The Big 5: South African born classics from the 70s, 80s and 90s

South Africa has spawned an array of uniquely interesting cars, capturing the hearts of enthusiasts both within our borders and beyond. From fire breathing V8s to potent period type four pots, we’ve had them all. Now while many examples exist, we take a road trip down memory lane into our five favourite examples of Mzansi automotive classics from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

1. BMW325iS – The 90s

A car that needs no introduction, the infamous in some parts and largely idolized, the “Gusheshe”, translated means “Panty Dropper”. A car with prices that have soared to stomach-churning levels for those that have had western dreams over ever owning one. That being said, he who seeks, finds. And if you find, be prepared to cough up a lung, kidney and your children’s university savings. (Sorry kids, you'll have to take one for the team)

Five years after the shadow line was first released, the 325iS saw the light of day sporting two variants, a 145KW and 155kW straight-six 2.7 litre. Now, what set it aside was the 25% limited-slip differential and M sport suspension with BMW partnering up with Bilstein. This car achieved notable success in the Group N production racing and seeing as though we never received the M3, which still leaves a bad taste in many a BMW collector’s mouths, it was the ‘super-sub’ we deserved.

2. Ford Sierra XR8 – The 80s

Mainly owned now by moustache wielding hardened faces of yesterday who have seen the block throughout the decades and then some. Prove me wrong on that? Those very same faces who know exactly how to preserve a piece of rich South African motoring history in the way it’s meant to be.

This homologation special churned out only 250 examples for Group A racing in South Africa taking on the mighty BMW 745i and the Alfa GTV6 3.0 under the helm of the both colourful and fiercely capable, Willie Hepburn. I mean who doesn’t go weak in the knees for those bi-level rear 'wangs' associated with performance Fords from that era.

3. Leyland Mini Clubman GTS – The 70s

To some original anoraks, the Clubman was never considered to be a “real mini”. Those who are alive and still lobbying that type of argument are the same type of people who turn their underwear inside out to prolong not washing them. (I needed to get that off my chest)

The GTS is unique to South Africa as it sourced parts not strictly in line with manufacturing in the UK and other markets globally. It received the locally cast version of the Cooper S 1275cc engine considering that this motor was being discontinued in other markets, making this a type of ‘Outlaw’ an outlaw way before the term ‘outlaw’ became pop culture. It also received the 1 ¼ twin SU Carburetors, a free flow exhaust and disc brakes. On the track, it lived up to that dragon-slaying mentality by winning the Group 1 Championship for production cars in 1976. Go Mini, Go!

4. Birkin Seven – The 80s

This Lotus Seven based South African special, developed by Durbanite John Watson developed during the early 80s and released into the wild in the 83. This “copy, paste but improve” formula has proved successful amongst enthusiasts throughout the world with the car seeing exports to North American and Europe. I mean if you can please that lot, you know you’ve done something correct, right?

With engine options including the Ford Zetec and Bulletproof Toyota 4AGE Blacktop, this supermodel on a heroine diet has been delivering the goods and inspired the everyday working-class hero to live out their racecar driver dreams, shortening straights and eating apexes across South Africa (And the world) at an affordable price point. Pop down to the local track and you’ll see these grossly underpowered Birkin 7s take the fight to the Porsche cup cars! The Birkin Seven was the best thing to come out of South Africa since Brenda Fassie.

5. Chevrolet Firenza Can Am “Little Chev” – The 70s

Put car development in the hands of a race car driver, firstly A, sounds like a bat-shit crazy idea and B) Sounds like a bat-shit crazy idea. To sum up this in-depth analysis, it was a Bat-shit crazy idea. But the execs at General Motors at the time, after witnessing Basil Van Rooyen circulate Aldo Scribante race track in his Holden powered Firenza testbed, wanted to go racing, taking the fight to Ford sparking off that “What won on Sunday, sold on a Monday” ideology that set the motoring world ablaze with countless homologation specials in decades to come. God bless those men. Pen to paper and the green for Van Rooyen saw 100 models produced for the Can AM series, defying physics by hoofing the small black 302 V8 found in the Camaro Z28. (See my article of the second Generation Camaro here to understand how big these cars were)