1946 is the new 1939.
Jager Autocraft was not always the automation equivalent of Cadillac. In its early years it was the Automation equivalent of Cadillac with a hint of Duesenberg thrown in the mix. It took a few years to convince Fred Jager (actually Friedrich Jäger, but thats what happens when germans settle in america) that race cars alone couldn’t earn money to sustain a business. So, in 1919 he began adding mud guards and a price tag to his race cars and voila, car manufacturer. Of course this early practice soon made way for a more civilised approach with a proper body, a folding roof or an optional hardtop. Then, also in 1919, the Jager Model N happened. A six seater touring car with a hardtop and 75hp from its 3.4L OHC Straight six. By no means revolutionary, but it put the focus on making swift travel more comfortable rather than outright speed.
Of course Jager hated it, but the sales quickly silenced him. Afterwards he retreated from running the company and became head engineer. In 1922 he died in a car crash. His last contribution to the company were two new engines. One a modified version of the Model Ns 3.4L engine, which had just won the Indianapolis 500, with far more power while just as driveable, the a new straight 8 that would power the larger and heavier Jager Series 500 Luxury cars. The straight six was fittingly named the Indianapolis, and produced an astounding 125hp from 4.0L of displacement, the same figure as the 4.8L Straight 8. The Indianapolis would power most of Jagers more driver oriented models in the following two decades, while the Straight 8 would evolve into the CL-Series in 1937 and be produced until 1957, making it the last of the classic straight 8 engines.
With the Indianapolis also died the vintage Jager Sports cars, the last of which was the 1939 Clipper.
Built on the 1936 Jager Tempest chassis, the Clipper used an entirely different body with fully integrated lines, one of the first cars to do so. The aerodynamic advantages made it possible for the Clipper to reach top speeds in excess of 140mph, with the same 304cui Indianapolis I6 as the Tempest 125. The “Triple S” configuration was only available in the 2-seater hardtop bodystyle. Lesser Clippers used the 337cui CL engine with a three speed transmission, yet even with only 170hp the Clipper 4 seater Coupe, Convertible and Hardtop could all exceed 125mph. The only optional equipment on them was an AM radio. 1939 model year Clippers were the only ones to use oval headlamps, as round sealed beam lamps became mandatory in 1940. Naturally the “pure” '39s are more desirable today.
The Clipper was indeed the last purebred sports car and last vintage Jager, ending production with the 1942 model year. Some 1264 were built.
