
- 1970-07-011970 Indianapolis Grand Classic1st, Primary Foreign Class — score of 99.25 points
Car had recently completed a full concours-grade restoration when it achieved this result.
- 1972AACA NationalUnnamed eventFirst Prize
Earned top national-level AACA recognition during Floyd Moore's ownership.
- —Unnamed eventDriver: Lt.-Col. A.W. Tate
Original owner reportedly contested several amateur-level racing events in England, though no specific event names or dates are recorded.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1964Restoration
Concours-level comprehensive restoration commissioned by Ken Gardner following the car's importation to the United States.
No specific workshop named; restoration quality was sufficient to achieve a near-perfect score at the 1970 Indianapolis Grand Classic.
- 2010RestorationJeff's Resurrections
Full body-off-frame restoration returning the car to factory-correct blue paintwork with red leather interior, along with a complete rebuild of the original matching-numbers 3½-litre engine.
Work carried out in Taylor, Texas, over 2010–2011; all restoration records are included in the car's historical documentation file.
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