Lot details
Registration No: NEA555L
Chassis No: 1L28079DN
Mot Expiry: June 2009

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful sports cars ever made, the Jaguar SS100 has been an object of desire for more than seventy years. Due to its rarity and value the model has inspired numerous imitations. Though, few - if any - have been as aesthetically accurate as the cars built by Terry Rowing of TRAC Engineering. By the late 1980s Rowing had established an enviable reputation for restoring genuine SS100s and learnt how to remanufacture components such as the solid brass chromed radiator surround, alloy louvered bonnet and folding windscreen etc. Deciding to create a Jaguar XJ6-based SS100 Evocation that combined the style and feel of the original with more modern road manners, he approached current Red Bull F1 designer Adrian Newey (a customer at the time) for permission to take precise GRP body moulds from the latter's superb 1938 car. Unveiled in late 1990 the resultant TRAC prototype was well received by the motoring press. Based around a substantial box-section chassis tailored to accept XJ6 suspension, brake, steering and drivetrain assemblies, the production version was predominantly supplied in 'home-build' form at the rate of four a year until 1996 when the manufacturing rights were purchased by Roger Williams of Suffolk Sportscars. Reborn and refined as the Suffolk SS100, the design remains in production to this day.

Finished in French Blue with black leather upholstery, this particular example was home built by the vendor between 2004 and 2007. A lifelong Jaguar mechanic who served his apprenticeship with P.J. Evans of Birmingham and later worked with marque restorer Olaf Lund, he used a manual / overdrive transmission 1972 Jaguar XJ6 4.2 Litre Series 1 as the donor vehicle (the identity of which still appears on the accompanying V5C Registration Document). Beautifully detailed, the reconfigured 'NEA 555L' sports authentic SS logos to its radiator surround, windscreen adjuster knobs, silver-faced instruments and chrome wheel spinners. While, other nice touches include a leaping cat mascot, black mohair hood (plus matching tonneau cover) Brooklands aero screens, Lucas P100 headlights and 'Owl Eye' style rear lights. Opening the louvered alloy bonnet reveals polished overhead camshaft covers, vitreous enamelled exhaust manifolds and twin SU carburettors (the latter with pancake filters). Making full use of his experience, the vendor fitted a stainless steel exhaust, Kenlowe electric fan and C-type driveshafts (rather than cut-down ones). Riding on silver-painted 18-inch wire wheels shod with Dunlop tyres, the two-seater benefits from servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes and rack and pinion steering. Welcomed by both the Jaguar Drivers Club and Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, the Suffolk SS100 has a loyal and even international following. Said to have covered less than 200 miles since completion, this gorgeous example is only being offered for sale due to ill health.