The SS100 also had a loyal customer base among gentleman racers, like privateer Harry Kemp Place, the first owner of the example offered here.

A keen adventurer and traveller Place started his competition career with motor cycles as early as 1925, but over the next two decades he owned and raced Bentleys; a Grand Prix Bugatti Type 51; a Healey Silverstone; Land Speed Record holder Parry-Thomas s Flat Iron Special and an XK120 which he raced in the British Empire Trophy in 1953.

But his motor racing career started with his SS100, chassis 18067 which he purchased in 1937 and raced over the next two years at Brooklands, participating in the High Speed Trials of 1939 and various other events.

The history file contains photos of the car in action at Brooklands on Test Hill and on the circuit, along with photos of Place s other competition cars Its next appearance was at the 1961 Jaguar Driver s Club Rally, at Beaulieu, by which time the colour has been changed to BRG and the interior ret...