Old Wheelers boast at Bonnets Up Day

SOME cars will never lose their flair.

The Old Wheelers Club and Museum in Windhoek started their new year with the annual Bonnets Up Day, where owners can boast about their wheels of yesteryear.

As car owners say, there are two groups of motor admirers: the stylish ones that value vintage and classic cars, and the ones that have a taste for fast, modern cars.

Vintage car owners love sharing the history of their cars, while keeping them in pristine condition.

But keeping these cars in showroom condition is not always easy, as cars have a tendency to break if not used on a daily basis. Pipes often break or get eaten by rodents if not taken care of regularly.

Rainer Rusch from the Old Wheelers Club (OWC), and owner of several old cars, told Top Revs despite spare parts not always being available, there are avenues, like the internet, that can be used to find them. Those who have the mechanical know-how can make the basic components themselves.

“Getting spares depends on what you need as there are still a lot of spares around. But most of it, unfortunately, has to be imported from overseas and the import taxes and freight makes it expensive,” Rusch says.

Fortunately, these old cars were built to last – something that cannot always be said of today’s cars.

One of Rusch’s latest projects is to refurbish a 1982 Toyota bakkie that belonged to an elderly couple. It stood in a barn for almost 10 years.
Rusch says the public can contact the OWC if they know of any spare and old car parts available.

Another proud car owner is Rolf Redecker, who this month became the owner of a 1952 Mercedes 300.

The vehicle was made after World War Two, with technology that predates the war.
The car still has a chassis, unlike the monocoque design.

The 3.0L 6- cylinder Mercedes has been owned by the likes of former German chancellor Konrad Adenauer in his official fleet, with black paint complemented by chrome trimmings and a soft leather interior.

The vehicle is fitted with an onboard grease pump, allowing the driver to regularly apply the lubricants as required without taking the car to a service agent.

The vehicle is a right-hand drive, making it legal to drive on local roads.
This particular car found its home in Namibia from Switzerland.

Redecker says his passion started with his grandfather, and later his father, who owned Mercedes. And as a child, he always wanted one that dated back to the 1950s.

The OWC has a full programme for 2025, from open days to trips planned to towns like Omaruru and Dordabis.
The OWC museum is in the process of raising money to extend the museum to display more vehicles.

Apart from cars, the museum is also home to many other automotive relics, like tools and equipment used by garage owners, books, miniature cars, vintage motorcycles and pre-independence road signs.

The museum is open for visitors and they also serve scrumptious meals, while the young ones can engage in talks with owners about their car experiences before modern technology started to rule the roads.