Thousands of car enthusiasts gathered in George for the 29th edition of the Old Car Show, themed around pioneers of motoring. The event celebrated the 140th anniversary of the first motorcar patent and Mercedes-Benz's centenary. Organizers highlighted over 1,100 vintage vehicles on display from across South Africa.
The George Old Car Show, held on February 14, 2026, at Eden Technical High School in the Western Cape's Garden Route region, drew thousands of petrol heads. Now in its 29th year, the exhibition has become one of South Africa's premier motoring events, attracting collectors, restorers, and fans nationwide.
This year's theme, 'Pioneers of Motoring,' aligned with significant milestones: the 140th anniversary of the patent for the first motorcar in 1886 and Mercedes-Benz's 100th anniversary since its founding in 1926. The show featured vehicles spanning various eras, from early ancestors to post-1970 classics.
Alewijn Dippenaar, the event organizer, emphasized its scale: 'What makes the old car show so special is that we have vehicles from the ancestor era right up to 170. And when we look at all the eras of the veterans, the pre-war, the post-war, the classics, this is by far the largest car show going back from 1970, going back in era. And this year there is 1 167 of these beautiful cars on display from all over South Africa.'
The George Municipality promoted the event in advance via social media, noting its timing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Such gatherings preserve motoring history and foster community interest in classic automobiles.