The Vintage Car Club of Zimbabwe was formed to look after the interests of the Vintage Car Club
and the Classic Car Club. At the heart of the club is the desire to build, own and display cars and
bikes older than 40 years, or younger vehicles which are considered classics. The club is based in
Harare.
Initially all vintage car outings were held under the umbrella of the Mashonaland Motor Car Club,
but their popularity grew rapidly, and enthusiasts felt that a separate organisation was needed. In
1960 the Vintage Car Club was formed, and despite the requirement that all members had to own
a vintage car or bike – in other words, a vehicle manufactured before 1931 – membership grew
rapidly, reaching a peak of 300 members. Founders included Allen Phillips, Alec McKay and Dave
Schoeman who served as chairman for many years.
In the early years, the club used to meet at the The Chalet Pub, but there was a great deal of
resistance from the lady members because of its location, and there were also no facilities for
children. Treasurer John Goodall proposed that motor sport should have their own meeting place,
and he was responsible, probably more than anyone else, for raising the required finance to build
the Motor Sports Clubhouse in Eastlea.
Over the years, the Vintage Car Club organised both competitive rallies – regularity rallies where
the competitors must adhere to a set speed dependant on the age of their vehicle – and casual
runs as well. The longest of these was the Beira run which started in 1965, as well as runs to
Tshipise and Chiredzi. In the early 1970s, a “Round the Country “ run was held which took in
Bulawayo, Great Zimbabwe, and the Eastern Highlands before ending in Harare. 85 vehicles took
part in this run, which included 43 vehicles from South Africa, and 7 from Malawi. The oldest
vehicle taking part was a 1915 Ford Model T, while the “newest” was a 1938 Bugatti.
Towards the end of the millenium, there emerged a nucleus of owners of more modern cars who
wished to gather and be “petrol heads”. These owners were rebuffed by Sables Motor Club – who
served the racing and rallying community – and by the Vintage Car Club, which still stipulated
vintage vehicle ownership. In 1997 a constitution for the Classic Car Club was drawn up, and in
1998 the new club was born. Initially members would meet at the Avondale Shopping Centre on
the 3rd Sunday of each month, and this venue changed over the years to include the Gremlin
Drive In, the Borrowdale Race Course and the Pomona Food Court. Since the beginning of 2022,
the “Out and About” meetings have been held in the car park of Halsteds in Pomona, giving the
public access to seldom seen vehicles, and their enthusiastic owners.
In 2004 common sense finally prevailed and the chairman of the VCC, Louis Botha, met with Tony
Golding, chairman of the CCC to consider amalgamating the two clubs under one umbrella. Thus
the Vintage and Classic Club of Zimbabwe was formed and remains active to this day, organising
the monthly Out and About meetings and Classic Social Lunches, as well as social runs to venues
such as Borradaille Trust in Marondera, Ewanrigg, Mazowe Botanical Gardens and frequent visits
to Donnybrook to support the Sables Racedays. The club owns and operates a 1920
Merryweather Fire Truck which is driven with verve and skill by the current chairman Mike
Bremner to events such as the 2023 National Motor Show, organised by committee member
Dudley Searle. Attracting thousands of visitors, the Motor Show remains one of VCCZ’s finest
moments.