MyTorque is a collection of articles about member experiences and comments on their cars. This article is from JCCT member Des Wighton, describing the Perfect Garage.

---

Just a quick follow up on Rod & Jenni's reports on the 41st National Jaguar Rally. We had a great time catching up with old and new friends in the Jaguar fraternity, especially those we had met at our National Rally in 2010, and the cars were something else as described and shown in Reports and pictures on our website.

Saturday 10th April saw Rod and Anne packed and off to Coolangatta Airport for their journey home to end what was a great fortnight for us all. 10 am and it was time for Jenni & I to vacate our unit and our every reliable ex "most northern member" Colin and Judy Byrne were in the drive waiting to convey up to their beautiful home in Pullenvale for a couple of days. On route to Brisbane we called into visit their latest acquisition, a purebred Alsatian puppy. What a pity the kennel is so far from home, as one his brothers or sisters may not have been out of the question.

Colin and I had discussed a visit to Colin Galley's "Garage" to view his latest project a D Type replica. Dennis Bedford who was the builder of the XJ13 also built this car. Following a couple of phone calls to Col it was decided that the most suitable time to call would be Monday morning on route to the Sunshine Coast, seeing we were Southwest of Brisbane and he Northeast. Col also enquired whether we would be there for morning tea, the reason soon became apparent. I was completely blown away; this was what I call the perfect garage. In one section a dual hoist housed 4 cars, 2 up and 2 down with 2 more cars parked in front.

A list of what was in the garage:

- Series 1 Sprinter with a S111 motor and suprabox
- S111 E Type
- XJ S111 Saloon with a V12
- S Type Classic 3.8 manual
- MK5 3.1/2 litre
- SS1 Jag 2 ½ ltr
- MK5 BRG
- XJS Coupe
- 420G - a work in progress

After a viewing of the above it was time for that "Morning tea", this consisted of a lovely cappuccino (the real thing) along with Anzac biscuits and muffins, which Col had been up early to make for us; is there no end to this man's talents? We were ushered into the enclosed patio past a beautiful XK 150 S, this car was know to Jenni & I as it is the ex Mark Wheatley car and has been completely resprayed and chrome work redone, not that it needed it, but it also illustrates the perfection that Col is looking for in all his vehicles.

It was then time to move on again, this time off to the home of Richard, one of the 2 chaps that work for Colin on his cars where the D Type was housed. Before departing we also found out that as Colin's garages were all full (this included and extra 3 garages on the property) he had also housed Jaguars under a neighbours house and under covers down the side of the house, which we viewed before departing. We were now off to fulfil one of the main purposes for me being in Queensland, the D type of course.

We were soon confronted with what will be on completion a thing of beauty that I have been dreaming about for years. Colin told me that this car would be an XKSS replica, the road going version of the D Type. It will be finished in no other than BRG, of course. Richard also had 2 other British cars of interest in his garage. A TVR and a car that TVR used to make and a supplier (?) received permission to build them when TVR stopped producing them. They were made in a very small number with a range of MG engines. All too soon it time to bid Colin and Richard farewell and head the short distance to the Bruce Highway and then on to the Sunshine Coast to catch up with family and grandchildren to complete our holiday.

I cannot thank Colin Galley enough for allowing his time and hospitality to view his beautiful cars and look forward to progress reports on the XKSS. Colin is also Treasurer of the JDCQ, so his time is certainly spread around Jaguars.

Also a big thankyou to Colin & Judy Byrne, who always make Jenni and I more than welcome whenever in Queensland.

These thanks are also extended to our esteemed Editor Andrew, who was there to collect us from the Hobart Airport and convey us home along with fresh milk and bread, which came in very handy as it was well after 7 pm and our fridge was bare after being away for 4 weeks.

Happy and safe motoring... Des

---

We welcome all contributions to the JCCT website, and members' experiences with their cars are always of general interest. So why not e-mail us with your contribution.

Please note the JCCT reserves to right to publish - or not publish - articles at its discretion. Any articles published here are offered in good faith, with no guarantee as to their accuracy or suitability to your needs.