Retromobile, a company producing specialist, high performance retro cars in South Africa, will reveal its Ford GT40 at Auto Africa.

“Our stand will showcase our initial four models, which will include the first public showing in South Africa of the GT40, which is Ford’s most successful racing car ever, being the first American car to beat the Ferrari’s at their own game”, explained Peter Lindenberg, who will assist customers on the competition side.

“Already Noble has made inroads on our circuits, and it won the Ultimate Street Car challenge earlier this year, but I expect the GT40 to be very popular on the track”, added Lindenberg who has held national titles in three different forms of motorsport.

The other Retromobile models are the Mark III Cobra and Daytona Coupe.

Basil Green will look at researching other retro cars to distribute in South Africa, while his son Brad will handle the retail and servicing operation from Brad Green Cars, which are situated in Andries Pretorius Street in Edenvale.

Historic car campaigner and retro car specialist Anthony Corin will advise customers on the most appropriate of their five drive train packages.

Colin Lazarus, who has headed the marketing of Noble in South Africa for the past two years via his Lazarus Ford dealership – the largest in SA – is the fifth partner and brings with him a wealth of knowledge of both motor retailing and the Noble brand.

Retromobile were appointed by Jimmy Price of Hi-Tech Auto in Port Elizabeth as the sole SA distributor of their range. Hi-Tech export some 90 GT40’s annually to the UK market alone.

“Investing in one of these cars is like buying a work of art with an added perk of a magnificent ride”, explained Corin. “Hi-Tech’s first Daytona Coupe, for example, was autographed by its designer Carrol Shelby and cost $80 000 new originally. Four months ago it sold on auction for $200 000 to a private collector”, he elaborated.

The Retromobile range have impressive racing pedigrees. Shelby designed the Daytona Coupe for long distance races after the Cobra, and it won its class at Le Mans in 1965.

The GT40 is so close to its original that it is FIA approved, and it carries a continuation chassis plate.

(this article was taken from iafrica.com)

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