Classic Jaguar ruined by allegedly distracted driver

The occupants of a classic Jaguar XK120 are lucky to be alive after allegedly being hit head-on by a driver looking at their mobile phone.

Footage widely circulated on social media shows the aftermath of a crash between the Jaguar and an Opel Insignia – sold here as the ZB Holden Commodore – with both cars suffering significant damage.

In the video, one of the Jaguar’s occupants is bleeding from his head and accusing the driver of the Insignia of being on their phone prior to the crash.

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It appears the footage was captured in Italy – where cars drive on the right-hand side of the road – and the damage to both vehicles supports the Jaguar occupant’s claim that the Opel crossed over to their side of the road, leading them to take evasive action.

Given the accusations against the driver of the Insignia, it’s possible their insurance may not be willing to pay out their claim as they were allegedly driving illegally at the time of the incident, potentially resulting in a hefty repair bill.

Just over 12,000 XK120s were built between 1948 and 1954, all powered by a 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine capable of pushing the convertible to 120 miles per hour (193km/h), a record at the time.

In Australia, there are a handful of XK120s for sale on various classified platforms, with prices ranging from about $150,000 to $220,000.