2026-09-21 22:56:38 | Reno writes:

for sale on the Donington Auction

online.doningtonauctions.com.au/lot-details/index/catalog/402/lot/81672/1950-Jag ...%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F402

Description:
According to the authoritative book ‘The Jaguar XK120 in the Southern Hemisphere’ by John Elmgreen & Terry McGrath, this Jaguar XK120 OTS roadster was completed in April 1950.
It was then dispatched from the factory on the 28th of that month to Jaguar’s eastern distributor in the United States, the Hoffman Motor Company.
Believed to be 237th Jaguar XK120 OTS roadster produced, and likely one of the first 300 cars off the production line, it was factory finished in Red (Crimson) with a Biscuit (Cream) and Red interior.
While there is no factory record of its first owner, he is believed to have lived in Florida and it is said that the XK120 OTS had not been used on the road since 1964 when, on an unknown date, it was sold to a private collector of mostly veteran cars and thereafter resided in the Frost Collection.
Jack Frost is reported variously to have used the car occasionally until he passed, at which point it is recorded as having just 36,000 miles on the odometer.
Put up for sale by tender with the rest of the collection, the Jaguar came to the attention of prominent Australia car collector and property man Kerry Manolas, who happened to be in the USA at the time, and subsequently bought the car.
Imported to Sydney by Manolas in January 1982, the XK120 OTS roadster had to be registered in the Northern Territory (where he had interests), as it allowed left-hand drive cars to be road registered without conversion, at the time.
Subsequently, the Jaguar appeared as a feature car in Sports Car World magazine (April-June 1983), a report written by respected classic car journalist Geoffrey Bewley.
Three years later (January 1985), having reportedly not driven it very much due to the age of its original crossply tyres, the XK120 was put up for sale and a year later found itself in Melbourne, being repainted.
Again offered for sale, by A.O Dutton & Sons (Melbourne) in November 1986, it was then back in Sydney at The Toy Shop (April 1987), and then in Melbourne again the following month with Brighton dealer Terry Hogan.
This 1950 Jaguar XK120 OTS roadster was eventually acquired (around 1984) by Melbourne solicitor Terry Forest, who sent it to ‘The Automobiliste’ in South Melbourne to be converted to right-hand drive.
Put up for sale again, about mid-1987 well-known Perth businessman Peter Briggs purchased the car, keeping it at his City Beach residence.
Still showing just 36,000 miles at the time of purchase, the Jaguar even still had its original factory-supplied ‘Continental Touring Kit’ of spare parts in a weathered cardboard box, in the boot.
Soon after while at a car show, the XK120 OTS was damaged when a vintage 1911 Talbot being crank started careered into the British sports car, necessitating repairs.

It spent some time on display at the Fremantle Motor Museum during this period.
Today, this XK120 roadster is part of Peter Briggs’ private stable and still presents very nicely.
Its renewed 30-year-old paintwork is generally good, with a few small marks as you’d expect, and a little patina on some of the bodywork trim.
Within the classic Jaguar cabin, the Red and White leather interior has that lovely patina of age, with just some cracking to the driver’s seat base and outer backrest. The matching carpets are in nice condition, as is the dashboard, whose odometer indicates 45,080 miles.
Part of those miles were covered by Peter & Robin Briggs who, in August 2001, drove from Darwin to Alice Springs, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Open Road World Record of 91.3 mph, set in an XK120 OTS by Les Taylor and Dick Rendle in a similar car. A plaque is affixed to the dash records the event.
This XK120 OTS roadster also has several points of special interest.
On its dashboard is a replica plaque (thought to be factory fitted) which reads:
“Certified that this Jaguar is an exact replica of the record-breaking car which achieved the speed of 132.6 mph at Jabbeke, Belgium on May 30, 1949. Certified by W.M. Heyne, Chief Engineer, Jaguar Cars Ltd, Coventry, England.”
It’s also fitted is a set of Borrani wire wheels (rather than the standard steel wheels) and, according to owner notes, Italian made Rudge-Whitworth hubs. Some sources suggest these have been fitted from new.
In the extensive file which accompanies the Jaguar, there’s correspondence confirming the manufacture of a new biscuit-coloured soft top in 2019, which is still with the car, along with the side curtains.
Accompanying this XK120 OTS is a folder containing various notes pertaining to its history, a copy of the Sports Car World article, factory reference materials including a wiring diagram, receipts for work done, and photographs of the car at events and in the York Motor Museum.