SS 90

SS 90
Overview
Assembly	Coventry, England
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car (S)
Body style	Tourer, 4-seat Coupé
Layout	FR layout
Related	SS 1 SS Jaguar 100
Powertrain
Engine	Straight-6
Dimensions
Wheelbase	8 ft 8 in (2,640 mm)[1]
Length	12 ft 6 in (3,810 mm)[1]
Width	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)[1]
Curb weight	18.25 long cwt (927 kg)[1]
Chronology
Successor	SS Jaguar 100

The SS90 was a British sports car first built by SS Cars Ltd in Coventry, England in 1935. In 1945 the company changed its name to Jaguar Cars Ltd.

The car used a six-cylinder side-valve Standard engine of 2663 cc with an output of 68 bhp (51 kW). The engine differed from the one used in the ordinary cars by having Dural connecting rods, an aluminium cylinder head with 7:1 compression ratio, and twin RAG carburettors. At 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 m) in length the chassis was a shortened version of the one used on the SS 1, and was also supplied by Standard. Suspension was by half-elliptical springs all round, with an underslung back axle. The braking system was Bendix.

The cars rapidly gained attention for their elegant sporting styling, but were not well regarded by the sporting fraternity as their performance did not match their appearance. True sports car performance had to wait for the SS 100, which had similar styling and suspension but an engine fitted with an overhead-valve cylinder head.

The SS 90 does not seem to have been tested independently by any magazines, therefore contemporary performance figures are unknown, but it was widely believed to be capable of reaching 90 mph (140 km/h). In 1932 the basic tourer cost £395. Twenty-three were made.

The car was 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 m) long and 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m) wide and weighed typically 2,519.9 pounds (1,143.0 kg).^[2] When leaving the factory it originally fitted 5.50 × 18 Dunlop tyres on 18 inch wire wheels.^[3] The prototype SS 90, ARW395, was owned by Hugh Kennard from 1938 until at least November 1940. The prototype is one of the surviving cars.^[4]

Notes

1. Culshaw, David; Horrobin, Peter (2013) [1974]. "Jaguar". The complete catalogue of British Cars 1895 - 1975 (paperback ed.). Poundbury, Dorchester, UK: Veloce Publishing. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-874105-93-0.
2. "Jaguar SS 90 Roadster". ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
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. Retrieved 7 March 2011.