Earlier this month, history was made when a leading, first-tier, South African art auction house debuted its inaugural rare collectable car auction to a packed audience of floor bidders, auction spectators and both local and international online bidders.
While the local collectable car market has expanded and evolved in recent years, with a growing appreciation for rarity, craftsmanship and provenance from buyers, until recently South Africa lacked a premium auction platform that catered to serious car collectors.
That changed with the launch of Aspire Collectable Cars, which offers passionate car collectors the same unwavering commitment to quality, significance and authenticity that Aspire Art is known for. With a tagline—Driven by Passion, Defined by Rarity—Aspire Collectable Cars is positioned at the forefront of the collector car industry, aiming to become the first-choice destination for discerning collectors of rare and exceptional vehicles.
Aspire Art CEO Marelize van Zyl explains that the decision to launch a collectable car division stems from the synergy between rare cars and fine art as complementary passion investments. This aligns with the company’s commitment to providing clients access to the most sought-after, high-quality assets.
Aspire Art is a leading auction house specialising in modern and contemporary art, with a strong emphasis on South African works. Over the past eight years, the company has earned a stellar reputation for setting various auction records, helping clients build exceptional art collections, and providing expert insights and advice on the art market.
“In our opinion, there is an undeniable synergy between the appeal of rare cars, automotive excellence and fine art. Like art, rare and significant collectable cars typically combine artistry, design, creativity and innovation. In addition, they display engineering excellence not found in mass-produced cars, are a viable alternative investment that balances aesthetics and driving pleasure with the potential of financial growth and captivate collectors in the same way that rare art captivates collectors. The excitement and satisfaction that comes with acquiring a rare, classic car is similar to the joy and gratification that comes from building an art collection,” she says.
It took nearly a year to curate the first collectable car auction collection, with the team carefully researching the history and provenance of each car to ensure its authenticity. The result was a unique collection of bespoke rare vehicles including marques from Ferrari, Alfa, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, M.G. Car Company and Porsche.
Van Zyl says the addition of collectable cars to Aspire’s portfolio meets the growing demand for high-quality and significant vehicles from both local and international buyers as well as filling a significant gap in the local market.
Amongst the highlights of the inaugural auction held on 9 November 2024 in Johannesburg was one of only five remaining 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina in South Africa. Another was a genuine garage-find, a Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster. Manufactured in Germany close to the end of the 190SL’s production range, it was delivered to its first owner, Werner Schröder in 1960.
An original shipping document reveals that Schröder relocated to South Africa in 1963, bringing the car with him. The vehicle changed owners a couple of times and eventually ended up being bought by a Johannesburg-based attorney in the early 1990s. He drove the car on weekends until 2000 and then decided to stop driving it and put the car in storage when he realised that its market value was appreciating.
After languishing in storage for 23 years, the car was discovered by a classic car enthusiast and member of the Veteran and Vintage Club in early 2024. A recommissioning saw its fuel lines and tank cleaned out, and brakes, carburetor, radiator and tyres replaced before it was sent for a roadworthy test.
“We were very excited to find this car,” reveals Aspire board member and car collector Jake Gore. “Seven decades since this range debuted, the majority of 190 SL’s still in existence have now been restored, often more than once. What makes this particular car so rare is that its original components – except for consumables – are all still intact. Not only does it retain its original matching engine numbers – a rarity for a car of this age – but it also retains its original colour and original interior.”
The 190SL Roadster was not the only Mercedes-Benz to elicit interest. Gore reveals that there was in fact a great deal of interest in all the Mercedes-Benz vehicles on auction. The 190SL Roadster ultimately sold for R 1,830,000
“Overall, the Mercedes-Benz vehicles were the strongest performers at the auction with a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500SL selling for R 1,1 million. Although the1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 Evo 1 did not sell on the day, there is post-sale interest from a private buyer,” he says.
The collection of Alfa’s also elicited a great deal of attention. The 1985 Alfa Romeo 3.0 GTV6, a vehicle previously owned by South African racing legend Arnold Chatz, sold for R 892,000.
“The response to our debut auction and the collection of superb cars was nothing short of extraordinary and generated incredible excitement for this particular collecting category and our brand,” says Van Zyl. “This marks an exciting chapter for Aspire, setting the stage for even more spectacular exclusive car auctions in the future!”
The Collectable Car auction in Johannesburg marked the opening of Aspire Art’s series of summer sales in November, which culminated in the major 20th Century & Contemporary Art Live Auction in Cape Town. The auction delivered exceptional results, with standout pieces including an early J.H. Pierneef painting that fetched R808,675, a 1960 Parisian-themed work by Gerard Sekoto that sold for R577,625, and an iconic Helen Sebidi piece that achieved R438,995. These outstanding results highlight the continued demand for and appreciation of important South African art.
