The 43rd Cars in the Park, hosted by the Pretoria Old Motor Club (POMC) and sponsored by ALL THINGS MOTORING INTERNATIONAL, adopts ‘The History of the Motor Car’ as a central theme this year. Visitors to the event at Zwartkops Raceway on Sunday, August 3, will find a dedicated Special Invites section in the pits offering a distinct perspective on the significant development of automobiles within South Africa, tracing back to the early 20th century.
Chief organiser Frik Kraamwinkel outlined the display: "We've gathered a collection of notable vehicles from 1945 back to the late 1920s, a period marked by considerable advancement in automotive design. The display covers cars accessible to everyday buyers alongside those favoured by affluent owners."
Originating at the Pioneer Museum in Silverton during the early 1980s, the event relocated to Zwartkops Raceway (R55 south of Laudium) as its popularity increased. The POMC maintains its reputation for member-owned vehicles, with this year's focus on the post-World War Two era and earlier years.
1937 Cord 810
Check out our extensive selection of Classic Cars – click here
The Special Invites section will present vehicles illustrating key automotive milestones. Among them is Sakkie van der Watt's 1937 Cord 810, recognised for its innovative features including front-wheel drive, concealed headlights and a pre-select gearbox – concepts that predated common modern technologies by decades. Designed by Errett Lobban Cord and powered by an aircraft-derived Lycoming V8, the Cord even inspired a song by Gram Parsons before his Byrds fame.
Justus de Waal's Lincoln V12 from the 1920s represents another bold step. Its aerodynamic shape, unusual amidst boxier contemporaries, reportedly unsettled potential buyers despite its Ford backing. Contrasting this, the emphasis on mechanical refinement found in brands like Rolls-Royce will be seen in Bob Bouwmeesters' 1933 20/25 Tourer.
Early 1930s Ford Phaeton
Great insurance is as vital as safe driving – click here to find out more
More attainable classics from past decades will also feature prominently. Examples include Ford Model Ts, the first cars assembled in South Africa starting in 1923 within a Port Elizabeth wool shed, and the subsequent, more advanced Model A – America's fastest-selling car at its 1928 launch. These will share space with rival models from General Motors, including Chevrolets and Pontiacs spanning the 1920s to 1940s. Eric McQuillian's 1933 Ford Model B convertible bakkie, fitted with a factory-upgraded four-cylinder engine due to early V8 overheating tendencies, will be on show.
The international flavour includes Corne Fourie's 1937 DKW F7, a two-stroke twin-cylinder car known for reliability, alongside British marques like a 1940s Austin and MGs owned by POMC members Alex Duffey and Christo Ferreira. Taco Kamstra will present a 1940s Pontiac, a model released here in 1946 as surplus from World War Two.
New sponsor, Ignition TV's programme, ALL THINGS MOTORING, joins the event this year. CEO Michael Pashut commented: "We are pleased to associate with Cars in the Park for the first time. The 'History of the Car' theme aligns directly with our 'ALL THINGS MOTORING' focus, an ethos this event has embodied for decades." Pashut noted the event's enduring appeal stems from the POMC's decision years ago to welcome all motoring enthusiasts.
1940s Chevrolet Coupe
If it is something more Exotic you are after – click here
The scope extends beyond cars. POMC member Tom Linley will display three Velocette motorcycles from the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Linley, involved in the DJ Motorcycle commemorative run for pre-1936 bikes, highlights that these single-cylinder machines featured overhead camshafts driven by bevel gear – a principle still used in modern performance motorcycles like Ducatis.
South Africa's unique motorsport heritage will also be recognised with examples of special racing homologation models like the Cortina and Capri Peranas and the rare Toyota TRD, significant in 1980s rallying.
Approximately 2,500 collector cars spanning various eras are anticipated. Tickets are available via iTickets at R130 for adults (R150 at the gate), with free entry for children under 12. Gates open to spectators at 08:30, while exhibitors gain access from 06:00.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
proudly CHANGECARS
