EASTCLIFF – A search for the best custom built car in South Africa was what brought Driven SA, custom race car manufacturers from around the country as well as car enthusiasts together on November 16, for the Driven SA Car Show.
The venue was The Glen Shopping Centre roof top and the main attraction was the superior race and sports cars that had even 2008 Formula One World Champion and British F1 racing driver, Lewis Hamilton requesting one of the Spartan Automotives creation.
“We started the tour in Cape Town and finished up a few weeks ago. This is actually the first time ever that these cars were seen in Johannesburg, one of the cars has actually been sold to Lewis Hamilton the Formula One driver,” said Driven SA owner, Jonathan Doolaph.
The aim was to bring customized race cars to normal ordinary sites (car parking, etc) to be experienced by people who may never have had a chance to see a racing car outside of their television set. A special event was held at the Midvaal where the power and endurance of the vehicles on show were tested to the enjoyment of the audience.
“We’re building a future relationship with people where we build cars and sell them down here for R300 000 for some sports cars,” added Mr Doolaph who also promised that more events have been scheduled in 2014.
Mark Moller of Spartan Automotives, who had on display the Spartan Trike and Spartan 7 Sonic race cars which are said to be completely street legal, explained that attention to detail presents the Spartan with the styling and performance of a race car offering complementary handling and durability ensuring a desired drive on a long and winding road and victory on the race track.
“We manufacture them for clients and they can buy them from Spartan, but we are based in Cape Town. We deliver our cars worldwide, the Spartan 7 retails at R280 000 brand new and the Spartan Trike goes for R375 000 or you can purchase the kit for R147 000 and you can build it yourself,” said Mr Moller.
Exclusive German customs specialists Elvis De Matos and Ernest Smith said that restoring and customizing BMW’s is something they do with more passion than anything else, although they are able to build exclusive trailers that are colour coordinated with the exterior and interior of a vehicle.
“What makes our work different are the trailers and the fact that we’re not scared to try new things especially with the engine modifications, the interior, colours of the interior. We are not afraid to go overboard and that’s what makes our cars stand out,” explained Elvis De Matos.
Ernest Smith who is Elvis’ partner, revealed that their friendship can be attributed to their love of BMWs.
“We decide to start looking around and do a couple of projects as we have a passion for the same types of vehicles. We acquire one or two vehicles which we sometimes find as wrecks and we start building them up, although it takes a bit of time it doesn’t matter because we have a passion for it. Our hearts are with BMW but we don’t mind working on other brand models,” said Ernest Smith.
People at the show said that they looked forward to more Car Shows of this level happening in the south in the near future.
