Forerunner of the marque ‘Jaguar’ from SS Cars Ltd of Coventry, the SS1 predated yet epitomised the later advertising slogan, “Grace, Space, Pace.” Founded in 1922 in Blackpool by William Walmsley and William Lyons, the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company branched out into motor manufacture in 1926.

Its first major success was an attractive sports saloon on the Austin Seven chassis, the design being the work of Lyons, whose future Jaguar creations would confirm his reputation as one of the British motor industry’s most gifted stylists.

Re-location to Coventry followed in 1928 and the Swallow range expanded to include models on Morris Cowley, Wolseley Hornet and Standard Sixteen chassis.

Marque status arrived in October 1931 with the launch of the SS1, a close-coupled coupé.

Based on that of the Standard Ensign 16hp, the SS1’s low, under-slung chassis was designed by Lyons and supplied exclusively to Swallow by Standard, which also provided the 2.1/2.6-litre six-cylinder sideval...