watkins glen history

Finding an SS100 for sale wasn’t an easy task. They surely weren’t listed in the classified sections of the local newspapers and, unlike today there was not much of a market for old sports cars. But, in the classified section of Motor Dad found one listed; a 3 1/2 liter, gunmetal gray, red carpets and red bucket seats. The price was just about what an MG TC cost at that time, about $1800. Because the car was in England that opened up a possibility for paying for it.

In 1949 the Garroway Jaguar SS100 appeared at the Glen. After seeing it, Charlie Davison decided that he had to have one but an SS100 was not easy to find. This is the Garroway (in passenger seat) SS100 at the Glen in 1950. Photo by Frank Shaffer.

My paternal grandfather had died in 1946. He had lived in London and had been widowed about three years earlier. He had survived the Battle of Britain and all the horrors and privations of the war. He was scheduled to come to America and to live with us. The struggle to obtain the permissions necessary to leave England became more and more protracted and he eventually just gave up and expired.

His estate wasn’t much, about 700 £ (something less than $3000) all went to Dad. He was an only child. The money sat in the Bank of England. Cash was not to leave the country. For England every farthing counted.

But, by working through the Royal Automobile Club Dad was able to find a way to use some of the money. Dad sent cash to the RAC from the US. He was able to transfer money from his Bank of England account to the RAC who then purchased the car and resold it to Dad and exported it to America. Complicated but it worked and the SS100 was on the way.

It came by boat to New York and was shipped by truck to Detroit. It was a rare warm February day when Dad arrived home with his prize. After dinner he pointed me to my coat and the garage with the statement “Let’s see what it will do!”