Small-Town Treasures in Ceres

Sometimes we find the most interesting collections in the smallest towns in South Africa. We head to Ceres in the Western Cape to view a collection that has been carefully built up over 60 years. 

Words and photos: Wilhelm Lutjeharms

At first glance it appears to be just another tyre fitment workshop. There are trucks and some cars being attended to – nothing out of the ordinary. However, on the one car lift is a 60s American classic, and I would soon realise that this is only the tip of the motoring ice berg that lurks in the buildings around the workshop.

Background

David Wesson and his family have always lived in Ceres in the Western Cape. As his youngest son is now also part of the business, it makes him the third generation to be involved in the family business. David takes me back to the early days and how their love of cars started with their late father. 

• Find a classic car to buy for yourself here.

“When my father passed away, we sold a few cars, but we kept the majority of the cars he had collected. We have a number of cars that have been restored, then cars that are completely original and finally I have a number of project cars.” David admits that there are too many projects for one lifetime, but he is thankful that both his sons also have a passion for the cars and would like to continue with the hobby and the various maintenance and restoration projects. 

“My father arrived in Ceres in 1964. He was a tyre representative in the area and worked for Dunlop. It was then that he saw the potential for the tyre and fitment shop in town. He arrived here with an Austin Healey 3.0-litre and an Austin Seven Swallow – which is a very rare Austin model. He had to sell one of the cars to finance the start of his business, so decided to sell the Austin Healey as he argued it would be easier to source such a model one day versus the Swallow. With the money from the sale, he built a small building with a re-treading tyre shop.”

“My father had a significant interest in cars, and obviously I grew up with that passion. Over the years people start to know that my father, and later myself, are interested in cars and are collecting them. The result was that people would phone us informing us of a possible car that is or might be for sale. People would tell us how special the said car was or how well it had been cared for, but through these trips we also have been disappointed a number of times.”

“My dad grew up playing with Dinky model cars - he would put them under the hens in the hope they would multiply!”

“On weekends I would jump in the cars with my father when he took them for a drive. Even when the weather wasn’t great he would still take the roof off the cabriolets. One of the main features of the collection is the number of cabriolets. That has always been one of the focus points for my father and is for us as well.”

“I learned to at a young age. My father would put a cushion on the driver’s seat and taught me how to drive. While my father was still alive, I also looked around and started my own collection. My father’s taste in cars and my own were different though. We buy what is of interest to us and what is beautiful to us. These include American, German, Italian and British cars to name a few.”

As David kindly guides me towards the collection, I turn the corner and see the majority of the cars for the first time - it is an impressive a sight! From a very rare Opel GT, a pair of Audi Quattros, impressively long American convertibles, a Jaguar E-Type and many more!

Project cars

“Restoring cars is intense and has become very expensive, especially owing to the labour involved in such a project. You have to analyse your project car and decide on the condition of the car. Not every vehicle is worthy of the restoration costs and you very carefully have to select which cars warrant the costs of restoring.”

Through the years David has built up a vast network of contacts that is beneficial when it comes to restoring the cars. He admits that the individual car clubs are also of much help when it comes to these projects. 

As David walks me through the collection, it is evident that he has an ongoing soft spot for classic cars versus modern cars. In two occasions he was considering buying modern cars, once a Porsche 911 and on another occasion a Morgan, and in both instances he opted for classics instead. 

One barn contains cars that are mostly earmarked for restorations – again these include cars from a variety of manufacturers and type of cars and even a Dodge Military Power Wagon truck. 

“The most enjoyable aspect of the collection is without a doubt driving the cars. I personally would like to be able to do more of the restoration work myself, but I don’t have the necessary knowledge and experience to work on a car’s body for example.”

“A car that is on my wish list includes the new Bentley Continental GTC. It is a stunning car. It offers the best of all worlds. Performance, comfort and luxury – top down or up. A dream would be a real Jaguar D-Type. It is completely out of my price bracket, but I do have a replica though. There are a few more, but time will tell.”

As I look at what is said to be the last locally-built Mini, two Alfa Romeos and what is the only modern car in this garage, a Jaguar F-Type, there are decades of automotive history visible to the eye. And to think it all started with the 1930 Austin Seven Swallow, still parked at the back of the garage, arguably the most important car in the collection and still there after 60 years in the family.