UNDOUBTEDLY, ONE OF THE most daring feats in Australia’s Jaguar history was Les Taylor and Dick Rendle’s record-breaking run from Darwin to Alice Springs driving an XK120 in 1951.
As many readers may already know, they averaged 91.3 mph, despite having to stop for repairs after crashing into a bank while trying to avoid cattle on the road.
They hit kangaroos, and encountered mobs of wild brumbies (horses to our overseas readers). To top things off, most of the road was not sealed and badly corrugated – what an amazing feat!
Quite a lot is documented about the car in those early years, and its later restoration and participation in Darwin to Alice Springs anniversary events since.
However, the years between when it ended its racing career and when the restoration by its current owner commenced, are unknown. To my knowledge, no photos have emerged of the car during that intervening era - until now!
The new photos come from Neville Morris. He owned chassis #660569 when it was de-registered on July 6, 1968. Having known him for many years, in 2015 I had done some local detective work regarding the XK120 for its owner, Kees Heybroek.
At the time, Nev couldn’t find any photos, but he knew he had a couple somewhere. Then in August 2020, on one of my visits, the topic came up again in the company of another car enthusiast.
It suddenly occurred to Nev that the photos were on slides, not photographic paper. After searching through hundreds of them, Nev finally found the missing link images.
He passed them on to me to convert them to digital - and here they are. Prominent racing identity, Rex
この記事は Jaguar Magazine の Issue 206 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Jaguar Magazine の Issue 206 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
LE MANS HINTED-MAYBE
THIS CONCEPT WAS FOUNDED ON A VIDEO GAME CAR CREATED BY JAGUAR'S DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS. WHAT IS IT'S FUTURE?
TIME TO GET YOUR X351
We are often asked for advice on the best value modern used Jaguar, and also what is a future classic. There is one answer to both - the last XJ.
XJ220 MISSION
KERRY MANOLAS ORDERED THE FIRST XJ220 IN AUSTRALIA. IAN CUMMINS PICKED IT UP WITH HIM.
IT'S ON THE MARKET
It's a famous and unIque Australian-raced Jaguar whIch Is now sellIng In the UK
DEFINING ITS MYSTICAL...ESSENCE
What is it about Jaguar that makes it so loved and how did that come to be?
Monaco Historique 2021
12th Grand Prix de Monaco historique
OR DOES IT NEED-AN EPIPHANY?TO ENSURE IT'S SURVIVAL
WHAT IS COMING FOR JAGUAR CARS IN THE NEAR FUTURE? IT WILL BE A PIVOTAL FEW YEARS AHEAD.
SERIOUS UP-DATES MAKE IT BETTER - AND IT'S DIESEL F-pace next level
THE F-PACE IS JAGUAR'S BEST SELLING MODEL AND continues to improve in all ways. The 2021 upgrades are sensational to the point where it now feels close to an XJ from the driver or passenger seats. It is that luxurious. It is multi-purpose too, so aside from family duties, it will handle the dirty stuff like a dedicated SUV and, encouragingly, Jaguar really has got its head around what the F-PACE was capable of achieving from its inception.
JAGUAR SMATTERINGS
Should historic cars be raced at full tilt? Make up your own mind after learning how this ex-Australian C-Type was virtually destroyed.
QUIETLY FAMOUS
The first XK120 despatched by Jaguar Cars spent its first decades around Sydney.
