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Block 1 (Squire SS-100 Car Registry)
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Block 1 (Squire SS-100 Car Registry)
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Official Web Site of the Squire SS100 Registry
What is a Squire SS100 Roadster?
The Squire SS100 roadster is arguably the least known production car produced by Intermeccanica. It is a nearly exact, full size replica of the 1937-9 Jaguar SS-100 and was commissioned by Auto Sport Importers, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The old Jaguar classic was the inspiration behind the selection of the body style for the Squire, and it was intended to be an American sports car. It took years of planning, designing, and negotiating before the dream finally began to take shape. It was designed/developed between 1969 & 1971 and was fabricated by Automobilli Intermeccanica in Troferallo, Italy between 1972 and 1973. Only fifty Squires were ever manufactured, even though there were 100 Ford engines and drive trains shipped from the USA to Italy. There was a severe shrinkage of inventory during the shipping and storage in Italy. All completed cars were shipped to the United States.
Rumor has it that an extra car was assembled from spare parts and sold in Germany. Since they were originally intended to be sold exclusively for the American market, all 50 cars were left hand drive. There were only three body colors offered – red, yellow and white. The bodies of the Squire are hand laid-fiberglass mounted on a welded steel frame. The radiator shell and other parts were formed by hand beating metal laid over wooden bucks with sand bags. The 72 spoke wire wheels are 15″ chromed Dunlop and are not true knock off’s.
Other than an original design ladder type frame, all under carriage components are American Ford. The Squires are powered by a Ford 250 cubic inch straight six OHV with either a Ford four speed top loader manual transmission or a Ford three speed (C-3) automatic. The rear end is 9″ Ford with fore & aft leaf springs. The front end has Ford “A” arms but the suspension is a torsion bar design built by Frank Reisner of Intermeccanica. There are Bendix hydraulic drum type brakes on all four wheels. Power options such as power steering and power brakes were not offered. The car came equipped with a heater, turn signals and flashers, and fog lights. The interiors are all black leatherette with bucket seats and quite comfortable. All Squires had rag tops that were hand operated. Wind protection is achieved with rigid side curtains that have sliding Plexiglas windows (called side curtains ) inserted in the tops of the doors when the convertible top is in the cover position. Full Jaguar instrumentation completes the package. The car is very responsive and corners like a true roadster.
Owners have made certain modifications over the years to correct some defects in the original design or operation of the cars, consequently, no two Squires are exactly alike. The Squire SS100 is frequently mistaken for being a kit car but the owners are quick to dispel that impression.
Click here to see a copy of the original
Squire SS100 specifications
.
The Squire SS100s have quietly slipped into collector car status in the past thirty years and have appreciated considerably in value. The Squire SS100 registry has located 43 of the original 50 cars in its list of owners and is looking for remaining 7 cars. Click here for a detailed
history of the Squire SS100 roadster
. Click here to view a
Photo Gallery
of the known cars in the Registry. Click here to go to the
Intermeccanica
web site to learn more about the Squire SS100 roadster and other collectable cars produced over the years by Intermeccanica.