Roadster Replica Struggles to Life.(Escape Roads)

Byline: TOM TRACE

There is nothing wrong with dedicating your time, energy and money to the preservation of a mainstream vintage automobile, but guys like Art Stahl shudder at the thought. Stahl wanted something unique, and he admits he is darn proud you won't see many Squire SS-100s buzzing around today.

Even the trained eye wouldn't notice many copies of this car-inspired by the 1937-39 Jaguar SS-100-on the streets in the years following its introduction in early 1971. Only 50 Squire SS-100s were produced by the tiny Italian coachbuilding company Intermeccanica. Stahl, who heads the Squire SS-100 registry, reports 43 vehicles, including his, are accounted for.

The driving force behind the creation of the Squire SS-100 was 1950s Philadelphia radio personality Ed Felbin, known as Frank Ford to his listeners. Felbin's fondness for sports cars (Jaguars in particular) inspired him to pursue the building of his dream vehicle: a dazzling roadster that combined European styling with American power and reliability. Like many low-production automobiles, the Squire SS-100's road to reality was by no means smooth.

After Felbin's first choice of Italian builders flopped, a deal was made with Intermeccanica to complete 100 Squire SS-100s for delivery and distribution in the United States. Shortly thereafter 100 Ford 250-cid straight-six engines and corresponding powertrain parts were shipped to the Intermeccanica shop near Turin, Italy. More trouble followed when 50 of the engines mysteriously disappeared, forcing the original production number to be cut in half.

Finally, 50 vehicles landed on American shores, in time to be displayed at the 1971 New York auto show as well as a handful of other auto shows across the United States and Canada. Most of the vehicles were sold on the East Coast at a price of just under $10,000.

Stahl purchased his Squire SS-100 in 1989 and is intrigued for many ...