The 29th George Old Car Show, the biggest show for old and veteran cars in the country, will take place on Saturday, 14 February 2026 at the Eden Technical High School in George.
The Southern Cape Old Car Club, organisers of the show, cordially invites all veteran car clubs and classic car owners to participate in this annual celebration of motoring history, engineering ingenuity and timeless automotive beauty.
Scheduled for Valentine’s Day next year, the 2026 George Old Car Show will not only showcase South Africa’s love and appreciation of old and classic cars but will also pay homage to the Pioneers of Motoring, honouring the 140th anniversary of the invention of the horseless motor carriage by Carl Benz in 1886.
To commemorate this historic, world changing occasion, visitors will be treated to a special exhibition of early Benz vehicles that pioneered modern motorcars, including replicas of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the 1901 Benz Ideal and the 1913 Benz 8/20 PS Tourenwagen.
Simultaneously, the show will celebrate the 130th anniversary of the first motor vehicle, a Benz Velo, arriving in South Africa. Imported by John Percy Hess, who later became the sole agent for Benz in the country, the car was shipped from Germany to Port Elizabeth in late 1896 and then transported to Pretoria.
The show will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the formation of Mercedes-Benz in 1926, when the predecessor companies Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie merged to form Daimler-Benz AG with an exclusive exhibition of pre-World War II Mercedes-Benz cars.
Among the exhibited highlights proudly representing the evolution of the legendary marque, will be a 1935 Mercedes-Benz W23 130H, a 1938 Mercedes-Benz W142 Type 320 and a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster. These classics will be joined by a selection of exclusive post-War Mercedes-Benz models, presented by the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa, as part of its activities commemorating its 40th anniversary.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Vettoer, organised by Philip Kuschke, will again precede the George Old Car Show on Friday, 13 February 2026. Reserved for vehicles manufactured without front brakes, this prestigious tour is an iconic tradition strongly supported by the Model T Ford Club of South Africa.
In a symbolic tribute to motoring’s origins, the organisers are planning to have the Benz Patent-Motorwagen lead the line-up of participating vehicles when they depart, alongside fascinating entries, including a Stanley Steamer and a selection of interesting veteran motorcycles.
The Kia Carens nameplate makes its return to South Africa, this time as a seven‑seater designed with families in mind. It combines Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) styling with Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) practicality, offering space, comfort and efficiency, Kia says.
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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
Volvo has confirmed that its vehicles will now integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system. This development builds on the company’s existing collaboration with Google, which already provides Android Automotive OS and Google services in Volvo models.
New vehicle sales in 2026 continued their positive trend in April, with the 47 979 units sold marking the best April figure since 2013. This represents a remarkable performance by local automotive retailers despite a host of economic headwinds and a challenging trading environment.
April 2026 marked a turning point in South Africa’s economic landscape, as global energy markets were jolted by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.
