Vintage Elegance: Pre-WWII Rolls-Royces to Dazzle at Cars in the Park 2024

To the left: No less than four Rolls-Royces from the 1930s will headline the special display at Cars in the Park 2024.To the right, This 1930s Dodge did serious tow-vehicle duty at the 2023 Cars in the Park.

A stunning collection of pre-World War Two Rolls-Royce cars is set to be a major attraction at this year’s Cars in the Park at Zwartkops Raceway on Sunday, August 4. These British masterpieces, built during an era when Rolls-Royce was hailed as the pinnacle of automotive excellence, continue to exude an unparalleled aura of magnificence since the company’s inception in 1904.

“The allure of Cars in the Park never fails to impress us,” says Emil Kuschke, a member of the Pretoria Old Motor Club responsible for sourcing Special Invite Vehicles for the club’s premier annual event. “A gentleman reached out to us, asking if we could feature his three Rolls-Royce cars from the 1930s, and our answer was an enthusiastic ‘yes’! So far, we have four of these majestic 1930s Rolls-Royce cars that will be showcased in the pits at Zwartkops, their presence sure to leave spectators in awe.

“Many enthusiasts use Cars in the Park as motivation to complete restoration projects. Each year we issue a window sticker with the event date, and we know collectors who proudly display these stickers, marking the various Cars in the Park events where their cars have been exhibited.”

A magnificent line-up of  pre-World War Two Rolls-Royce cars will be a highlight of this year’s Cars in the Park at Zwartkops Raceway on Sunday, August 4.

Frik Kraamwinkel, the chief event organizer for the Pretoria Old Motor Club, explains that the annual classic car festival has evolved into a significant event rather than just a car show. “Numerous local organizations and businesses leverage Cars in the Park to promote their causes, particularly the charities we collaborate with. This year, we are working with the South African National Blood Services Blood Drive, the Community Emergency Response Team, the Honorary Game Ranger organization, Owl Rescue, the MOTH organization, and our long-term partners, the Lions.

“The diversity of these organizations highlights the broad community interests that Cars in the Park now attracts. We are immensely proud to have contributed to spreading the classic car culture far and wide.”

The 42nd edition of Cars in the Park is expected to draw over 2,500 classic, vintage, and veteran cars to Zwartkops from 6 am onwards on Sunday, August 4. More than 140 stallholders will be selling a variety of goods, with plenty of food and beverages available.

Attendees can also look forward to various entertainments, including live music and a mini rally stage for current rally cars on the Zwartkops karting circuit.

As in previous years, numerous car clubs will be present, with over 100 clubs having reserved space around the Zwartkops race circuit for the 2024 event. Many of these clubs are celebrating significant milestones this year.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Ford Mustang, which was first launched in April 1964. In South Africa, the first Mustangs arrived as a special consignment of 80 cars in the latter half of 1965. These initial Mustangs were all left-hand-drive models, a practice allowed in South Africa at the time. Visitors to Cars in the Park will see a special display by the Mustang Club of South Africa, celebrating six decades of this iconic car that sparked the muscle-car movement.

Other marques celebrating special anniversaries this year include Fiat (125 years), Alfa Romeo (75 years of the Giulietta Sprint), and Chrysler (the first Chrysler was built in 1924).

For many enthusiasts, the charm of Cars in the Park lies in the diverse array of old cars that appear, often in varying states of restoration. “We witness barn finds arriving each year, sometimes on the backs of small trucks and pick-ups, which are themselves classics,” says Kraamwinkel. “South Africa’s motor history is rich and varied, with cars from virtually every country imported in the early days, often in small numbers. It’s astonishing how many of these rarities have survived.”

This year, visitors can expect to see an array of British sports cars, German saloons, Japanese pick-ups, American sedans and convertibles, and Italian classics.

The gates for Cars in the Park at Zwartkops will open at 6 am on Sunday, August 4, for classic car owners to display their vehicles, which must arrive before 8:30 am. The general public will be admitted from 8:30 am onwards, with the show concluding at 4 pm.

Event Details Here