SS 90

The SS 90 is a British sports car that was built by SS Cars in Coventry, England in 1935. In 1945, the company changed its name to Jaguar.

SS 90
Overview
Assembly	Coventry, England
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car (S)
Body style	2-seat Tourer
Layout	FR layout
Related	SS 1 SS Jaguar 100
Powertrain
Engine	2,663 cc Straight-six
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,642 mm[1]
Length	3,810 mm[1]
Width	1,600 mm[1]
Kerb weight	1,143 kg[1]
Chronology
Successor	SS Jaguar 100

The car has a six-cylinder side-valve Standard engine of 2,663 cc with an output of 50 kW. The engine differs from that used in the ordinary cars by having Dural connecting rods, an aluminium cylinder head with 7:1 compression ratio, and twin RAG carburettors. The chassis is 2,642 mm long; a shortened version of the one used on the SS 1, and was also supplied by Standard. Suspension is by half-elliptical springs all round, with an underslung back axle. The braking system is Bendix.

The model rapidly gained attention for its elegant sporting styling, but was not well regarded by the sporting fraternity as its performance did not match its appearance. True sports car performance came with the SS Jaguar 100, which had similar styling and suspension but an engine with an overhead-valve cylinder head.

The SS 90 does not seem to have been tested independently by any magazines, so contemporary performance figures are unknown. However, it was widely believed to be capable of reaching 150 km/h (93 mph).

The car is 3,810 mm long, 1,600 mm wide, and has a mass of 1,143 kg.^[2] The factory originally fitted 139.7 × 457.2 Dunlop tyres on 457.2 mm wire wheels.^[3] The prototype SS 90, ARW 395, was owned by Hugh Kennard from 1938 until at least November 1940. 23 were built, of which 16 survive, including the prototype.^[4]

Notes

1. Culshaw, David; Horrobin, Peter (2013) [1974]. "Jaguar". The complete catalogue of British Cars 1895–1975 (paperback ed.). Poundbury: Veloce Publishing. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-874105-93-0.
2. "Jaguar SS 90 Roadster". ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
3. Paul Skilleter, Jaguar Sports Cars, pp.304 ISBN 0-85429-166-0.
4. Golfen, Bob. "A CAR WITH STORIES TO TELL". Jaguar Club of Central Arizona. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.