- Honouring the 140th anniversary of the first motor vehicle in the world
- Commemorating the 130th anniversary of the first motorcar in South Africa
- Celebrating the Centenary of the formation of Mercedes-Benz AG
The 29th George Old Car Show, the biggest show for old and veteran cars in the country, will take place on Saturday, 14 February 2026 at Eden Technical High School in George, and the Southern Cape Old Car Club, organisers of the show, cordially invites all veteran car clubs and classic car owners to participate in this annual celebration of motoring history, engineering ingenuity, and timeless automotive beauty.
Scheduled for Valentine’s Day next year, the 2026 George Old Car Show will not only showcase South Africa’s love and appreciation of old and classic cars but will also pay homage to the Pioneers of Motoring – honouring the 140th anniversary of the invention of the horseless motor carriage by Carl Benz in 1886.
To commemorate this historic, world changing occasion, visitors will be treated to a special exhibition of early Benz vehicles that pioneered modern motorcars, including replicas of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the 1901 Benz Ideal and the 1913 Benz 8/20 PS Tourenwagen.
Simultaneously, the show will celebrate the 130th anniversary of the first motor vehicle, a Benz Velo, arriving in South Africa. Imported by John Percy Hess, who later became the sole agent for Benz in the country, the car was shipped from Germany to Port Elizabeth in late 1896 and then transported to Pretoria.
The show will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the formation of Mercedes-Benz in 1926, when the predecessor companies Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. merged to form Daimler-Benz AG with an exclusive exhibition of pre-World War II Mercedes-Benz cars.
Among the exhibited highlights proudly representing the evolution of the legendary marque, will be a 1935 Mercedes-Benz W23 130H, a 1938 Mercedes-Benz W142 Type 320 and a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster. These classics will be joined by a selection of exclusive post-War Mercedes-Benz models, presented by the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa, as part of its activities commemorating its 40th anniversary.
A symbolic tribute
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Vettoer, organised by Philip Kuschke, will again precede the George Old Car Show on Friday, 13 February 2026. Reserved for vehicles manufactured without front brakes, this prestigious tour is an iconic tradition strongly supported by the Model T Ford Club of South Africa.
In a symbolic tribute to motoring’s origins, the organisers are planning to have the Benz Patent-Motorwagen lead the lineup of participating vehicles when they depart, alongside fascinating entries including a Stanley Steamer and a selection of interesting veteran motorcycles.
The main exhibition field will proudly present these extraordinary vehicles, as well as a selection of classic tractors, bringing to life the dawn of motoring for enthusiasts, families, and collectors alike. “The George Old Car Show represents a meeting place, a focal point for all iconic marques and those who share the passion for old and classic vehicles,” says show coordinator Alewijn Dippenaar.
“We again expect over a thousand participants for the 2026 event, with every single vehicle on show represented someone’s passion – not only for old cars, motorcycles and tractors but the passion for locating them, restoring them, and driving them, sometimes over long distances to be at the show. We believe this shared passion will make the 2026 rendition of the show a memorable and rewarding experience for exhibitors and visitors alike,” he says.
Vehicle and exhibitor registration has already opened via the Southern Cape Old Car Clubs’s official website: www.scocc.co.za. For enquiries, please contact: info@scocc.co.za or SMS 076 764 0897
