View source for SS 90

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2011}}
{{Infobox automobile
|image=SS-90.JPG
|name=SS 90
|assembly=[[Coventry]], England
|successor=[[SS Jaguar 100]]
|class=[[Sports car]] ([[S-segment|S]])
|platform=
|layout=[[FR layout]]
|body_style=2-seat [[Tourer]]
|engine=2,663 cc [[Straight-six engine|Straight-six]]
|transmission=
|wheelbase=2,642 mm<ref name=HorroshawSS/>
|length=3,810 mm<ref name=HorroshawSS/>
|width=1,600 mm<ref name=HorroshawSS/>
|height=
|weight=1,143 kg<ref name=HorroshawSS/>
|aka=
|related={{Unbulleted list | [[SS 1]] | [[SS Jaguar 100]]}}
|designer=
|sp=uk
}}

The '''SS 90''' is a British sports car that was built by [[SS Cars]] in [[Coventry]], England in 1935. In 1945, the company changed its name to Jaguar.

The car has a six-cylinder [[Flathead engine|side-valve]] [[Standard Motor Company|Standard]] engine of 2,663 cc with an output of 50&nbsp;kW. The engine differs from that used in the ordinary cars by having Dural [[connecting rod]]s, an aluminium [[cylinder head]] with 7:1 compression ratio, and twin RAG [[carburettor]]s. The [[chassis]] is 2,642&nbsp;mm long; a shortened version of the one used on the [[SS 1]], and was also supplied by Standard. Suspension is by half-elliptical springs all round, with an underslung back axle. The braking system is [[Bendix Corporation|Bendix]].

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 the [[SS Jaguar 100]], which had similar styling and suspension but an engine with an [[overhead valve engine|overhead-valve]] cylinder 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 {{convert|150|km/h|abbr=on}}.

The car is 3,810&nbsp;mm long, 1,600&nbsp;mm wide, and has a mass of 1,143&nbsp;kg.<ref name="ultimatecarpage.com">{{Cite web |url= http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2115/Jaguar-SS-90-Roadster.html |title=Jaguar SS 90 Roadster |access-date=2007-12-30 |work=ultimatecarpage.com}}</ref> The factory originally fitted 139.7 × 457.2 [[Dunlop Rubber|Dunlop]] tyres on 457.2&nbsp;mm wire wheels.<ref>Paul Skilleter, ''Jaguar Sports Cars'', pp.304 {{ISBN|0-85429-166-0}}.</ref> The prototype SS 90, [[Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom|ARW 395]], was owned by [[Hugh Kennard]] from 1938 until at least November 1940. 23 were built, of which 16 survive, including the prototype.<ref name=Golfen>{{cite web |url= http://www.jcca.us/Articles/CarWStor/CarWStor.htm |title=A CAR WITH STORIES TO TELL |first=Bob |last=Golfen |publisher=Jaguar Club of Central Arizona |access-date=7 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100608203916/http://www.jcca.us/Articles/CarWStor/CarWStor.htm |archive-date=8 June 2010}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=HorroshawSS>{{cite book |last1=Culshaw |first1=David |last2=Horrobin |first2=Peter |year=2013 |orig-year=1974 |chapter=Jaguar |title=The complete catalogue of British Cars 1895–1975 |place=Poundbury |publisher=Veloce Publishing |pages=178 |edition=paperback |isbn=978-1-874105-93-0}}</ref>

}}

{{Jaguar}}

[[Category:Jaguar vehicles|90]]
[[Category:Cars of England]]
[[Category:Coupés]]
[[Category:Roadsters]]
[[Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1935]]