Taking a step back in time
Experiencing history with the Old Wheelers
Attention car lovers! Ever seen a car that existed before World War II?The Old Wheelers Club in Windhoek has a stable full of old-timers that are collected, maintained and displayed by members.
How would you imagine a drive? For many it simply means getting into a car, touching a button, having your phone connect to the Bluetooth to play music, and off you go. While today’s car manufacturers want to make it super comfortable, at the Old Wheelers Club cars have a completely different meaning. Here it is not about the latest and greatest, but about older models; some of which are more than 80 years old!
The Old Wheelers Club was established in 1986. At that time there were already a few old-timer enthusiasts in Namibia. One of them, Peter Breitenstein, was approached by Total Oil about whether there was a club for which they could sponsor a rally, similar to the one in South Africa.
Breitenstein then spoke to some collectors. The Allgemeine Zeitung also played a role in this founding story, as an advertisement was placed in the newspaper to find more enthusiasts. The first meeting took place at the SKW and was a huge success.
While the rally didn’t take place, the club had been founded, and a name and logo were decided on.
Heirlooms
Rainer Rusch is serving chairman of the Old Wheelers.
He says he is fascinated by the technology of the time, the mechanical simplicity of the cars, which nevertheless proved to be extremely stable. “And above all is the appearance, the curves and shapes that you sadly no longer see in new vehicles.”
The preference for old-timers is different for everyone, Rusch says. “Each ‘old-timer’ has its own story, its strengths and weaknesses, and each person has their preference for certain vehicles, be it the manufacturer, the year of manufacture, or the general love of classic vehicles.”
According to Rusch, people are interested in these cars for different reasons: “For some, it is simply the love and passion for these beautiful, but technically relatively simple vehicles. For others, it is more of a sentimental value, for example, if the car comes from their parents or grandparents, and has been in the family for many years.”
A museum full of cars
A lot has happened in the years since the club was founded.
Since 2013, there has been a clubhouse with a restaurant and a rentable hall in Rugby Street in Olympia.
The centrepiece is the museum, where visitors can take a closer look at individual gems. The museum is open on Saturdays from 11:30 to 14:00, but also opens to interested parties at other times (on appointment).
Admission is free, although the club welcomes donations to keep the cars in good condition. “The beautiful vehicles in our museum all belong to our members. Some have been family-owned for generations. Many have been bought and are cared for by enthusiasts to preserve them for future generations,” Rusch explains.
The Old Wheelers’ oldest vehicles include a 1925 Dodge Tourer in Swakopmund and a 1928 Ford Model A on display in Windhoek. “An Opel 4 HP, popularly known as the Opel Tree Frog, hangs above the entrance of our clubhouse. The basic model, which was manufactured in 1924, was the first automobile to be built on an assembly line in Germany and was produced until 1926,” Rusch says.
Most of these cars are almost 100 years old – an impressive feat considering the times they’ve been through. “The driving experience in a 40, 60 or even 80-year-old vehicle is unique and not at all comparable to our modern cars,” Rusch says.
Day of the Old Wheeler
The cars are not only stored in the museum to be admired. For example, there is the Day of the Wheeler – the largest exhibition of older vehicles by the club, which takes place every two years. There is always a raffle at this event. And the main prize – nothing less than a real old-timer from the club's stock!
In addition, excursions are also undertaken by members: “A car that is not driven is broken. This applies to both old-timers and new vehicles. Of course, regular maintenance is just as important. From the Old Wheelers Club we have monthly events or trips to keep our vehicles moving and, above all, to show them to the public. It is always quite an experience to drive through Independence Avenue in an Old Timer and to experience the admiring looks and especially the enthusiasm of the passers-by,” says Rusch.
The Old Wheelers Club collection is constantly changing and is far from complete.
Rusch, therefore, appeals to everyone: “If you have a classic vehicle, whether it's a sedan, bakkie, tractor or motorcycle standing around on your yard or farm, please feel free to contact us.”
Since there are not many cars from the 1920s to 1940s that have survived, the Old Wheelers are always happy to see new additions. Like in February, when a 1924-1926 Chevrolet was “saved”. The car was probably originally used for salt transport and later for farm work. For the last 18 years, the car was kept in a barn on a farm until a club member got hold of it.
The Chevrolet is now being mechanically restored by its new owner so that it can be driven again. The body will be washed well first and then left as is, as the facade is also part of the car's history. However, the car is not used on public roads for the time being.
A visit to Old Wheelers is worthwhile for all car fans to immerse themselves in the past and get an insight into the cars of the last century.