Africa's deepest classic car culture
Classic Cars in South Africa
Classic cars for sale in South Africa
Cape Town and Johannesburg sourcing, inspected before you commit.
Import a classic to South Africa
ITAC permit, NRCS authority and the SARS paperwork, handled end to end.
The Franschhoek Motor Museum, in the Western Cape and owned by Johann Rupert, is the clearest anchor institution here. Opened 2007, its collection exceeds 220 vehicles spanning 1877 to 2021, around 80 on display across 4 climate-controlled halls, including cars once owned by Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Crossley & Webb in Cape Town's Gardens is the standout named dealer, founded 2013 in a converted 1920s warehouse, prices seen from R425,000 to R5.8 million.
Events double as marketplace here more than in any Gulf market we cover: the Kyalami Festival of Motoring, the country's largest industry-supported auto show, runs its 9th edition 28 to 30 August 2026, and The Cape 1000 touring rally drew around 70 cars in 2026, raising over R300,000 for charity. Stephan Welz & Co, established 1968, runs a revived Classic Cars and Automobilia auction department, and Bonhams keeps a Johannesburg office for consigning into its international sales, with no standalone physical auctions found inside the country.
Franschhoek, Kyalami and where South Africa's collectors actually gather
Beyond the big-ticket institutions, the Knysna Motor Show, held annually in late April or early May on the Garden Route, mixes vintage cars, supercars and motorcycles into one weekend. These events double as informal marketplaces, which matters in a country where, beyond Johann Rupert, no individual collector is as publicly documented as Saudi Arabia's Dr. Nasser Al-Massari.
| Venue or event | City | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Franschhoek Motor Museum | Franschhoek, Western Cape | Real museum, owned by Johann Rupert, 220+ vehicles from 1877 to 2021, around 80 on display across 4 halls |
| Crossley & Webb | Gardens, Cape Town | Market context, not a partner; dealer founded 2013, prices seen R425,000 to R5.8 million |
| Kyalami Festival of Motoring | Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Johannesburg | Largest industry-supported auto show in South Africa, 9th edition 28-30 August 2026 |
| The Cape 1000 | Western Cape, touring rally | Curated grand-touring rally, vintage to supercars, around 70 cars in 2026 |
| Knysna Motor Show | Knysna, Garden Route | Annual event, late April or early May, vintage cars, supercars and motorcycles |
Two different classic definitions: don't conflate them
South Africa runs two separate regimes that both get called classic car rules. ITAC, the International Trade Administration Commission, issues import permits under Act No. 71 of 2002 for, among other categories, racing cars, vintage passenger vehicles and inherited vehicles, with collector-vehicle eligibility well corroborated at 40 years or older. A car imported under any ITAC permit cannot be sold or transferred for 24 months afterward; racing vehicles stay track-only; collector vehicles can reportedly be registered for the road.
The second regime is domestic only: a 'vintage vehicle' concessional licence with a fixed pre-31 December 1965 cutoff, verified through a SAVVA certificate and a car-club president's letter. It has nothing to do with importing. A separate NRCS Letter of Authority (roughly R300 to R1,800, 4 to 21 working days) and a Certificate of Roadworthiness are required either way.
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Talk about South AfricaDuty, VAT and the ad valorem excise surprise
Secondary sources report a tiered duty on ordinary used-vehicle imports of roughly 36% under 20 years old, or 20% over 20. A separate claim of 0% duty for 40-year-plus collector vehicles could not be confirmed against SARS's own schedule. What is confirmed is narrower: collector vehicles gain ITAC eligibility ordinary used cars don't get; whether that also means a lower duty rate needs direct SARS confirmation.
VAT stands at 15%, confirmed via SARS. A planned rise to 15.5% then 16% was announced then reversed on 24 April 2025. Ad valorem excise also applies per SARS's formula, roughly 0.75% up to a 20 to 30% cap, triggered above about R250,000 retail value. Worked examples for the combined burden range inconsistently, 25% to 65% or more of value: get broker confirmation before budgeting. Our selling a classic car privately guide covers moving a car out of a collection.
What Cape Town and Johannesburg collectors are chasing
| Model | Why collectors here chase it |
|---|---|
| Jaguar E-Type | Documented local presence, restored Series 2 and 3 examples listed for sale |
| Datsun 240Z | A Free State collection, called the country's largest Nissan and Datsun collection, holds several 240Zs, one with reported ex-head-of-state provenance |
| Land Rover Defender, classic | CAR Magazine lists classic Land Rovers, the Series lineage specifically, as sought after locally; the Defender sits in the same family and price bracket |
| Porsche 911, 964 and 993 | The one honest caution here: CAR Magazine says air-cooled 911 values have already peaked locally, even as Gulf collectors keep bidding the same cars up 5 to 8% a year elsewhere |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between South Africa's vintage vehicle licence and an ITAC import permit?
Separate regimes. The vintage licence is domestic, for cars built before 31 December 1965, verified via a SAVVA certificate. The ITAC permit is a different threshold, generally 40 years or older, governing whether a used car can be imported at all.
How much duty and VAT will I pay importing a classic car to South Africa?
Duty is reported at roughly 36% under 20 years old or 20% over 20, though an unconfirmed claim suggests 0% for 40-year-plus collector vehicles. VAT is 15%, ad valorem excise may also apply above about R250,000. Confirm with SARS or a broker.
Can I sell a classic car immediately after importing it into South Africa?
No. A vehicle imported under any ITAC permit cannot be sold or transferred for 24 months. Racing vehicles are track-only, collector vehicles can reportedly be registered for road use meanwhile.
Have air-cooled Porsche 911 values already peaked in South Africa?
That is what CAR Magazine reports locally, unlike the Gulf, where the same 964 and 993 generation is still cited at 5 to 8% a year. It is the one model here we would flag caution on rather than urgency.
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