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Last week, two Italian drivers, Giuseppe Cerbone and Nicolo Bottini Bongrani, were enjoying a stunning British Racing Green 1948 Jaguar XK120 while traveling through Austria as part of a Mille Miglia preparation event. While driving along the Schwaitl Landesstraße, a woman heading in the opposite direction, reportedly distracted by her phone, collided with the classic car, according to Austrian news outlet Kronen Zeitung. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, although the two men were seen with bloodied faces as they argued about the situation on the roadside.
A video of the incident aftermath, shared on X, captures one of the occupants of the Jaguar speaking in Italian before switching to English. He claims the woman was so engrossed in her phone that she swerved into oncoming traffic. The woman can be heard apologizing in response. Her vehicle, a late-model Opel Insignia, appeared to be severely damaged from the crash.
The Mille Miglia Warm-Up serves as a preliminary event for the prestigious Mille Miglia, which takes place annually in June in Italy. While various warm-up events are held in countries besides Austria, it appears Cerbone and Bongrani will not participate in any others due to the condition of their vehicle. The XK120 appears to be badly damaged, particularly in the front-end frame. Even if repairable, it’s unlikely to be fixed quickly.
Fortunately, with approximately nine months left before the 2025 Mille Miglia, the drivers have some time to consider their options. However, acquiring a well-maintained XK120 can cost around $100,000, depending on its condition. Yet, Cerbone and Bongrani’s XK120 is not just any ordinary model. Being a 1948 version, it belonged to the first 240 cars produced with aluminum bodies, before Jaguar transitioned to steel for easier mass production. According to Hagerty, early aluminum models can fetch two to three times more. It is hoped that their XK120 was sufficiently insured, allowing them to either repair or replace their vehicle and get some practice in before next year’s event.
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