SS 90

SS 90
Overview
Assembly	Coventry,England
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car(S)
Body style	2-seatTourer
Layout	FR layout
Related	SS 1 SS Jaguar 100
Powertrain
Engine	2,663 ccStraight-six
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,642 mm
Length	3,810 mm
Width	1,600 mm
Kerb weight	1,143 kg
Chronology
Successor	SS Jaguar 100

TheSS 90is a British sports car that was built bySS CarsinCoventry,Englandin 1935. In 1945, the company changed its name to Jaguar.

The car has a six-cylinderside-valveStandardengine of 2,663 cc with an output of 50 kW. The engine differs from that used in the ordinary cars by having Duralconnecting rods,an aluminiumcylinder headwith 7:1 compression ratio, and twin RAGcarburettors.Thechassisis 2,642 mm long; a shortened version of the one used on theSS 1,and was also supplied by Standard. Suspension is by half-elliptical springs all round, with an underslung back axle. The braking system isBendix.

The model rapidly gained attention for its elegant sporting styling, but was not well regarded by the sporting fraternity as its performance did not match its appearance. True sports car performance came with theSS Jaguar 100,which had similar styling and suspension but an engine with anoverhead-valvecylinder head.

The SS 90 does not seem to have been tested independently by any magazines, so contemporary performance figures are unknown. However, it was widely believed to be capable of reaching 150 km/h (93 mph).

The car is 3,810 mm long, 1,600 mm wide, and has a mass of 1,143 kg.The factory originally fitted 139.7 × 457.2Dunloptyres on 457.2 mm wire wheels.The prototype SS 90,ARW 395,was owned byHugh Kennardfrom 1938 until at least November 1940. 23 were built, of which 16 survive, including the prototype.