VINTAGE CARS TRAVEL SOUTH AFRICA
In South Africa we love motor cars as much as our foreign visitors. Therefore, I’m going to suggest you stop at the Franschoek Motor Museum. They have a collection of vehicles exceeding 220 - ranging from a 1898 Beeston motor tricycle to a 2003 Ferrari Enzo supercar - and more than 80 exhibits will be on view at any one time, displayed in four de-humidified halls with a total floor area of 2700 m², and presented in chronological order. The museum is situated on the most photographed wine estate in all of South Africa called L’ormarines in the picturesque town of Franschoek, in the Western Cape Province. Hence, you’re assured of getting triple the bang for your buck.
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| Aston Martin - model: DB2/4 - year: 1956 |
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| Bentley - model: 4.5 Litre - year: 1928 |
The British Sport Car for Driving Lovers
W.O. Bentley and his brother H.M. were the British concessionaires for DFP, a sporting French make before World War I. After the Great War, “WO” started his own company to build a car for buyers who loved driving. Excellent quality materials, workmanship and performance reflected its high price. By the mid-1920’s, the Bentley was regarded as the archetypal British sports car, with no less than five victories at Le Mans. Numerous orders for the rather heavy coachwork on the Three Litre chassis prompted Bentley to expand into more powerful versions – the 1925 6½ Litre and 1927 4½ Litre. Bentley’s chronic lack of capital threatened to bankrupt the company by the mid-1920’s. Woolf Barnato, one of the more enthusiastic Bentley supporters and three-time winner at Le Mans, came to the rescue. However, when the depression hit the company was unable to pay its debts and was sold to Rolls-Royce in 1931. Rolls-Royce transformed the Bentley into a civilized, quality car of high performance, justifying its motto of “The Silent Sports Car”. In 1998 Vickers, the owners of Rolls-Royce, sold Bentley to Volkswagen.
W.O. Bentley and his brother H.M. were the British concessionaires for DFP, a sporting French make before World War I. After the Great War, “WO” started his own company to build a car for buyers who loved driving. Excellent quality materials, workmanship and performance reflected its high price. By the mid-1920’s, the Bentley was regarded as the archetypal British sports car, with no less than five victories at Le Mans. Numerous orders for the rather heavy coachwork on the Three Litre chassis prompted Bentley to expand into more powerful versions – the 1925 6½ Litre and 1927 4½ Litre. Bentley’s chronic lack of capital threatened to bankrupt the company by the mid-1920’s. Woolf Barnato, one of the more enthusiastic Bentley supporters and three-time winner at Le Mans, came to the rescue. However, when the depression hit the company was unable to pay its debts and was sold to Rolls-Royce in 1931. Rolls-Royce transformed the Bentley into a civilized, quality car of high performance, justifying its motto of “The Silent Sports Car”. In 1998 Vickers, the owners of Rolls-Royce, sold Bentley to Volkswagen.
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| ALFA ROMEO - model: 1750 Spider Veloce - year: 1970 |
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| Cord- model 810 convertible - year 1936 |
The Sensational Made for the Future
A work of art, the Cord 810 was a sensation from its first unveiling in 1935. Erret Lobban Cord, head of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg (ACD) Corporation, got the best designers to create a car for the future. Designed by Gordon Buehrig, the car looked unique. Instead of a traditional grille and high bonnet, it had a low-slung engine cover, with horizontal slats to admit cooling air. It had no running-boards, no visible door hinges. The petrol filler lived under a little hatch on the rear flank and headlamps were concealed. The Cord family crest was the only means of identification. It also had front wheel drive and a preselector gearbox. It was however expensive - almost double the price of a Cadillac - and attracted too few customers. When the first Cord 810’s became available, the financial situation at ACD was dire. By 1937 it was all over, the manufacturer of the most exciting cars to come out of the 1930’s, was no more.
A work of art, the Cord 810 was a sensation from its first unveiling in 1935. Erret Lobban Cord, head of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg (ACD) Corporation, got the best designers to create a car for the future. Designed by Gordon Buehrig, the car looked unique. Instead of a traditional grille and high bonnet, it had a low-slung engine cover, with horizontal slats to admit cooling air. It had no running-boards, no visible door hinges. The petrol filler lived under a little hatch on the rear flank and headlamps were concealed. The Cord family crest was the only means of identification. It also had front wheel drive and a preselector gearbox. It was however expensive - almost double the price of a Cadillac - and attracted too few customers. When the first Cord 810’s became available, the financial situation at ACD was dire. By 1937 it was all over, the manufacturer of the most exciting cars to come out of the 1930’s, was no more.
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| MG - model: MGA 1.5 Roadster -year: 1958 |
The Coupe Overtakes The Roadster - Touché
The higher cruising speed of the MGA roadster revealed the shortcomings of the traditional sports car top, consequently a coupe version was added to the range in 1955. On account of its lower drag, it was faster than the roadster. Autosport achieved a top speed of 102 miles per hour (164 km/h) with the coupe.
The higher cruising speed of the MGA roadster revealed the shortcomings of the traditional sports car top, consequently a coupe version was added to the range in 1955. On account of its lower drag, it was faster than the roadster. Autosport achieved a top speed of 102 miles per hour (164 km/h) with the coupe.
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| Packard model: Six Club Coupe - year: 1939 |