Oldsmobile gets a new life

MOTORING NEWS - Classic Car Restorations in Sedgefield has recently been part of a unique tapestry around one car and three generations of the Du Preez family.

The car arrived at the restorer after being stored by the Du Preezs for over 25 years.

But what is special, is that the history of the car's ownership is reasonably well known, since it has been in the same family for its entire life.

With a shiny new look, the 1938 Oldsmobile looks set to go for another 79 years and attract a lot of envious glances and nostalgia in the years to come.

The story of the car is really also the story of the owner as recorded and shared with Autodealer by Raymond du Preez.

EARLY YEARS

In 1938, the Oldsmobile was bought by LJ du Preez from Meyers Motors (Frontier Garage) in East London with a part payment of a 1928 model Buick Tourer and the balance in cash. At the time LJ was working on a military aerodrome in Queenstown, so the car was registered CH 393.

The young LJ worked for the government national roads department and as a civil servant he could be transferred at any time and anywhere at the discretion of the National Roads Agency.

The 1938 Oldsmobile arrives at Classic Car Restorations Sedgefield for the next part of its journey.

In 1940, LJ was transferred to Colindale airport, East London on the completion of a project in Queenstown.

He was to stay here until 1942. At the time, World War II was in progress and motor vehicle headlights had to be "blacked out" with only a small rectangle of light being allowed to provide a somewhat inadequate beam of light.

The car's registration was not changed.

In 1944, LJ was again transferred - this time to Colesberg to work on a main road construction project.

Sometime between 1946 and 1948 on completion of the project in Colesberg, LJ was moved to Caledon in the Western Cape to develop another big road project, from Sir Lowry's Pass and Caledon onward to Swellendam.

Again the car's registration remained CH and did not change to CAE (Caledon).

LJ also worked around the Tulbagh, Malmesbury and Piketberg area, imparting his knowledge and skills to fellow road constructors.

The car was rusty, although the structure was clearly sound.

He was then issued with a government vehicle for use on duty. It was an International KB2 Vanette, the property of the provincial administration.

Hereafter the history of the car becomes clearer, as LJ's son Raymond, the second owner of the car, was growing up and we have his notes.

In 1948 or 1949 after the work assignment in Tulbagh and Piketberg was complete, LJ was moved to Kraaifontein to work on the new development of the Du Toitskloof Pass.

PART OF THE FAMILY

During all of these moves, the Oldsmobile came along as part of the family. The registration was not changed from the original Queenstown CH 393.

We are not sure what the legal requirements for change were in those days, but LJ is said to have been a meticulous person who would not have contravened regulations knowingly.

At some stage between 1949 and 1950, LJ was approached by a senior civil engineer from National Roads headquarters in Cape Town, who offered him a post in what was then "Southern Rhodesia" - Now Zimbabwe.

In 1950 LJ accepted the job offer and in June of that year he emigrated with his family - plus the car. The Olds was legally imported and registered in Umtali (now Mutare) as U5200.

It seems that once registered in a town or district, the vehicle could go anywhere within the borders without needing to re-register it.

Consequently the Olds retained that plate for many years - until 1974, when the government introduced a new computerised system making it mandatory for all vehicles to conform. It also changed to a new reflective yellow plate with black numerals. The Oldsmobile then became 186840.

NEXT GENERATION

In December 1956, LJ gave the Oldsmobile to Raymond, his son. A change of ownership was registered although the registration plate did not need to be changed, possibly due to an anticipated new system which did not materialise for some years.

Raymond started working in April 1953 and was naturally anxious to have his own car, so he was very happy and excited to take over the Olds in 1956. Dad LJ had also helped his older sons to own cars.

Raymond used the Olds extensively and travelled for many years between Salisbury (Harare), Umtali and all around the eastern districts including Kariba, Kafue, Mazabuka, the Victoria Falls, Wankie, Bulawayo and also to South Africa and back.

Brothers Ray (left) and Alan du Press no doubt reliving some memories - sitting on the backseat of the car that originally belonged to their father, LJ.

In about 1960 or 1961, a beautiful 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air came up for sale: a direct import from Canada for a Canadian missionary based in Zimbabwe.

The missionary was based at Penhalonga, with the Honde Valley included in his area of responsibility. Beautiful, but totally unsuited for the Chev.

The missionary was given a Land Rover instead, the Chevrolet became available and LJ and Raymond grabbed the opportunity to acquire it. Raymond used both vehicles, but the Bel-Air gradually gained his affections.

He recalls that both cars were beautiful to drive and neither ever let him down.

Because of the deteriorating security situation in the country, Raymond eventually put the Olds on blocks in storage, where it remained for over 25 years.

And that is where our story comes full circle, to the modern day restoration of the Oldsmobile to its former glory.