1st Concours d'élégance Paleis Het Loo 1999

Probably one of the most classic SS-Jaguars is the SS 100. This car, together with the preceding SS 90 model, established the factory as a sporting marque, something it lives up to to this day.
The "100" in the model name stood for the top speed this car could reach: 100 mph (161 kph), which was quite remarkable in its day. The car showed beautiful roadster lines, very appealing and well-balanced: really a masterful design. It was available as the 2.5 Litre and the 3.5 Litre.
The rare SS 90 was replaced by the SS 100 2.5 Litre in 1936. Its 6-cylinder in-line engine was based on that of the SS 90, but now featured overhead valves instead of side valves. Capacity was 2663 cc and it turned out 102 hp @ 4600 rpm, which just wasn't quite enough for reaching 100 mph. This 980 kg light car wouldn't go much faster than 96 mph (154 kph).
That's why in 1938 the SS 100 3.5 Litre was introduced (while the 2.5 Litre remained in production). Its 6-cylinder now boosted 3485 cc and 125 hp @ 4250 rpm, and maximum speed was an ample 101.2 mph (163 kph). Now it made good on its name...
Both versions had identical open 2-seater bodywork as standard and were produced up to 1940. Production figures were limited: only 198 SS 100 2.5 and 116 SS 100 3.5 have been made. Now they are true collectors items and extremely valuable; the SS 100 3.5 is most expensive and can cost as much as 1.75 times as much as the SS 100 2.5.

Again a very sporty and rare Jaguar: the 1952 C-type. The SS name had been dropped after WW 2 for obvious reasons, and the brand name became Jaguar. The now Coventry based factory looked for a more upmarket image and decided to achieve that by taking part in famous sports car races.
For that reason the C-type was introduced in 1951. It was a new and effective design aimed at use in competition, but was fit for normal road use too. In this car the engine of the Jaguar XK 120 was fitted, a sports car introduced in 1948. Adapted to the Type C and tuned for optimal performance this 3442 cc straight 6-cylinder engine put out at least 200 hp @ 5800 rpm. The car could reach a top speed of 231 kph, depending on fitted gear ratios.
The C-type started Jaguar's series of Le Mans victories by winning this classic endurance race in 1951 and 1953; these victories also marked the first and last production year of the C-type. In 1954 it was replaced by the D-type.
Only 54 C-types left the factory, now all virtually unaffordable collectors items (price indication for a C-type in excellent condition: about 2 new full spec'ed Rolls Royces).

Another classic British sports car marque is Lagonda. The most important era of this factory lies before WW 2, but interesting cars bearing the Lagonda name have been produced more recently too (like the avant-garde Aston Martin Lagonda that appeared in 1976).
The Lagonda M45 like you see here was introduced in 1933 and proved to be the inspiration for most of the models Lagonda produced up to 1940. It was fitted with a 4,5 litre 6-cylinder Meadows engine which turned out a sporty 108 hp @ 3100 rpm, enough for a top speed touching 150 kph. The M45 was most famous for winning the Le Mans race in 1935 in special racing trim.
Lagondas from this era usually were supplied with custom built bodywork. This M45 has an unique Continental Tourer body by famous coachbuilder VandenPlas. According to the owner there are two more M45 chassis with similar bodywork by VandenPlas, but these have the spare wheels placed in the front wings instead of on the back like this car. These days Lagonda M45 models have mainly enthusiasts value, however beautifully engineered they are.

The most magnificent Lagonda in the history of the factory was the V12 model that came out in 1937. It was designed by W.O. Bentley and fit for both luxury touring and competition racing at the highest level.
The luxury versions all had elegant, semi-streamlined bodywork in a number of styles, but the drophead coupé was the most popular. Engines were modern 12-cylinder units in V configuration, with overhead valves and a chain driven camshaft on top of each row of cylinders. Capacity was 4480 cc and standard power output was 175 hp @ 5500 rpm, good for a maximum speed topping 169 kph.
Between 1938-1939 also a Le Mans version was produced in which the tuned V12 engine offered 225 hp and a top speed close to 180 kph. These cars were remarkably effective as they clinched third and fourth place in the 1939 Le Mans race. Unfortunately the war halted the development of these splendid machines, although a few V12 models have been built between 1948-1949 as well, before Lagonda resorted to (slightly) more affordable cars.
These days the rare and attractive V12 models fetch high prices, especially the sporty Rapide versions. The 1938 Lagonda V12 drophead coupé on the picture is strikingly plain looking without the flashy two-tone paint schemes often seen on these cars.

Continue the tour by clicking the arrows pointing right....