About Us

In the early months of 1954, Dr Julian (Dick) Coller returned to the Union of South Africa after furthering his education in Radiography in the U.K. His return was marked by the arrival of a 1905 Mors with a Roi des Belges body. Dr Coller, keen to share his passion, published an article in the Daily News, along with a picture of the car, inviting interested individuals to convene at the Marine Hotel. The goal was clear: to establish a Veteran Car Club in Durban.

The response was remarkable, with a substantial number of car enthusiasts attending the meeting. Unanimously, everyone present supported the idea of forming a club. Four classes of membership were introduced: Founder, Full, Associate, and Country. The club officially came into existence on May 25, 1954, with thirteen Founder Members: Bob Burnie, Roy Case, Colin Crooks, Michael Crooks, Mark Edwards, Gordon Gordon-Watson, Michael Hull, Michael Milner-Smythe, Stanley Murphy, Jock Simpson, George Stuart, Woody Woodford and Wilfred Wright including Dr Coller. Bob Burnie chaired the original committee, and Mike Milner-Smythe served as the secretary.

During this period, the global release of the inspirational film “Genevieve” played a pivotal role in the formation of numerous Veteran Car Clubs worldwide.

In November 1954, Bill Milligan, a fundraising member of the Port Elizabeth Red Cross, recognized the potential of a Veteran Car Rally as a fundraiser. He successfully organized a five-day rally from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, laying the foundation for the annual National Veteran and Vintage Rallies.

December 1954 marked the inception of the club newsletter, “Veterantics,” penned by Dick. Mark Edwards took over as the editor, and with time, Veterantics evolved, gaining printed covers courtesy of Dunlop.

Mark Edwards, also responsible for organizing events, initiated the monthly get-together with a trip on the last Sunday of each month to the River Tea Gardens at Amanzimtoti. It was here that the famous phrase “Bonnets Up” was coined, encouraging members to showcase their vintage, veteran and classic cars. This phrase has since become a nationwide tradition.

By February 1958, the club secured garage space at Red Hill as a temporary headquarters. The desire for a permanent property led to fundraising efforts by Mark Edwards over the next four years. George Huddlestone, a tireless motivator, located the “Village Service Station” in Kloof in 1972. The club proceeded to negotiate with Mobil and, on April 17, 1973, concluded an agreement to purchase the site at 21A Village Road, Kloof, for R18,000.00.

Jack Ferguson and George Huddlestone jointly owned a 1901 Toledo Steamer and when they sold it, George very generously donated his share to the Club. This generous, coupled with funds raised, allowed the club to pay for the property in full. The acquisition of our own Club House marked a significant milestone. Initially, a wood and asbestos building, it served its purpose until our present building was completed in February 1979.