Basic Website now functioning at http://www.weddingsetc.co.za
I have a few old cars that are bored and would really like to transport you to your
wedding venue in the Durban area, KwaZulu-Natal.
Like the driver they are not in any rush to get there. They prefer to be booked in advance
so that they can relax and ponder the journey ahead. Let's face it they have been doing
this for many years and have been withstood the test of time . We mere mortals are not going to
survive these oldtimers, all we can do is cherish and seize those moments that present
themselves in our lives and afford us an opportunity to take a ride in something nostalgic
and representative of this era in human history - The age of the Automobile.
There are at present three Oldtimers waiting for something to do.
They don't like to travel far for your function and so we have agreed do restrict our
escapdes within KwaZulu-Natal and specifically Durban to Pitermaritzburg region
concentrating on the Upper Highway area which includes Hillcrest, Kloof and Waterfall.
So if your pleasure is to arrive with a difference then choose one of these oldtimers for
that event. Whether it's an open tourer for a sunny day or a closed sedan for other weather
conditions, one of these classics will gladly get you there with a difference.
1955 Citroen Traction Avant (light fifteen)
1949 MG YT
1930 DODGE SIX DD SEDAN
All are mechanically up to the task at hand.
Each has their individual flair, style and nostalgia to satisfy your desire to take a trip
down memory lane.
***************** DODGE ****************************
The DODGE was built in the first year of the Great Depression. 1930 was also the first year
that sliced bread went on sale in England and frozen foods were sold commercially for the
first time, sticky tape was invented (USA) and of more interest to me, the year Pluto was
discovered. In America gasoline cost 10c a gallon and the average house cost just over
$7000 US. The Dodge would have cost you $865.
Dodge Brothers also produceed their first 8 cylinder (DC) in 1930.
I purchased her on 22 June 2007 from Jurg Tschepen in Mulnersdrift, Krugersdorp (JHB area)
Gauteng province. It all happened quite quickly ..er.. besides the drive back home that is.
She is the roomiest of the bunch as well as the most powerful with a straight six providing 61 HP hauling a "All Steel " body along.
http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/dodge-cars.html
http://www.dodgebrothersclub.org/dbcwebsite/index.php
http://www.tocmp.com
******************** MG YT ***************************
This is YT leaving Cape Town in 1999.The MG YT is one of only 877 produced and she's also the only open tourer I have available.
She is the second member of the family and was purchased from Chris Swale in Pinetown in
July 2006.
She was found in Cape Town in a very sad state in August 1999 and brought to Durban where
she underwent a chassis off restoration which took Chris two years to complete.
Chris has provided me with the following details. Richard Mitchell owned the car for about
15 years during which he brought the car with him when he moved from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.
Richard had all the instruments restored and this was the motivation behind Chris acquiring
the car. The car was in boxes and it was roughly tied together with wire and put on a flat
bed and tranported by Bigfoot to Durban. On arriving in Durban Chris discovered that the
floor and boot were beyond repair and so used part of a YA saloon body which he found
through Dave Lawrence in JHB, Author of the excellent book :Let there be 'Y's.
The motor is from a MG TD and is the motor that arrived with all the bits.
Her convertible top, full tonneau cover and all four side curtains were also restored.
Interestingly when Anesh came to quote me on the interior of the Citroen he spotted the
back of YT and it wasn't long before we realised that it was he who covered the tonneau
framework some seven years prior and it was this realisation that gave me the confidence to
let him go ahead with Citroens interior.
YT's on Parade - Y Type register
******************* CITROEN **************************
The Citroen speaks for herself. Probably remains one of the most appealing cars ever built.
Were they to have chosen the human form, promiscuity would have been their delightful
destiny. For me she is the "first born" and ignited a simmering passion for old cars which
is growing stronger by the day. I have and will continue to improve her in memory of her
previous owner and friend, Joe Franken who tragically died in an "accident" in 2005. I
acquired her from Joe in 2004.
Joe had a Mercedes Benz in his front yard that Errol Schwegmann wanted, so they traded.
Errol had done quite a bit of work on her including respraying, rewiring, new trim rubbers.
Unfortunately she stood unprotected on Joe's front lawn for about four years which allowed
the elements to take their toll on a freshly painted car albeit slightly.
I've had her gearbox and clutch repaired/ overhauled (Thanks to Aubrey Barnes). She then
stood for about a year while I was rearranging my life and then one day Pat & Kim decided
to get married. They set a date for 31st March 2006 and I offered to drive them to Crinkley
Bottom Park (Waterfall) as a wedding gift. The deadline got me activated which led to
Citroen running properly and polished. Looking back now I can see that this wedding was
also the planting of a seed which has blossomed and contributed to the manifestation of
this website and my future daily bread!
Citroens next dose of loving attention came in May 2007 when for Cars in the Park (PMB),
her entire interior was expertly redone with a darkish red leather by New Germany Auto
Trimmers (peruse picture gallery carefully for Anesh's contact details!) This was quickly
followed by the removal of rust in her boot which obvioiusly needed to be resprayed. Thanks
to Johann - Citi Centre Panelbeaters for his expedience in getting the job done in time and
under pressure. The boot was resprayed 10 am on the Saturday, fitted in the afternoon and I
spent the night polishing and fiddling and drove to Maritzburg.
General History
The Citroen Traction Avant was the first successfully mass produced front wheel drive. So
reliable that from their introduction in 1934 they were produced until 1957 (interrupted by
the war). They were revolutionary when introduced, incorporating unitary construction
(chassis-less), torsion bar suspension and hydraulic brakes. They were one of the first
cars crash tested. It is however for their tenacious road holding abilities that they are
fondly remembered here in South Africa. In 1935 M. Lecott drove a Traction 400 000km in a
year, a record which still stands today.
For me her body shape and style captures that 40's look more beautifully than any of the
other car manufacturers of that era. She was built in 1955 which was also the last
production year of light fifteens in Slough, UK, her place of birth.
http://www.cats-citroen.net/citroen_tra ... ry_uk.html
http://members.chello.nl/~a.moors/citroen_links.html
http://www.weddingsetc.co.za
