CITROËN 2CV6 DOLLY UNIMOG AT 70 ’58 CADILLAC SEDAN DE VILLE R47.00 incl VAT September 2017 DINO AGAINST THE FERRARI GRAIN BY GEORGE TOPLESS TECH JUNKIE CLASSIC LAND ROVER ADVENTURE ON THE RISE – MERCEDES-BENZ R129 SL MARIO MASSACURATI | PUT FOOT RALLY | TAZIO NUVOLARI PCP_Porsche Classic_210x276.qxp_Porsche 210x275 2017/08/10 3:59 PM Page 1 www.porschecapetown.com Over 52,000 different genuine parts and counting. Porsche Classic Genuine Parts. As a Porsche Classic Partner, our goal is the maintenance and care of historic Porsche vehicles. With expertise on site, Porsche Centre Cape Town is dedicated to ensuring your vehicle continues to be what it has always been: 100% Porsche. Our services include: • Classic Sales • Classic Body Repair • Genuine Classic Parts Porsche Centre Cape Town Corner Century Avenue and Summer Greens Drive, Century City Tel: 021 555 6800 CONTENTS — CARS BIKES PEOPLE AFRICA — SEPTEMBER 2017 SPRING RATES THE FEARLESS MAESTRO 03 Editor’s point of view 72 Tazio Nuvolari CLASSIC CALENDAR ALL HANDS ON 06 Upcoming events for 2017 78 Vittorio Jano NEWS & EVENTS THE CINDERELLA OF TEAM MEISSNER 08 All the latest from the classic scene 82 X134 Meissner Escort CLASSICS & SHAKES READER’S RIDE 18 Farewell to the Doll House 84 Have all the flowers gone? F40 BIRTHDAY TREAT VW, YOU & ME RALLY TOGETHER 20 Concours SA 2017 86 NRC – Classic Rally Class RATTING OUT THE CLASSICS AD NAUSEAM 22 POMC Cars in the Park 88 Backseat Driver – A Female Perspective LETTERS 24 Have your say GEARBOX 96 Classified adverts BY GEORGE 26 Land Rover Adventure HELLO DOLLY 30 Citroën 2CV6 Dolly AGAINST THE GRAIN 36 Dino 246GT M Series TOPLESS TECH JUNKIE 42 Mercedes-Benz R129 THE FLYING DOCTOR 48 Mario Massacurati WHEN MADE IN AMERICA 54 WAS GREAT 1958 Cadillac Sedan de Ville TO PUT FOOT & BACK 60 2017 Put Foot Rally THE INCREDIBLE HULK 66 66 70 years of the Unimog www.classiccarafrica.com | September 2017 | 1 FUEL CUSTOMS ARE NOW SUPPLYING HANDMADE Exotic Car Servicing & Repairs BESPOKE LEATHER TOOKITS Mechanical & Cosmetic Restoration Custom One-Off Projects Vehicle Interior Restoration FUEL Customs are now supplying handmade bespoke leather tookits to classic vehicle owners. Never be without the right tool for the job next to the road again. Created using aged interior and exterior leather then cut and hand-stitched by a master artisan. 93-PIECE TOP OF THE RANGE TOOL SET INCLUDING: Sockets, hex keys, 40 screwdriver bits, combination spanners, pliers, magnetic bit drivers, Telescopic magnetic torch, Tyre pressure guage, Fuse-collection, Tow-strap and much more! R150 000 | FIAT 600 D 1973 View more at WWW.FUELCUSTOMS.CO.ZA EDITOR’S POINT OF VIEW www.classiccarafrica.com Publisher Zig Zag Publishing Tracy Cilliers [email protected] Editor Stuart Grant [email protected] Deputy Editor Graeme Hurst [email protected] Art Director Ronel van Heerden www.nineninetynine.co.za Contributors Mike Monk, Jake Venter, Gerrie van Heerden, Gavin Foster, Racey SPRING Lacey, Eric Ackroyd, Etienne Fouche, Peet Mocke, Eric Fletcher, Roger Houghton, Terry Illman, Stuart RATES Johnson, Sue Vacy-Lyle elcome to the September restored Dino made waking up before dawn Subscriptions & Editorial 2017 issue! Those of us worthwhile. It was a similar case when we [email protected] based in the Southern headed into the countryside to celebrate 70 Tel: 082 330 3446 Hemisphere will be years of the go-anywhere Unimog. Snapper Fax: 086 568 0193 welcoming spring, the Etienne Fouche was in his element on both Advertising Wseason I rate as the best time of the year for shoots and I fear a trend for pre-dawn wake-up [email protected] classic car ownership. The lack of rain, although calls has been set. But the truth is that although very worrying in the Cape right now, means your I may moan, the quality is exactly what we are www.classiccarafrica.com much-cherished machine and its occupants striving for. Postnet suite 27 will stay nice and dry. The abundance of Peet Mocke keeps this quality image theme Private Bag X20 blossoming flora not only brightens up your car going with some exceptionally moody shoots of Cresta photography opportunities but stimulates the the Citroën 2CV6 in which Mike Monk trundled 2194 olfactory lobes too. around the Cape before putting pen to paper. This classic car penchant for the season Fellow Cape local Graeme Hurst made the long sees a plethora of events over coming weeks, haul up to Gauteng for Pretoria Cars in the Park so pull out the calendar and start making your and took the chance to put together high altitude hit list. This is not to say that the winter days reviews on a pair of future classic Mercedes- were devoid of any classic action though, as Benz R129 SLs and a monstrous finned and can be seen in our coverage of Concours SA, chromed 1958 Cadillac Sedan de Ville. classic racing from Dezzi, historic rallying in On the personality front there’s a truly the Eastern Cape, the POMC Pretoria Cars in Italian focus: Gavin Foster looks into the life of the Park, a final run to the famed (but closing) arguably the most famous pre-war racer, Tazio Doll House on Louis Botha Avenue and a Nuvolari, Jake Venter conducts a fictitious bunch of youngsters doing a Cape Town to interview with Italian automotive designer George dirt road dash with an old Land Rover. Vittorio Jano, and Mike Monk gets into part one Not to be outdone Eric Ackroyd, armed with of his Mario Massacurati feature. Massacurati The publishers make every effort to ensure this magazine’s contents are correct. All material his VW Beetle, took part in the Put Foot Rally competed throughout Europe before moving published in Classic Car Africa is copyright and and recounts his and fellow classic users’ tales to SA and reigniting his driving career here in unauthorised reproduction is forbidden. The opinion of contributors, as published, are not from the 10 500km endurance run around some exotic vehicles. necessarily the opinions held by the publishers or Southern Africa. Please sit back and enjoy the read, the steadily editors of Classic Car Africa. The publishers and editors make no representations, nor do they give Although the mercury was in single figures rising temperatures and the wonders of spring. any warranties, guarantees or assurances, for any goods or services advertised herein. while photographing this month’s cover, the soft light of a Highveld sunrise and the beautifully Stuart www.classiccarafrica.com | September 2017 | 3 FRANSCHHOEK MOTOR MUSEUM NEWS AROUND THE BENZ A significant event took place at FMM in July and overall the launch was a great success. when Mercedes-Benz used the L’Ormarins “One of the best we have done,” was the opinion Estate’s facilities as part of the international of some of the overseas Mercedes-Benz staff. launch of its new X-Class all-terrain pick-up. Market launch begins in November 2017 The event was a major planning and logistics in Europe, with South Africa and Australia exercise for the combined Mercedes-Benz and following at the beginning of 2018. Initially museum teams, which included creating an off- there will be a diesel 120kW X220d and road demonstration circuit around the periphery 140kW X250d, as well as a 122kW petrol of PlaasPad. No fewer than 196 journalists from engine in selected markets. The 4MATIC all- around the world took part, and on a single wheel drive system features low-range, and day between 08h00 and 18h00, following an optional differential lock on the rear axle. From introduction session, each had a turn behind the the middle of next year, permanent all-wheel wheel on the custom-built course and took part drive will be available. A top-of-the-range V6 in info workshops on site. diesel with 190kW will be released mid-2018. Quoting the vehicle’s press release, the There will be three trim levels: Pure is the Mercedes-Benz X-Class unites robustness, basic variant catering for classic robust use, functionality, strength and off-road capabilities Progressive is targeted for higher requirements with Mercedes-Benz’s design, comfort, driving in terms of quality feel and comfort, and dynamics and safety characteristics. General Power is aimed at the high-end variant for feedback from the journalists was favourable urban lifestyles. IN THE GROOVE FMM recently held a Scalextric evening at the museum CONCOURS for a few invited guests following a donation of track and accessories by Jon Lederle, nephew of one of SA’s post- CIRCUIT war motorsport heroes, Neville Lederle. For this inaugural FMM curator Wayne Harley event, a short but challenging two-lane circuit was laid out took part in the 2017 together with accessories including full Armco barriers and National SEFAC Concours grandstands. In the past, Jon has established numerous held at Montecasino in club circuits and is a leading light in the hobby. On the Johannesburg, arriving in night, his prediction to “watch the ladies” proved accurate style driving his host Giorgio as FMM’s Helene Ruiters beat secretary Karin Ras in the Cavalieri’s Dino 246 to the run-off for first place with Mike Monk third, while front-of- event. The concours was house manager Magdaleen Wepener clocked the fastest very well supported and close lap of the day. to 60 Ferraris on display, not Neville Lederle competed in numerous races in the all entered in the competition, 1960s and achieved sixth place in the 1962 SA GP in a attracted a mass of Lotus 21-Climax. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Jon spectators. At noon engines has competed in off-road, racing and rallying.