Classic Cars in South Africa

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1911	Noted with John Ryall in 2021, imported from the UK a few years ago.
Model	12/16hp
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Tourer
Colours	Green
Registration Numbers	BF 8165	References

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1913	Sporting (larger radiator) car. Delivered new to South Africa. Discovered by early VCC member Bill Carswell in unrestored state, possibly in the Bergville area. Colin Crookes bought the car from Carswell in the 1960s and set out restoring the car. After Colin passed away the car was put into storage for 40 years. Acquired around 2025 by John Burton in the UK and currently under restoration (2026)
Model	12/16
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Tourer
Colours
Registration Numbers		References	VCC 1970 (noted as 1910), NAtherstone

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1916	Ex War Department, said to be ex General Smuts' Staff Car in Flanders and East Africa. Acquired by Gordon Strauss in 1945. Used as his transport when at Natal University, to travel to Pretoria. Sold to three other students who did a trip Pta-Dbn-CT-Pta with the car. Noted with Peter Weavind in 1950. By 1963 the car was owned by Colin L. Crookes, later passing onto David & Allan Crookes. Damage to the radiator, said to have been made by a German bullet, was repaired with brass from a cartridge case, this repair still exists. Purchased by John Ryall of Cape Town in 2026.
Model	16hp
Chassis No.	11353
Engine No.	11164
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Open tourer, 3 doors
Colours	Red
Registration Numbers	TJ-53840/SAF, TP-8797/SAF, NX-128/SAF,	References	AM 5/1/7 (ref), VCC Catalogue

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1924	Owned by G.W. "Taffy" Owen of Pietermaritzburg in 1970. Subsequent whereabouts unknown.
Model	14/40hp 4-cyl
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder
Body Style
Colours
Registration Numbers		References	VCC 1970; Left photo Veterantics 5/1 Feb-Mar 1958, car 2nd from left; Right photo Veterantics 5/5 Oct-1958 also Veterantics 5/3 Jun-Jul-1958

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1925	Discovered in Britain doing duty as a window cleaner's hack, as a chassis with cab only. Given to Peter Mann as a 21st birthday present and fitted with a pretty 2-seater boat-tail body with the help of Peter's Father's boat building business. Imported into South Africa in the early 1970s by John White, later owned by Johan Schultz of Port Elizabeth (EPVCC ML July 1975, 1978, not listed 1981). By 1987 the car was with Andre Knoop, who sold the car around 2025. Acquired by a trader together with an Alfa Romeo Montreal and and AJS motorcycle in Monte Vista, Cape Town in 2025. Believed to have been sold on within South Africa.
Model	14/40hp
Chassis No.	5074E
Engine No.	5108E
Coachbuilder
Body Style	?, 2-s boat-tail
Colours
Registration Numbers	8299 PE, CB-1967/SAF	References	AM 3/1; EPVCC ML July 1975, 78

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1925	Originally imported to PE and used as a hearse, converted into a lorry in 1946.Subsequently acquired by A.C. 'Tony' Booth-Jones of Port Elizabeth, at least by 1970, as a chassis with engine and incorrect wheels. Tony spent 12 years acquiring bits for the restoration. Marius Jordaan acquired the car in 1980 and rebuilt it, constructing a body from plans acquired in the UK. The car later returned to England.
Model	20/60hp
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Tourer
Colours
Registration Numbers	DS 8021	References	EPVCC ML July 1975, 78, 81; VCC 1970; Motorhistorica (photos); Total FIVA Rally Sept 86

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1926	Acquired by Andre Malan of Durban in 1969, ex Dick Coller. Restoration started but believed not to have been completed. Possibly later acquired by one of the Directors of Barnetts Scrap Yard in Johannesburg. Noted in the Burchmores auction 3/12/1987. It is understood the car was subsequently sold to the UK.
Model	3-litre twin cam
Chassis No.	4090F
Engine No.	130234
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Tourer
Colours
Registration Numbers		References	VCC 1970; photo Veterantics 1971

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1928	Owned by John Ryall around 2010
Model	20.9hp
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Saloon
Colours
Registration Numbers		References	CHC ML

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1929 Six Cylinder	Acquired in 1948 in pieces by Lt. Commander Peter Attwood who had recently been transferred from the UK to the Royal Navy base at Simonstown, South Africa. The car was trucked to Simonstown where Peter began the restoration of the car with the assistance of the Naval workshops. During the restoration it was noted that a previous owner had cut some 14 inches out of the chassis. As a body had not been in the parts, a 2-seater body was fitted and teh radiator was shortened by 7 inches, the finished car was painted black. The Sunbeam differential of 5:1 was too low so a Mercury diff of 3,77:1 was fitted. The car took part in various hillclimbs and races in 1949. When the Lt. Commander returned to the UK in the 1950s, the car was sold to Hugh Gearing and shortly after was acquired by Cecil Knipe who used it as his daily transport, and raced it at Paarden Eiland. Subsequently the car was owned by Monty Silverman, Denis Joubert, Dudley Turner, Ken Williams Richard Waumsley 1983 and then Viv James around 2002. Ken WIlliams breathed new life into the tired car during his ownership, the electrical system was overhauled, a new body was fitted and the car converted back to magneto. Ken also crafted the distinctive copper fuel tank. At one stage the car was taken to Germany by Richard Waumsley but it later returned to South Africa. Richard also had yet another body built with a timber body and aluminium panels. After Viv James took over the car was competed and painted dark green.
Model
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Tourer
Colours	Green body & interior
Registration Numbers	CA-44217/SAF	References	AM 19/4

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1931	Imported from the UK by Andre Malan of Durban around 1968. Restored and won the 1969 VCC Concours. Car later went to Johannesburg owned by one of the Directors of Barnetts Scrap Yard. Noted for sale in 2003 for Euro 25k, car in South Africa.
Model	16hp (18.2hp)?
Chassis No.	5794M
Engine No.	5708
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Tourer
Colours
Registration Numbers	ND-2850/SAF, PNP-704-T/SAF	References	VCC 1970

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year	1932	Rare 3.2-litre 6 cylinder car, 4-speed. Believed to have been used as a bakkie (pick-up) during WWII - noted for sale in Knysna for R375k. Engine overhauled by Bodge Engineering of Knysna, car rebuilt by Pat Clough in the 1980s. Pat sold the car to Nick Veldman who was known to have had the car in 2013. The car was seen for sale with Frost Brothers of Knysna in 2017 and again around 2024, became part of the Norman Frost Estate. The car was still in Knysna in 2026 with Rob Hollis of Bodge Engineering, who had been tasked with selling the car items of the Frost Estate.
Model	23hp
Chassis No.	7013R
Engine No.	28216
Coachbuilder
Body Style	Tourer
Colours	Green
Registration Numbers	NU-45087/SAF, CG-19197/SAF	References

Make	Sunbeam	History
Year		Owned by DC Acutt in 1947, 3rd in 2000cc class at Leeuwkop Hillclimb 12/7/1947.
Model
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder
Body Style
Colours
Registration Numbers	TG-8958/SAF	References	CCA 12/2018 (photo)

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