1935 Jaguar SS90 Roadster | Bonhams | Goodwood Revival | 19 Sept 2026

Coachwork by SS Cars Ltd.

Registration no. Not UK registered

Chassis no. 249489

Engine no. 249366

• One of only 23 SS90 roadsters built

• Matching-numbers engine

• Delivered through W T Thompson, Hull

• Extensive Jaguar Heritage and factory documentation dating back to 1967

• One of the marque's rarest and most collectible pre-war models

"A fabulous machine, it laid the foundations for the SS100 and the whole immortal line of post-war Jaguar sports cars." - A-Z of Cars of the 1930s, Sedgwick & Gillies on the SS90.

A remarkably original and historically significant pre-war SS model, this is one of only 23 SS90s built and was formerly owned by renowned collector, Fred Steiner. The car retains its matching-numbers engine and is accompanied by an exceptional archive of documentation spanning more than 90 years.

Introduced in March 1935 by SS Cars Ltd under the direction of William Lyons, the SS90 was the company's first purpose-built sporting roadster and laid the foundation for the immortal SS100. Although produced for only a matter of months before being superseded, the SS90 established the unmistakable design language that would characterise the successor Jaguar marque for decades. A mere 23 examples were made, making it one of the rarest production SS models ever.

Completed on 27th June 1935, this right-hand drive SS90 Roadster, chassis number '249489', was supplied new through W T Thompson of Hull, with dispatch on 7th August 1935 to its first owner, one W Humble. The accompanying JDHT Certificate confirms the car retains its original matching engine ('249366') together with body number '4720'.

An exceptional history file accompanies the car, documenting its provenance over many decades. Particularly fascinating is correspondence with Jaguar Cars dating from 1967, in which Jaguar's Public Relations Department confirms that chassis '249489' is one of the very few SS90s built; verifies the matching engine number; and states that the car was originally finished in British Racing Green with green trim. Additional factory correspondence from the same period explains that only '20-odd' examples had been produced and notes how difficult it was even then to obtain detailed factory information due to the car's rarity.

Of particular note is the car's ownership by Fred Steiner, one of America's most respected early Jaguar historians and collectors. His name appears throughout the accompanying archive, including the Classic Jaguar Association SS Register, where the car is recorded as imported into the United States on 22nd October 1973. Steiner's stewardship adds an additional element of desirability, as he was widely recognised for preserving historically important early Jaguars and documenting their provenance. The accompanying SS Register provides an invaluable ownership chronology, recording previous custodians including W Humble, S H Stringer, Kenneth Marsh, Seymour Wapner, Fred Steiner and subsequent collectors, illustrating the remarkably well-documented life of this exceptionally rare Jaguar. Additional documentation includes the following:

• Classic Jaguar Association SS100 Register records

• Import and registration history

• Various restoration and historical research papers collected over many decades

The SS90 is powered by the 2,663cc Standard-built sidevalve six, coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox. While producing approximately 70 horsepower, the engine is historically significant as it represents the unit's final evolution before Harry Weslake's overhead-valve cylinder head transformed the SS90 into the legendary SS100. The elegant flowing wings, cutaway doors, long bonnet and rear-mounted spare wheel already display the styling vocabulary that would become forever associated with Jaguar sports cars.

Today, surviving SS90s are among the most coveted of all pre-war Jaguar precursors. Their extreme rarity - only 23 examples produced, with relatively few surviving - combined with their historical importance as the direct predecessor to the SS100 ensures their enduring appeal among the world's foremost collectors.

With its matching engine confirmed by Jaguar Heritage; extensive factory correspondence; continuous historical documentation; distinguished former ownership by Fred Steiner; and unquestionable importance within the marque's formative years, chassis '249489' represents one of the most historically compelling pre-war Jaguars to reach the market in recent years.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Car Department.