Concours South Africa 2018, the only multi-marque concours d’elegance event for classic cars in South Africa, gets underway at Steyn City this weekend, from Friday 10 August to Sunday 12 August.
Precisley 80 cars have entered for Concours South Africa 2018, ranging from vintage machines from the early 1900’s to late-model Ferraris.
“We have once again received an entry that has surpassed our expectations,” says Concours South Africa organiser Paul Kennard. “What is extremely gratifying is the diversity of the entry this year. Cars range from the likes of a humble Ford Escort Mk I from the late 1960’s to a Ferrari 599 GTO from 2011, an extremely valuable supercar. Ages range from the early 1900’s from the pioneering days of motoring in South Africa to modern supercars. And we believe we have attracted all the iconic marques: Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Aston Martin – they will all be represented.
“We also have some really interesting cars you wouldn’t normally associate with a concours event, such as an Opel Kadett Superboss from the early 1990’s, a Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen from 1983, as well as charismatic super sedans like M5 BMWs and an Aston Martin Lagonda, a car that is so unusual looking that it is difficult to categorise!
“And lending huge stature to the event will be a magnificent 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, one of five Rolls-Royces entered this year.”
Another huge coup for Concours South Africa is that it will showcase an amazing array of some six Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4s, believed to represent just about the entire stock of this classic Ferrari supercar from the 1960’s that resides in South Africa.
“We are extremely proud to assemble what will be the most dramatic display of Ferrari Daytonas ever seen in this country,” says Concours co-organiser and long-time Ferrari aficionado, Greg Marucchi. Marucchi is also the MC for the event, a role he has filled expertly at the previous two Concours South Africa events.
The cars entered for this year’s event will gather at Steyn City from early Friday afternoon on 10 August at the entrance to Steyn City off Cedar Road, just beyond Dainfern. The cars will then drive to their demarcated positions in Nelson Mandela Park, inside the Steyn City Complex on lawns bordering The Creek.
Judging for the cars will begin early on Saturday morning on 11 August and continue through until lunchtime on Sunday, 12 August. The winners will be announced at a ceremony starting from 2.30 pm.
On Friday evening, South African Formula One designer Rory Byrne will be inducted into the South African Hall of Fame. The famous designer was responsible for all of the cars that carried Michael Schumacher to seven Formula One championship victories during the years 1994 to 2004. Rory, who was born in Pretoria, now lives in Phuket, having moved there after retiring from Formula One to pursue the other great passion of his life, scuba diving.
Rory’s induction will follow a Concours South Africa tradition established last year, when racing greats Sarel van der Merwe and Ian Scheckter were inducted into the South African Hall of Fame at the 2017 Concours event.
As part of the proceedings on Friday evening, a Charity Auction of Motoring Memorabilia will also be held. The proceeds of this will go to QASA, the Quad Para Association of South Africa. A percentage of participant entry fees for Concours South Africa will also be donated to this organisation, which has a relationship with Concours’ founder member Ross Crichton going back more than 15 years.
Based in KZN, QASA strives to prevent spinal cord injury via road safety initiatives and other strategies, as well as protect and promote the interests of people with mobility impairments by formulating a national policy and strategy, to develop and ensure the full potential and quality of their lives.
On Saturday evening, the biggest auction of classic cars ever seen in South Africa will take place when the Concours South Africa Auction is conducted by Coys of Kensington at the Steyn City venue. Concours South Africa’s association with Coys was established last year when its managing director, Chris Routledge, served as a judge at Concours South Africa 2017.
“This will be the first time that a classic car auction in South Africa will also be presented globally” says Paul Kennard. “Coys of Kensington have distributed the catalogue for this auction to some 25 000 of their international clients, and telephone bidding for some of these very special cars is expected to come in from all over the world.”
At the very core of this auction will be The Plit Portfolio, consisting of some 95 cars and motorcycles that will go under the hammer. The auction is expected to start at 5 pm and run through until about 9 pm on Saturday evening. Cars that have attracted huge interest include a rare 1935 Singer Le Mans with Fox & Nicholl coachwork, the oldest Jaguar XK120 in Africa, a competition-spec factory-built Porsche 964, a Renault Alpine A110 1600S, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale, a Maserati Khamsin prototype and some very rare motorcycles, including a mint-condition Honda CB750 K0.
One of the crown jewels of the auction may well turn out to be a 1968 Shelby Mustang GT 500 in completely original and unrestored condition!
The judging of Concours South Africa 2018 will once again be under the direction of Wayne Harley, the curator of the Franschhoek Motor Museum. An extremely well-versed classic car expert with experience of international concours events all over the world, Wayne is a stickler for originality, and has held workshops on concours car preparation.
“I want to encourage owners to go the extra mile to secure the correct original hose clamp or period-piece valve cap for their cars, to add that final touch of authenticity.”
Wayne is famous for stating that in an event such as Concours South Africa, a perfectly preserved or restored Morris Minor can go head-to-head with a Porsche, Aston Martin or Ferrari and still come out a winner!
The judging will be finalised by lunch time on Sunday 12 August, and the winners of categories and the overall winner, will be announced at a ceremony beginning at 2.30 pm. Previous overall winners of Concours South Africa include a 1985 De Tomaso Pantera GT5 and a 1989 Ferrari F40.
*Those wishing to attend Concours South Africa should be advised that there will be no entry tickets sold at the gate. Enthusiasts planning to attend as day guests, or to purchase exclusive hospitality packages, should visit www.concourssouthafrica.com or contact organiser Paul Kennard on paul@concourssouthafrica.com or by telephone on 082 851 3300.
To register to attend the CSA Auction, e-mail auction@concourssouthafrica.com to book your seat.
Tickets will not be available on the day!
