Auctions come in all shapes and sizes, but there is one brand in South Africa that sets the bar. Creative Rides never fails to surprise with rare and special metal, and its latest auction was a patriotic marvel. The world of Group N is a topic close to South African petrolheads’ hearts, and the latest auction had it all, so I had to check it out.
It’s clear clients came to play, as my arrival was met with a selection of rare metal. As cool as some new Chinese cars are, I felt somewhat out of place arriving in a sensible SUV behind a Lamborghini Performante and numerous 911s. Nevertheless, I ventured inside and immediately saw a car which I had never seen in the flesh and one that outshone any supercar in the parking lot. The Ford Sierra XR8, SA’s answer to the Mustang in a rather odd-looking body. When it comes to automotive events, I have seen my fair share, but never with buyers so determined to battle it out until the hammer fell. The energy was bubbling.
When the auctioneer began with the terms and conditions, the room fell silent, and the rules of engagement were read aloud. Engaging powerful people to sit in silence requires a seriously captivating activity, and when the first vehicle, a Triumph Tiger EX800 bike, was suddenly rolled out, the audience’s need to catch up with friends shifted to wishful watching. It’s interesting to glance around the room and notice friends and loved ones whisper in silence. Trying to convince themselves or their partner that this was the right addition for the garage. But the bidding had only just begun, and there were some special cars on offer.
What we have seen in the past is that Creative Rides leaves no stone unturned when it comes to variety. A lowered Beetle was first on the block. Not exactly what you’d expect at a classic car auction, but it set the tone for the epic cars that followed. But my eyes were glued to four particular models, the South African homologation cars.
The start of the auction opened predictably with a few polite German business saloons whetting the appetite of buyers. It’s an interesting room to observe, where buyers jump at the opportunity. Then, as prices rise, they hesitate and remember there are 30 more cars to go. It’s a mix of frugal excitement, a balancing act I hadn’t seen in the flesh. It almost spurred me on to raise my hand just out of sheer excitement, but I was there for the big four.
Sixteen rather interesting units had fallen under the hammer, and then I noticed more than a couple bums move forward. Lot 17 was up next, and it was a perfect example of a 325iS EVO II, the first of four legendary Group N cars on display that day. The bidding started off from all corners of the room until all eyes settled on two hopeful buyers. R1.37m, R1.38, R1.4m, R1.42m, then silence. Once, twice and sold for R1,420,000 and a new South African record. It amazes me how much South Africans adore this car, and the tense facial expressions during the duel demonstrated a dance of emotion that combined pure love for the car with pragmatism.
The next car that piqued my interest was Lot 23, the Alfa Romeo GTV 6 3.0-litre. Up next was one of the South African-made road-ready race cars, in a gorgeous red and flexing its aggressive angles. The 3.0 is a car I have spent some time with and have grown to appreciate its authentically Italian design with a note of South African DNA. The crowd fell silent, and the bidding began, finally coming to a conclusion at R1,050,000. Another huge number for a fantastic car. But now we wait for the 3rd homologation special, or not. The next car in the lineup was a fierce competitor for the Alfas and BMWs of old, and it has become somewhat of a team favourite here at TG. The Opel Kadett Superboss in the most strikingly bold, red paintwork I have seen to date.
There’s long been speculation as to a sensible price for a Superboss nowadays, with previous auctions dropping the hammer at around the R450k-R500k mark, so the same was expected for this machine. But when it crossed the R500k mark, the bidding didn’t stop. The hammer finally dropped at R550k.
What followed was a mixture of rare metal that I had never seen in the flesh whilst we waited for the last and, at least for me, rarest Group N of the bunch. The Ford Capri Perana, a BMW Z3 M-Coupe Schnitzer, a Ferrari Dino 308 GT4, a 2017 BMW M4 GTS and a 911 SC all battled it out as I waited. Then its obscure and rather random lines appeared on screen. The Ford Sierra XR8. The V8 Sierra was born of true South African ingenuity because we didn’t have a Mustang. So we made one.
Seeing it up close was met with mixed emotions. It was a car I had always wanted to see, only it wasn’t a looker, and its appearance was a touch odd. Nevertheless, the bidding began, and after the hammer fell, it was closed at a price of R475k. It was the end of the patriotic story, and seeing all four of these South African-bred machines in the same place was a moment I don’t expect to experience again. It was exciting, but the show wasn’t over yet, with a few iconic classics left that I must briefly mention. An E30 M3 drop-top with its distinctive lines, a left-hand-drive Porsche 930 Turbo, a Bentley Continental R, a BMW E46 M3 and a Mercedes-Benz 190 SL. All legends in their own corners of the world, with one thing in common. Designs that are both authentic and iconic.
I didn’t expect to be astounded by the cars’ sheer presence when I entered the auction. It’s clear that Creative Rides has a winning formula, with a crack team of experts, awesome cars and eager buyers. It was exciting, engaging and authentically South African, with buyers from around the world calling in and struggling to compete with the calibre of South African enthusiasts present. It’s a quarterly ordeal for Creative Rides, which is mighty impressive, and you might just see me raise my hand at the next.
