With its shield-shaped radiator grille, fold-flat windscreen, voluptuous dual cowl scuttle, sloping tail, full flowing wings, cut-away doors, heavily louvered bonnet / chassis side rail covers and sleek blade bumpers, the SS1 Sports Tourer was arguably among the best-looking British cars of the 1930s.

Thoroughly revised for the 1934 season, the open four-seater featured a cruciform-braced 9ft 11in wheelbase chassis complete with underslung rear axle, all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension.

Powered by a choice of uprated 16hp or 20hp straight-six engines allied to improved four-speed manual transmission (with synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears), the newcomer also sported a well-stocked dashboard, sunburst-pattern door cards and sculpted leather upholstery.

Despite the range’s obvious charms, total S.S.

1 production for 1935 across the Tourer, Coupe and Saloon derivatives amounted to just 948 cars.

According to its accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate, t...