Page 23 - Cornwall Issue 1 2025

MOTORING

top seller as a city car, and in the 1950s Decidedly un-retro, but rather cutting-edge classics originating from Europe, America
the Austin Cambridge was very popular. The in style and performance, is the British and Japan will be on display, as well as
advent of the Mini in 1959 saw the Austin Lotus sports car. Produced by F1 racing car classic and vintage motorcycles, tractors,
GEORGE OLD CAR SHOW 2025 Minis were marketed either as Morris or Lotus first appeared as a kit car, but later modern cars.
trucks, modern supercars, and more regular
personality Colin Chapman in England, the
brand gain many new followers, as early
evolved through delightful variants such as
Austin variants of the same cars, bar a few
the Elite and the Elan. Screen idol Roger
For those out-of-town car exhibitors who
trim differences.
Moore famously drove a submarine version
might want to extend their stay in the
The Morris Minor that preceded the Mini
considering organising a post-show tour to
remains a mainstay on the classic car of a Lotus Esprit in the 1977 James Bond Southern Cape region, the SCOCC is
film, The Spy who Loved Me.
circuit today, the most popular versions explore the scenery in the Overberg Strand
being the Minor 1000 with useable As an interesting aside, the British Royal region, starting at the show grounds at
performance, excellent road holding and family did not use Rolls-Royces as their 11am and extending over a few days. The
sturdy construction. British Fords were huge official vehicles in the early part of the traditional Vet Tour for vintage motor cars
sellers in this country in the 1960s, notably 20th century, preferring Daimlers. During and motor cycles built before 1930 will also
the Anglia and the Cortina models, and the the Royal Tour of South Africa in 1947, a be held in the days leading up to the show,
Cortina was amongst the top five sellers fleet of five Daimlers was used for the tour. arriving in George on Friday 7 February
here for its entire model duration, ranging Daimler was eventually absorbed by the 2025.
from late 1962 to 1983. Jaguar company in the 1960s. Both Rolls-
Royce and Bentley are still producing cars The motor cycle display has become more
British sports cars have long been a today and both marques are on sale in and popular each year, and this year the
favourite here among collectors, and the South Africa. In a complicated deal in the organisers are planning to have twice as
most famous marque is probably the MG. late-1990s, BMW took over the Rolls-Royce many classic and vintage motor cycles as
The MG was produced from the 1930s to brand while VW Audi took ownership of the there were last year.
beyond 2000 in various guises. The most Bentley name plate.
popular models are the early TC with wire- Pre-booking of tickets is through
spoked wheels from the 1940s, the TDs CLASSIC CARS FROM ALL REGIONS iTickets, at R125 for adults and R100
with steel wheels from the 1950s and the Up to 1 000 cars are being catered for at for pensioners. Children accompanied
MGA with sleeker bodywork from the late February’s bumper event and as usual, by adults are admitted free of charge.
1950s to the ‘60s. The MGB that followed a huge variety of vintage vehicles and
the A is probably one of the most popular
classics of all in South Africa, with massive
club support for these very usable cars from
the 1960s and ‘70s.
More up-market cars from Britain include
the highly desirable Jaguar E-Types, as well
as the earlier XK models. The remarkably
well-priced E-Type was perhaps the most
desirable car in the world when it was
launched with its sexy streamlined shape in
1961, and various versions will be on show
on February 8. Back in 1961, the Jaguar
E-Type was rated with a top speed of 240
km/h which was astounding for its day.

Less mainstream than the Jaguar are the
Aston Martin, always a very expensive up-
market car, and the quirky Morgan. The
Morgan was hand-built with a wooden
frame for its sleek body and low production
numbers saw waiting lists of up to five
years for these very retro-looking classics.
Cornwall View • Issue 1 2025 21