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.
Dunlop Tyres South Africa has completed a R1.7 billion investment programme at its uMnambithi (Ladysmith) manufacturing facility, introducing new manufacturing technology and expanding production capabilities at the plant.
Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled the Scorpio Lifestyler, a midsize lifestyle bakkie derived from the Global Pik Up concept first shown in Cape Town in 2023.
The South African automotive industry has gained some breathing space following the latest move by the United States Senate to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, to the end of 2028.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
Dunlop Tyres South Africa has completed a R1.7 billion investment programme at its uMnambithi (Ladysmith) manufacturing facility, introducing new manufacturing technology and expanding production capabilities at the plant.
The South African automotive industry has gained some breathing space following the latest move by the United States Senate to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, to the end of 2028.
General Motors (GM) has renewed its joint venture with China's SAIC Motor Corp for another 20 years, enabling the United States (US) automaker to use China as an export hub amid rising competition from Chinese brands in and outside their home market.
