Car Features

The '59 Karmann Ghia A Vintage Beauty in the Street Rod Scene

Uveer’s '59 Ghia: A Durban Take on a Classic

Enter the 1959 Karmann Ghia you see here, recently purchased by Uveer Ramnarayan, a dedicated air-cooled VW enthusiast. Uveer’s story with this Ghia began like any good vintage car romance: he spotted the car online, quickly made arrangements with the seller in Athlone, and soon found himself flying down from Durban to close the deal. Known as the "poor man's Porsche," the Ghia was irresistible for a true Volkswagen fan like Uveer.

Reviving a Legend:Kurt Kannemeyer’s Tribute to the Chevy Can-Am

Kurt Kannemeyer’s story is one many enthusiasts can relate to. About nine months ago, Kurt picked up his 1972 Chevy Firenza 2.5 GT from a seller in Port Elizabeth. Having already tinkered with another 2.5 GT by shoehorning a 350 and a four-speed manual into it, he was no stranger to a Chevy project. But this particular Firenza – with its potential to channel the Can-Am – was different. For Kurt, this wasn’t just a car; it was a throwback to his teenage years, when two Portuguese brothers in his neighborhood ran Can-Ams and fueled his lifelong love for Chevy muscle.

1970 Porsche 911: A Restored Racing Icon by Dutchmann


Photos by Stefan Danil Kotz.

The three numbers, 911, usually associated with emergencies, here signify one of Germany’s finest exports—the legendary Porsche 911.

A Journey from Dormancy to Glory

Rat Fink’s Zombie Nightmare: The Volvo Hemizon

By Ben Chandler and Paddy McGrath  
Adapted for RestoMod
Original article from Speerhunters.com

A Resurrection Like No Other
Pulled from the brink of destruction, the Hemizon began its life as a rusted-out Volvo Amazon shell. “There was no trunk, no fenders, no windows—just a shell,” Henrik recalls. This zombie of a car was brought back to life with pure metal artistry and a beast of an engine that would send shivers down any car lover’s spine.

From V6 to V8: How US Trucks Became the Go-To for Jeep Wrangler HEMI Conversions

The Humble Beginnings of US Trucks

THE F100 HAULER THAT DEFIED THE ODDS: A Six-Wheeler Dream 40 Years in the Making

Reviving the Dream
Fast forward to 2012. The brothers had spent the years honing their skills, with Heinrich Enslin recently completing a GT40 build. But the itch to finish their six-wheeler pickup had never gone away. During a hunt for a '50s Ford F100, they stumbled upon a fiberglass 1954 F100 replica body from the Hot Rod Factory in East London. The project was back on—this time with fiberglass and a renewed sense of determination.

The Build Begins

Volvo 122S: Jimmy Tebbutt Super Clean, Street-Bred Beast

Photos By Chris Wall

Jimmy’s mission was simple: build a feature-worthy Volvo 122S. He was even more motivated after spotting one in a magazine that he thought didn’t deserve the spotlight. Determined to show the world what a true showstopper should look like, Jimmy put in the work, and the result speaks for itself.

The 1949 Mercury That Almost Got Away

Over the years, I scoured every corner of South Africa and beyond for the perfect Merc. But 2-door models? Rare as hen’s teeth. All I could find were 4-door shells in states of disrepair that didn’t justify the cost and effort of restoration. And trust me, building a leadsled isn't a job for the faint of heart. It’s a long, painstaking process. At one point, I even considered importing a fiberglass Merc kit from AC Autos in the U.S., but the dream of finding a genuine 2-door was still burning.

1962 Chevy Nova: A Classic Reborn in Noordhoek

Photos by Melissa Maeder
Owner: David Szot-Myburg  
Location: Noordhoek, Cape Town  

David, a lifelong Hot Rod enthusiast, can’t seem to stop building cars, no matter how many times he tells himself the current project is the last. There’s always another car with potential—another project waiting to be transformed. And that’s exactly what happened with this Nova.

The Gumtree Find and the Vision

GMonster Chevy Bel Air: The Monster of 1957


Bodie Stroud: A Hot Rod Legend in the Making

Bodie Stroud’s journey is the stuff of American dreams. From humble beginnings as a heavy diesel mechanic, he climbed the ranks over 15 years, only to realize his true calling lay in the world of custom hot rods. In 2007, he took the plunge and opened Bodie Stroud Industries, a small shop in North Hollywood, California. Fast forward to today, and Bodie is recognized as one of the most talented and visionary custom car builders on the planet.

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