The choice is yours – a remarkable Jaguar XK120 Alloy with a colourful history

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"The choice is yours." Those were the words that ended the advertisement for this car – and rightly so. Rarely does a classic offer such a wide range of possibilities as this remarkable Jaguar XK120 Alloy. A car with a glorious history, a life full of adventures and – it must be said – still quite a restoration project ahead. But as the saying goes: no sacrifice, no victory.

This Jaguar was completed on 3 January 1950 and shipped a month later to the Australian distributor Bylaw of Melbourne. Originally finished in an elegant combination of red with biscuit-red interior and a fawn soft top, the car found its first owner in May 1950: James R. Skinner of Parkdale, Melbourne. Skinner didn’t just use his XK120 as a stylish sports car – in 1951, he twice competed with it at the famous Rob Roy Hillclimb.

Decades of Modifications

Like many sports cars in Australia at the time, this XK120 did not escape the creative hands of its successive owners.

• In 1958, Vincent Boyle (an employee of Bryson’s) acquired the car and fitted it with a fiberglass fastback hardtop, scalloped front guards behind the wheels, and repainted it white.
• In 1963, Frederick Richardson added more personal touches and painted the car dark green.
• In 1968, the Jaguar was purchased by Lawrence Wedgewood, who again modified the body, fitted magnesium wheels, and first painted it yellow before later returning it to red.

The changes weren’t just cosmetic; mechanically, the car underwent a significant transformation. Its original 3.4-litre twin-cam engine was replaced with a rebuilt Jaguar XJ6 engine mated to a manual overdrive gearbox. Jaguar Mk IX front disc brakes and a complete Mk II rear axle were also fitted – modifications popular at the time with enthusiasts of fast, competitive specials.

After passing through several owners – and reportedly spending a period languishing in a paddock – the XK120 was eventually rescued after at least 25 years of inactivity by an enthusiastic collector. His plans for a full restoration never materialised, and now this extraordinary Jaguar is being offered once again.

Today, the car still proudly wears many of its eccentric modifications, including the distinctive hardtop and magnesium wheels. The original engine is sadly missing, but the Jaguar comes with extensive documentation, including a Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate, period photographs, and a collection of invoices dating back to the 1980s.

What makes this Jaguar especially significant is its basis: one of just 57 right-hand-drive aluminium-bodied XK120s ever built. That fact alone would justify a full restoration to original specification. Yet its colourful Australian history makes a less extensive refurbishment – preserving its unique “Special” character – an equally valid homage to its adventurous past.

"The choice is yours." Will you return it to the sleek, pure lines of the original XK120 Alloy, or embrace the rebellious spirit that made this Jaguar such a unique Australian special? Either way, you will own a car with a history few classics can match.

This exceptional XK120 Alloy ‘Special’ is currently being auctioned by Donington Auctions in Melbourne, Australia. Bidding closes on 27 July at 14:30 AEST. The auction house can assist with worldwide shipping if required. More information can be found here.

Text by Laurens Klein

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