Menu toggle

Out of Africa...

arfor

PCGB Member
Member

[FONT=verdana,geneva"]This photo was taken not far from a small mining town in central Zimbabwe on 24th December, 1975.[FONT=verdana,geneva"][FONT=verdana,geneva"] [FONT=verdana,geneva"]
The 356 belonged to my late great friend and rallying partner Mike Rademeyer.

At the time, I had owned the 911 for just 6 months. It is still mine...and in ten days' time, we will have been together for 45 years.

Arfor.
 
Thank you! There can't have been many occasions when a 356 and a 911 were parked alongside each other in the middle of Africa!
As far as I know the 356 is now in South Africa, but the 911 is with me in the Vale of Clwyd, North Wales.

Arfor.


 
Great photo Arfor.

Quite a while since we last met and I hope that your keeping well.

PS I hope they didn't screw the front number plate onto the bonnet!
 
Hello Arfor, Congratulations on being together for 45 years,
I remember the problems you had in getting the car out of Zimbabwe, it was all worth while in the end, but with many anxious moments.

There is something special about owning and driving the same car for all those years that many Porsche owners do not understand. It is like having the best friend you could ever have, something you feel very comfortable with.
Long may you keep enjoying each other and will soon be out driving later this year. Best Wishes to you both.

 
Thank you Peter and Robin for your kind words - much appreciated.

In the photograph, the car is displaying its Rhodesian/Zimbabwean registration number, but what is not obvious is that hidden beneath the adhesive number plate are two others! When the car was first registered at the end of October, 1968, I think I'm right in saying that it was AFN's practice at that time to fit adhesive front number plates to new cars. Six months later, when the car changed hands, the second owner re-registered the car with his own 'personal' number and the new adhesive registration plate was positioned directly over the existing number plate. Fast forward to 1973 - the car is in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), the car acquired its third registration number and a new adhesive registration plate was placed over the other two number plates. Two years later I bought the car, by which time of course, it was already displaying its Rhodesian/Zimbabwean registration plates. From this description it would seem that the car, bearing three adhesive number plates stuck on top of each other, would have looked appalling. But so accurately and carefully had they been positioned that nobody ever realised that beneath the yellow Rhodesian/Zimbabwean number plate, there were two British plates. On returning the car to the UK, naturally another re-registration was necessary, and after negotiations with the DVLA, the car was re-united with its original British registration number. The old registration plates were all removed and replaced by a new adhesive plate, and not a single hole had ever been drilled!

Arfor.
 
Well done and congratulations!
Thanks for sharing the pic and the story and, yes, as Robin said, there´s something special about keeping a car for a long, long time. I agree with every single word Robin said about that. Hopefully you´ll be able to do many more miles in that 911 and enjoy that special feeling of having a faithful mate sitting in the garage.

Hacki
 
Gentlemen, thank you for your kind comments.

After all these years, perhaps selling the car would, for me, be akin to selling an arm or a leg. It just won't happen!

But maybe the circumstances surrounding my acquisition of the car has something to do with it: from first seeing the car on display at Earls Court during October, 1968, where all the then new 'LWB' models were on show, to coincidentally meeting up with the car and its then owner in a small country town in Zimbabwe in 1973, to buying the car two years later... has prompted a number of people to remark that I was meant to have the car.


Arfor.
 
Afor
I can understand you would never sell your lovely car having heard the story about it from you at the Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park a few years ago as well as being reminded of it by both the cover photo & accompanying article in Porsche Post,subsequently.
It makes a great ownership story.
Colin
 
Colin,
Yes, I remember very well meeting you at Oulton Park - my first ever visit to the circuit, and you kindly showed me around your red 924.
Arfor.
 

Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members

Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed on this site are not necessarily those of the Club, who shall have no liability in respect of them or the accuracy of the content. The Club assumes no responsibility for any effects arising from errors or omissions.

Porsche Club Great Britain gives no warranties, guarantees or assurances and makes no representations or recommendations regarding any goods or services advertised on this site. It is the responsibility of visitors to satisfy themselves that goods and/or services supplied by any advertiser are bona fide and in no instance can the Porsche Club Great Britain be held responsible.

When responding to advertisements please ensure that you satisfy yourself of any applicable call charges on numbers not prefixed by usual "landline" STD Codes. Information can be obtained from the operator or the white pages. Before giving out ANY information regarding cars, or any other items for sale, please satisfy yourself that any potential purchaser is bona fide.

Directors of the Board of Porsche Club GB, Club Office Staff, Register Secretaries and Regional Organisers are often requested by Club members to provide information on matters connected with their cars and other matters referred to in the Club Rules. Such information, advice and assistance provided by such persons is given in good faith and is based on the personal experience and knowledge of the individual concerned.

Neither Porsche Club GB, nor any of the aforementioned, shall be under any liability in respect of any such information, advice or assistance given to members. Members are advised to consult qualified specialists for information, advice and assistance on matters connected with their cars at all times.

Back
Top