Motorsport enthusiasts and classic car admirers are in for a significant treat this August as the Pretoria Old Motor Club prepares a remarkable display of automotive history at the ALL THINGS MOTORING INTERNATIONAL ‘Cars in the Park’ Zwartkops Raceway. Central to the ‘Special Invites’ feature on Sunday August 3, 2025, will be a gathering of rare homologation specials alongside a curated selection of pre-1945 Classics, offering a tangible journey through decades of South African motoring passion.
Understanding the term ‘homologation special’ requires recognising these vehicles were fundamentally conceived by manufacturers with racing or rallying as their primary goal. To gain approval from motorsport governing bodies to compete, manufacturers were mandated to produce a specified number of similar cars offered for public sale. This regulation prevented a scenario where a manufacturer could build a unique competition vehicle and then misleadingly promote its successes as representative of standard road cars.
Consequently, homologation specials, while available to the public, were invariably produced in strictly limited numbers. This inherent scarcity has cemented their status as highly sought-after and collectable pieces of automotive history, distinct from their more common counterparts.
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One of the pioneering examples was the Mk 1 Ford Lotus Cortina, assembled in England between 1963 and 1966. Conceived under Lotus chief Colin Chapman, it utilised a near-standard Cortina body shell powered by a Lotus-developed twin-cam version of the Ford 1 500 cc engine. Key distinguishing features included widened wheels, lowered suspension, lightweight doors and bonnet, plus signature green side flashes and a black radiator grille. While never officially sold in South Africa, Ford South Africa imported two for competition in the National Saloon Car Championship. Most Lotus Cortinas appearing at Zwartkops were originally sold in what is now Zimbabwe, later making their way across borders during the 1970s and 1980s.
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South Africa soon developed its own iconic homologation specials. In 1968, renowned local builder Basil Green introduced the Perana V6, based on the Ford Cortina Mk II. Employing the 100 kW Ford Zephyr engine, it was visually marked by a distinctive black stripe across the nose. Green's most notable creation followed in 1971: the Capri Perana V8. Achieving speeds near 230 km/h when the standard Capri 1600 GT managed around 160 km/h, just over 500 units were built. Original survivors, recognised by black stripes, widened Rostyle wheels, and Perana badges, are scarce today. The Capri Peranas dominated local circuits, prompting General Motors to respond.
In 1973, racer and tuner Basil van Rooyen masterminded the Chevrolet Can Am for GM. This formidable machine placed a 5,0-litre Camaro Z28 V8 engine into a Firenza coupé body, achieving 0-100 km/h in a then-remarkable 5,5 seconds. Only 100 road-legal examples were built to meet homologation rules, making authentic Can Ams – identifiable by an aluminium rear wing, 13-inch Personal alloy wheels, and a white paint scheme with black stripes – among the most coveted collectables locally, despite numerous replicas existing.
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Toyota targeted rallying success in the early 1980s with the Corolla TRD, based on the rear-wheel-drive Corolla coupe. Produced in substantial numbers at Toyota's Prospecton plant near Durban to satisfy homologation, it became a familiar sight in competition. Alfa Romeo South Africa contributed the GTV6 3,0 in 1983, a model now acknowledged globally as a significant collectable Alfa.
Ford South Africa countered in 1984 with the Sierra XR8. This 5,0-litre V8-powered machine saw 250 examples built specifically to homologate the car for racers Serge Damseaux and John Gibb, enabling them to challenge rivals like Nico Bianco and Abel D’Oliveira in their Alfa GTV6 3,0s.
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The competitive spirit continued into the 1990s, epitomised by the rivalry between the BMW 325iS Shadowline and the Opel Kadett 16V Superboss. Mike Briggs secured the Group N championship early in the decade driving a Superboss, while the 325iS Shadowline claimed the same title in 1993. The fervent brand loyalty these models inspired endures. The BMW 325iS is readily identified by its BBS alloy wheels and distinctive boot-mounted rear wing, while the Superboss features black five-spoke alloys and prominent 16V badging on its flanks and tailgate.
Complementing these performance legends will be a display of Pre-1945 Classics, showcasing the automotive landscape of eight decades past. Although World War Two commenced in 1939, South African assembly of American-designed Ford and General Motors vehicles in Port Elizabeth continued until 1942.
Ford-branded cars and imported Lincoln models were prominent. GM offerings included Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac. Other notable American marques included Packard, recognised for its build quality.
Several manufacturers maintained a presence through locally assembled vehicles, including Chrysler's Dodge, Plymouth, and De Soto lines. British models from Ford, General Motors, along with Morris and Austin, had established themselves here long before the war. Pre-war German cars, such as Opel, DKW, and Mercedes-Benz models, were also sought-after, with at least one rare early BMW known to have reached South African shores.
Many vehicles sold here after the war ended in 1945 were essentially pre-war designs updated with minor revisions. This collection at Zwartkops promises a fascinating glimpse into that era. This unique convergence of homologation heroes and pre-war treasures offers an unmissable opportunity for automotive aficionados to witness pivotal chapters of motoring history first hand.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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