Classic cars are not meant to be stored away; they are meant to be driven. Unfortunately, this puts them at risk of getting dings, scrapes, or even worse—severe damage, as the owner of this once-pristine 1948 Jaguar XK120 discovered. Giuseppe Cerbone and his co-driver Nicolo Bottini Bongrani were conducting a test run for the Mille Miglia in their 1948 XK120 when they nearly collided head-on with an Opel Insignia.
According to Austrian publication Kronen Zeitung, the driver of the Opel was distracted and veered into oncoming traffic. The right front end of the Opel collided with the right front end of the Jag, causing serious damage to both vehicles. In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), the driver of the XK120 claims that the Opel driver was looking at her phone when the accident occurred. The 23-year-old woman admitted that she "had a call" and briefly looked down at her phone. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the crash, although the driver and passenger of the XK120 did sustain minor injuries.
As for the Jaguar, it remains uncertain whether it is a total loss or not, given the extensive damage. A classic XK120 can cost upwards of $100,000 or more, depending on its condition and model year. The only positive aspect for the owner is that the next Mille Miglia is not scheduled until June 2025, providing ample time to repair the vehicle for the race—if it can be repaired at all.
