We chat with Corber Viljoen, the founder of Wat Swaai Jy, also known as Vintage Cars South Africa (VCSA) – a classic car dealership, -workshop, -transport and -storage provider – as well as an automotive enthusiasts centre, located in Pretoria East.
IMAGES: Stefan Kotze
Cars, coffee, a perfectly manicured garden with ponies and an inviting barn filled with cars and memorabilia – those are just some of the attractions offered by Wat Swaai Jy (informal Afrikaans for “What are you selling?”), which is situated in Pretoria East and has been operating since 2015.
This setup, which does resemble a farm in some ways, welcomes the entire family as there are animals for the kids to look at while the car enthusiast(s) in the family stroll through the cars on offer or visit the workshop. VCSA is arguably one of the most inviting car spaces we’ve ever visited in South Africa.
How it all started
The proprietor of Wat Swaai Jy (VCSA), Corber Viljoen, has a long history with old cars that dates back to when he was a little boy.
“I always liked old cars from a young age,” says Corber (shown above). “I was in Grade 7 when my grandmother bought me an old Volkswagen Beetle. I drove it (a little) while I was in high school, then I sold it and bought 2 Minis. I fixed them up, sold the 1 and then bought a Triumph.
“One thing led to another, and during my last year of school, I had 10 cars in mom’s driveway! Obviously, she didn’t think playing (and struggling) with these old cars was the ideal career choice for me.
“I became a pilot after school, but then I decided I’d have more fun on the ground with old cars than up in the air with planes. From Grade 9, I helped a friend of my late father at his panel beating business over weekends and during the school holidays. This is where I gained a lot of my old car knowledge.
“During the years I built up this classic car side hustle, I was an insurance broker. Then, about 5 years ago, I resigned to focus full-time on our business. I initially started small in my double garage, followed by renting a premises. I continued to buy cars, fixing them up and then selling them.”
The main Wat Swaai Jy (VCSA) building houses 2 long rows of cars. It’s here where you’ll find a wide variety of classic cars spanning several decades. These include models from American and European brands. Dig a little deeper and ask around, and you can even be shown some South African specials.”
What is on offer?
“We try to offer a wide range of classic and collectable cars,” adds Corber. “We have cars that trade for a few million rand, but most of our stock are notably more affordable and start from as low as R50 000 to R100 000. I focus a lot on the American cars, but also old Toyotas and even motorcycles, now and again.”
“We also strive to be a one-stop shop for clients. We purchased these premises around 3 years ago with that aim in mind. We built this 1 200 m2 warehouse to house the cars, and we also built a clubhouse and workshop (the Snorcity Speed Shop, shown below).
“In our workshop, we mainly work on our cars as we will only selectively do work for members of the public. I have a team of 5 mechanics in the workshop, and we can also do our own paintwork.
“Needless to say, we also have our own detailing shop (GRIT Detailing, shown below) that can do paint correction or any other type of detail work,” he adds.
Sourcing cars to sell is a full-time job, however. “I’m often on the road searching for potential cars to buy. That includes travelling to Cape Town and Durban,” says Corber.
“Sometimes, I buy package deals of 5 cars or more. We are also quite active on social media (Facebook and Instagram), where owners send us cars that they want to sell almost on a daily basis.
“We also have a few collections on our books. That means looking after cars and managing restorations, making sure work gets done, valuations are correct and that the vehicles are adequately insured.”
Needless to say, during Corber’s travels, he has seen some of the most impressive car collections in South Africa. He mentions that potential buyers can approach him if there is a specific car they are looking for, as he is likely to know where to find it or at least who to contact…
During our visit, we noticed a couple of classic short-wheel base Toyota Land Cruisers, 2 Minis and even a 1986 Audi 500SE with only 93 000 km (shown above)! When last did you see one of those?
There is also a 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Targa (below) and a variety of classic Mercedes-Benzes.
Corber explains that his business will sometimes offer a car to a client in an as-is condition (voetstoots) or give the prospective buyer the option to buy the car and then have repairs made or restoration work done to the vehicle. However, Wat Swaai Jy (VCSA) usually acquires cars that “don’t need a lot of work.”
“The clubhouse serves drinks and snacks for visitors to enjoy. We also have horses and ponies that attract a lot of attention from the kids. That was part of the idea behind the premises, to make it an attractive stop for the entire family,” Corber adds.
This is quite a unique setup, as most classic car-, and even new car dealerships are geared to serve and satisfy the needs of clients, not host their families. With the relaxed environment, together with the gardens, Wat Swaai Jy (VCSA) evidently has a unique approach that appeals to the entire family.
Corber does admit that he receives a lot of help from his team, most notably his wife: “My wife Nadia (shown above, on the left) joined the business full time 7 years ago. She manages a number of departments in the business. If she leaves tomorrow, then this place will collapse!”
When you browse the Wat Swaai Jy (VCSA) website, you’ll see a diverse range of products on offer. Listed vehicles range from American classics and rarities that they recently sold, such as a 1984 Toyota Hilux 2000 4×4 single cab, a 1972 Ford Fairmont XY GT, a few Ford Mustangs, motorcycles and even a 1959 Volkswagen Kombi (split-window). There is indeed a car to satisfy nearly all types of tastes.
Search for cars listed by Wat Swaai Jy (VCSA) on Cars.co.za
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