We visit Supercar Cellar Storage in Paarl

Based outside Paarl, a 60 km drive from Cape Town, a new facility called Supercar Cellar Storage has opened its doors. We sit down with Brett Smith to find out more.  

Words: Wilhelm Lutjeharms

It is no secret that a lot of South Africans are moving down from Gauteng and its surrounds to the Western Cape. With the ever-increasing number of new properties and estates that are being developed in and around Cape Town, a lot of high-end car owners own more cars than they have space for at home.

In Cape Town’s CBD Crossley & Webb and The Archive are well known and respected companies that cater for a wide audience of enthusiasts, buyers and sellers as well as those owners who need storage space. 

However, with the high number of owners and collectors based outside Cape Town in the Winelands, SCS’s proprietors saw a gap in the market and decided to build a world class facility.

During the opening evening there were a plethora of sports cars on display, a lot of them from one of South Africa’s most prominent supercar owners. The rare Pagani Huayra Roadster (click here for our drive on this special car) grabbed most of the attendees’ attention, while a McLaren Senna and Lamborghini Huracán STO were only a few of the other high-end performance cars on display. However, there was also a rather beautiful classic BMW 5 Series.

The team has done everything possible to make the building not only secure (featuring AI surveillance), but (as far as possible) dust proof and it is also temperature and humidity controlled.

Big Foot Detailing has also moved in and offers a vast range of expert detailing options for clients. This includes any enthusiast who want to bring their car to them for a treatment, while they will also attend to clients’ cars after a drive or before a car is put back into storage.

As I make my way upstairs there is a variety of artwork and memorabilia on the walls. Upstairs there is also a coffee bar, while a walk over the bridge gives you a 360-degree view of the cars around you, stacked on the three-tier lifts.

On the other side of the bridge there is a Fanatec racing and golf simulator, while you can also browse a shop that offers car models and much more automotive memorabilia to choose from.

Brett Smith, the manager at SCS, further elaborates on what they offer: “We have a very stringent quality control system. Before a car is put back in storage, it always gets a mini detail. Cars are also put on trickle chargers and they are put underneath SCS car covers. There are currently some stock issues, but we’ll soon also start putting cars on tyre cushions which help to eliminate flat spots. 

“In terms of detailing we offer everything from PPF, paint enhancement, paint correction and dry ice blasting. The later you can use on several places on the car, from the chassis to the engine for example. It basically freezes the dirt and then it falls off. 

“We can store a total of 50 cars. At the moment we are 65% full, but that figure changes, because some owners have already reserved their spots depending on when they are taking delivery of a car in the future. We are running 6-month contracts.

"There are also different member packages. Once a member, they will be invited to social events such as track days and breakfast runs. There is even the possibility to having access to certain launches of wrist watches. 

“In the future we would really like to offer our members special trips to Formula 1 races for example. As members you pay this premium, but we offer as many value-added products as possible.

“During the week we are usually closed to the public, just to limit the amount of dust that enters the building as we control all the fresh air that comes in, as it goes through filters.”

Being connected in the motoring circles, Brett says they can also potentially help clients in sourcing a car if they are looking for something specific to buy. 

“There are a lot of clients who request individualisation elements on their cars. It is not really in our scope of work, but we are flexible in what we offer clients.”

Capturing the market in the Winelands, enthusiasts now have a place where their cars can be attended to, while there are also the option to move their cars between SCS and the two facilities in Cape Town. Also keep in mind that Creative Rides has a branch in Tokai, which means your needs as an enthusiast or owner is very well catered for in and around Cape Town.