1937 Jaguar SS100 replica on a VW Beetle chassis

1937 Jaguar Other

I've owned a lot of cars and none of them ever got the kind of attention this one gets. Everyone waves and honks everywhere. Let's be clear here. This is a hobby car. It's a Sunday in the park car. It's really more like driving a go-kart than a car. It's just fun.
I'm not sure who built this or when. I've owned it since 2013. A mechanic who worked on it told me the engine is from a 1964 Beetle. He looked up the serial number so he could buy a disttributor cap and rotor. The car is registered in Kansas as a "1982 ASVE" That's what the title said when I bought it, so I assume it was probably first assembled in '82.
The car starts, runs, steers, and stops just fine. All the lights, turn signals, brake lights, horn, etc work. There is no radio, no A/C, no heater, no computer, no GPS. Oh, and no windshield wipers. There are holes to mount them (currently covered with stainless stove bolts) but no mechanism. But what are you doing driving this in the rain?

Just one caveat on the "starts just fine." That's true as long as you don't go too long between drives. If you don't start it for a couple of weeks, it takes some cranking. It still starts--it just takes a minute or two. It has a manual choke, with the knob located between the seats. You have to remember to choke it before you start it. It will remind you when you need to "un-choke."
This is a really simple basic car. It's like the old VW commercials advertised, if you remember long ago. "It will go forward. It will go backward. It will go fast. It will go slow." "Fast" is a relative term here. BUT if you go 50 with the windshield folded down it feels like about 110.
It has a snap-on top. It was on when I bought it, and it's been in storage ever since. (Again, you probably won't be driving in the rain, but it has a top, just in case). I've included a picture with the top on from when I first saw it. It looks pretty cool with the top on actually.

Since I bought it, I made the following changes.1) I had those huge headlights chrome-plated. They were just painted silver before,
2) I replaced the tail-lights with lights from a '37 Ford. Those trailer lights on it didn't fit the era or the car, and the 1937 real SS100 only had one tail-light, and I couldn't find any like it, so I got something from the same year (1937) at least.3) I manufactured some front marker lights/turn signals using chrome pipe and lenses and sockets from a Jag XK120 or 140, I can't remember which. Again, those trailer lights that came on it didn't look right at all.
4) I replaced the carpet that was covering the interior door panels and the space behind the seats with vinyl that somehow perfectly matches the seats.
5) I added the spare wheel rack, made of stainless steel, and the spare wheel. It unhooks and swings out to access the engine. The spare is a Dayton wire wheel with knockoff hubs, and matches the other four, also Daytons with knockoffs.
6) I re-worked the whole wiring system. There really isn't much to it compared to any modern car, but it needed renewing.
7) I added the burled walnut veneer to the dashboard, and built a little glove box.

It still needs a little work. I hope you enjoy tinkering or know someone who does. It's a hobby car, after all.
1) The muffler is just about shot. I like the way it sounds, so I haven't replaced it.
2) There's an engine oil leak. It's not too bad, so I just put a drip-tray under it.3) All the instruments work, EXCEPT the Tach interferes with the Speedo. If you disconnect the tach from the distributor, the speedo works fine. A guy I know (who knows all about electricity) says the wire from the tach just needs to be shielded to prevent electromagnetic interference.

I'll leave it up to you to arrange delivery. If you're in or near the KC metro area, we can meet somewhere.

I think I've covered everything, but if you have any questions, just ask.

Oh, and one more thing. If you like the car but you think the price is too high, just make an offer. I just might surprise you and accept it. I want to sell it to someone who will love it as much as I have.
OOPS, one more thing you should know. It's pretty tight to get into. If you're much over 6 feet tall, you might be a little cramped. I'm ok at 5"11", but my grandson is 6'3", and he doesn't fit.