SPECIAL EVENT
THE 2025 GEORGE OLD CAR SHOW ON FEBRUARY 8 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS
The 28th George Old Car Show held on February 8 2025 drew a massive crowd to the Eden Technical High School grounds in central George . Near perfect weather - sunny alternating with mild cloud cover - contributed to making this one of the most memorable shows in the event ’ s history , which has seen it cement its status as one of the country ’ s best classic car events on the annual calendar .
Just over 12 000 visitors to the show were stunned by a unique array of veteran , vintage and classic cars , motorcycles , tractors and farm implement engines that totalled well over the 1 000 mark . And this year ’ s British theme saw the fields at the high school venue packed to capacity with entrants arriving from all parts of South Africa .
“ The decision to switch from a two-day event to a one day show this year was a resounding success ,” said Waldo Scribante , chairman of the organising club , the Southern Cape Old Car Club . “ Even before the show officially opened at 9 am the fields seemed to be filling up with spectators , and they remained packed all day right up until closing time at 6 pm .” Another good decision was to declare a special British theme for the 2025 show .
An orchestrated campaign in the weeks leading up to the show resulted in more British-built cars streaming into the grounds than ever before , and many of these British classics were getting their first exposure to the greater classic car audience .
There was heart-warming support from the likes of MG , Triumph , Austin Healey , Morris , Austin , and more exotic makes like Aston Martin , Jensen , Morgan and the likes of Mini Coopers and British Fords such as Anglias and Cortinas , Vauxhalls and other workaday classics from various eras , starting with the tiny Austin Seven examples from the 1920s . For many show-goers , the crowning glory was the magnificent Rolls-Royce and Bentley display on the top field , representing the “ royalty ” of the British motor industry . A selection of over 20 of these expensive British motoring monarchs had been assembled from owners arriving from all parts of the country . These included Bentleys with famous Le Mans Heritage from the 1920s and ‘ 30s and included a 4,5-litre Le Mans model that came from Cape Town and a Speed-6 example , representing the famous victory achieved at Le Mans in 1930 . “ I was particularly pleased to see the spread between Bentley and Rolls models , and also to note that these cars that entered covered such a number of different eras ”, said Waldo Scribante . “ We had Rolls and Bentley models from the 1930s , progressing through the 1950s , ‘ 60s and ‘ 70s through to the modern day .
“ It is amazing that the first Rolls-Royce arrived in South Africa in 1910 , and here on the field in George we had a modern 2016 Phantom Limelight model that travelled up from Paarl for the show .” One of the most eye-catching of the special Rolls-Royce examples was the Shooting Brake model owned by Brian Bruce of Knysna , with evocative wood-enforced estate-car bodywork commissioned in India , on an early 20 / 25 chassis .
The enthusiasm for the British theme also extended to other show genres . The Vintage and Veteran display opposite the main arena showcased some British cars not often seen , such as the 1925 Morris Cowley Bullnose example , as well as a stately white 1912 Rover Colonial with a magnificent warrior-like radiator mascot . More low-key was a mid-1920s Talbot Tourer in unrestored form , showing tantalising patina from its 100-year history . For the record , the oldest car on the show this year was a 1904 French car , a tiny single cylinder De Dion Bouton Model Q , owned by Tom van der Vyver .
aBr WORDS IN ACTION 30 JANUARY • FEBRUARY • MARCH 2025