Leon Zeelie has had a few classic cars over the years and says ”I always liked to be different”. So when he saw a Gumtree ad pop up for this 1943 International, he fell in love. He spent some time playing with the idea of “should I or shouldn’t I…” and finally decided that yes, he wants it!” However, the ad was gone. As good fortune would have it, a few months later he sold a car to a Christo van Eeden and saw his Whatsapp profile picture.. and boom there was the ’43 International Safari Rat.
Leon told Christo his story and asked if the car was for sale. However, Christo wasn’t ready to let it go yet. Fast-forwarding this story by a few months and Leon, out of the blue, got a call from Christo asking him if he was still interested in the Pickup and wanted to come to have a look.
The pickup still needed a few things to be done to it. Also, he wasn’t the first in line. A car reviewer/ memorabilia collector also wanted the Rat. Fortunately for Leon, at the end of the day, he won and the car was finally his. His idea was to use the car for his new home renovation business, so now the pickup runs as a daily.
The Build of the Safari Rat
This 1943 International was built by Christo van Eeden in his home garage in Noordhoek. Christo found the cab in a field, on a farm in Bloemfontein. This was great as it meant no major rust problems. Just some surface rust that gave it a nice patina. The donor was bought in 2016. It was a 1982 Nissan Safari. The build took about 3 years, with parts sourced where possible from farms and junk.
The bonnet is from a 1939 Ford sedan that was chopped in the middle and shaped to fit. The grill is from a 30’s Diamond T truck that was shortened. The hood ornament came from a Pontiac found at a flea market in Redhill. The chains and steel are from a scrap dealer. The gearknob was bought in Cornwall, in the UK, on market day. This was while Christo was there on holiday. The rear light holders are made from Pistons and Conrods from a 1.6 Ford Escort. It was machined to fit the Land Rover tail lights.
All the metal fabrication work was done by Christo, and as for the paint? It was painted by nature! The donor car was a 1982 Nissan Safari 4×4. Why? Because it’s strong as hell. No modifications were needed. It just got a good service. The motor is from the same Nissan Safari with a good old 2.8 inline 6. The motor was in such good condition only the head and card were redone. The carbs are Weber 40 twin-barrel, the same as they use on Maserati/Ferrari Dino…fancy. Finally, for the exhaust, Christo used some pipe that he found and some leftovers from the Safari.
The interior
The Interior look was played with, and the metal is from his own stock. Christo just added some detail from the scrap heap. Old number plates and metal cups were used as cup holders …and other junk. The seats are from the Safari. However, it was newly upholstered with a cow print blanket. The steering is a customized Safari steering, with a teethed sprocket as the Horn ring.
It’s all in the detail when looking at this pickup. One simply has to see it. When people see it…their jaws drop… it’s that special.
Questions about the Safari Rat
Anybody you would like to thank Leon? Yes, Christo van Eeden…my car builder.
Names of companies you used for parts and work done on the car?
Master Cams, Bellville. They sorted out my cam.
Headzone, Brackenfell- for prepping my head – skim…cleaned out.. assembled.
Rowland Manifolds, Parow – for sorting out my Carburettor
Hans Marshall, Athlone – Setting my timing/ valves/ fit Electronic Dizzy
Lionel Moses, Somerset West, for advice
