In performance builds, the smallest components often make the biggest difference. Whether you’re assembling a race car, upgrading a street build, or refining an engine bay for both function and aesthetics, your fittings and connections matter. That’s where the FTF Pro Range Quick Release steps in — delivering race-proven engineering with everyday usability.
The story of this 1946 Fordson Thames Trader begins the way many great automotive revivals do — forgotten in a barn, layered in dust, and carrying decades of history in every panel. Discovered as part of a pair of barn finds, this particular truck would become the first to be completed, setting the tone for what passion, imagination, and craftsmanship can achieve.
Now affectionately known as “Old Rusty,” the once-neglected workhorse has been transformed into a fully functional, character-rich daily driver. After completion, it was handed over to the builder’s father, who has proudly driven it every day for the past seven years — proof that this classic is far more than just a showpiece.
Some builds are about perfection. Others are about personality. This 2005 Ford Bantam Rocam 1.3i sits proudly in the middle — a reliable workhorse that refuses to be ordinary.
For many South Africans, the Bantam isn’t just a bakkie. It’s a business partner, a daily grind companion, and sometimes the first real set of wheels that teaches you what independence feels like. But this one? This one carries tools during the week and dreams on the weekend.
In Newcastle, KZN, where modern traffic blends with echoes of motoring history, Kavir’s 1988 Nissan Sentra 1.6 carburetor sedan stands as a rolling tribute to the golden era of box-shaped design.
When he acquired the car just over a year ago, it was anything but show-ready. The paint had faded into neglect, the interior carried the scars of time, and mechanically it was barely holding together. The engine was limping along on only three cylinders — a tired shadow of what it once was. For many, it would have been easier to walk away. For Kavir, it was the beginning of a challenge.
There are muscle cars… and then there are icons. The 1968 Pontiac GTO sits firmly in the second category. A symbol of raw American power, attitude, and unmistakable presence, the GTO helped define the golden era of performance motoring.
This particular 1968 Pontiac 455 GTO, however, is not a standard restoration. It is a full 21st-century resto-mod build, carefully reimagined to deliver classic muscle aesthetics with modern drivability, reliability, and comfort.
In the world of custom builds, some cars are created in spotless workshops with unlimited budgets. Others are shaped by grit, late nights, and the hum of tools echoing through a suburban garage. Matthew Eglinton’s 1981 Datsun 280ZX 2+2 belongs firmly to the latter.
This isn’t just a story about a car. It’s about unfinished childhood dreams, friendships forged over spanners and welding sparks, and the kind of determination that turns a non-runner into something unforgettable. Built far from the spotlight of elite collections, Matthew’s 280ZX stands as proof that passion will always outshine polish.
Photos by: Jan van Der Walt
Some cars are projects.
Some are passions.
And then there are the ones that carry an entire lifetime of meaning.
For my dad, a 1965/66 Mustang Fastback wasn’t just a classic car — it was the teenage dream. The poster-on-the-wall, late-night-imagination, V8-rumbling-through-the-suburbs kind of dream. The kind that never really fades, even when adulthood takes over.
STK Performance Dual Racing Valve Spring Kit VW 8v
When you’re building a serious Volkswagen 8-valve motor, the valvetrain isn’t just another box to tick — it’s the backbone of the whole setup. High RPM, aggressive cam profiles, boost… they all demand control. And that starts with proper valve springs.
The STK Performance Dual Racing Valve Spring Kit for VW 8v engines is engineered to deliver the strength, stability, and durability required for performance applications that go well beyond factory limits.
Three years ago, what started as a bold idea in a small home hobby shop became a full-scale custom build under the banner of Faber Designs. Schalk Faber set out to create something most people would only talk about — an American-style hot rod school bus built from the ground up.
Not restored.
Not imported.
Built.
Some builds happen fast. This one didn’t.
For the past year and a half, Dewald Immelman has been pouring time, patience, and passion into a project that’s been silent since 1995. Parked for decades. Forgotten by many. But not beyond saving.
Now, slowly but surely, she’s being brought back to her former glory — one bolt, one part, one late night at a time.
This isn’t a rushed build. It’s a long-term restoration. The kind that demands respect for history and rewards you with character.