Forty gleaming classic and collectible cars went under the hammer this past Saturday at the Creative Rides auction with a 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster (photo) going for R3.3-million.
This wasn’t just any Porsche. The 1989 Speedster is a one-year-only limited production model, first unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1989. Inspired by the original 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster, only 2 104 units were ever built — and the star of Saturday’s auction was one of just 139 right-hand-drive second-generation Speedsters (the coveted G-Series model).
Notably, the G-Series Speedster was never offered for sale in South Africa. At its 1989 global launch, it carried a 25% premium over the regular Porsche 911 Targa, which retailed locally for R341 000. But, factoring in South Africa’s 100% import tariffs at the time, the landed cost of a 911 Speedster back then would have been around R450 000 — a small sum compared to the car’s status (and value) today, earning its proud seller an outstanding investment return.
“The beauty of our Creative Rides auctions is that they bring together all-time collectible classics like the Porsche 911 Speedster with instant future classics like the BMW M4 CS,” said Kevin Derrick, CEO of Creative Rides.
The Top 5 sellers of the day were dominated by German engineering, with modern BMW icons following closely behind the Porsche. A 2017 BMW M4 GTS F82 reached a hammer price of R1.8 million, and a 2021 BMW M2 CS achieved R1.7 million.
But it wasn’t all about Europe. One of the surprises of the day was a 1969 Dodge Charger 440 RT, which thundered to R2 million. This wasn’t your average muscle car — it featured an 8.5-litre Chrysler Hemi V8 and a suite of mechanical upgrades, making it a true resto-mod masterpiece.
On the South African muscle-car front, a pristine original 1972 Ford Fairmont GT achieved a respectable R900 000, while a matching-numbers Ford Capri Perana V8 was arguably well purchased at R700 000.
Another local highlight was an iconic “South Africa-only” Volkswagen Golf Mk I GT LTD, number 003 of just 1 000 built, showing only 29km on the clock. Although it fetched R550 000 under the hammer, it did not meet its reserve price.
For decades, buying a car has been as much about emotion as practicality. Shiny brochures, polished showroom floors and persuasive sales talk often overshadowed the cold, hard numbers of ownership. But today, where information is currency, consumers are no longer satisfied with glossy marketing – they want data, and they want it now.
According to a Reuters report, South Africa is engaged in discussions with Chinese automotive manufacturers to encourage local investment, with at least one company showing considerable interest in establishing production facilities in the country, a senior government official revealed on Wednesday.
Nissan says the latest wave of launches from the brand in South Africa supports Nissan’s long-standing commitment to the country, underpinned by more than 60 years of local presence.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
For decades, buying a car has been as much about emotion as practicality. Shiny brochures, polished showroom floors and persuasive sales talk often overshadowed the cold, hard numbers of ownership. But today, where information is currency, consumers are no longer satisfied with glossy marketing – they want data, and they want it now.
According to a Reuters report, South Africa is engaged in discussions with Chinese automotive manufacturers to encourage local investment, with at least one company showing considerable interest in establishing production facilities in the country, a senior government official revealed on Wednesday.
Europe’s automotive sector, once a global leader, is facing what McKinsey describes as “the largest transformation in the industry’s history”.
