Franschhoek Motor Museum

[frikkie]

When you guys have the opportunity to come visit us here in Cape Town, be sure to fit in a visit to the above mentioned museum.

It is situated on a wine farm in the Franschhoek valley - L'Ormarins, about 70km's from Cape Town. A beautiful setting, housing one of the world's finest collections of classic, vintage, sports and super cars.

Around a 100 cars will be on display at any given time, with cars being circulated as and when different themes are being explored etc. This collection is privately owned, by a guy named Johann Rupert - heir to the Rembrandt cigarette empire in SA.

Have a look at the website: http://www.fmm.co.za/.

The collection was officially opened yesterday, and it really is something to see. All the cars get meticulously restored, and they are all in fully running order. On the website, you can even listen to a sound clip of the car being started!

Also have a look at this thread on the CarToday forum: http://www.cartoday.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=044518 for some pics of the gala launch event.

[gregdeklerk]

Frikkie, were you there yesterday? I was and it was a great experience!!

Mr Rupert as has a very nice white 6.9, which was not on display. The Mercedes Club is working on an outing there in about 2 weeks time.

I have some photos of yesterday's opening if anyone would like me to post them?

[frikkie]

Frikkie, were you there yesterday? I was and it was a great experience!!

Mr Rupert as has a very nice white 6.9, which was not on display. The Mercedes Club is working on an outing there in about 2 weeks time.

I have some photos of yesterday's opening if anyone would like me to post them?

Yeah, post away! I couldn't make it yesterday, even though I had it planned as such...

I haven't joined the club yet, (bit hectic with other things...) but please keep me informed w.r.t the trip to FMM? The CarToday'ers have also mumbled something about going in two weeks time. Either way, I'd like to join up with you guys, either there, or maybe in convoy?

[James R]

Hi guys...slightly off topic but I thought you might like to see our National Motor Museum here in the UK too. It happens to be about 15 minutes away from where I live.......

http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/motormuseum/introduction.cfm

[OzBenzHead]

frikkie: Thanks for sharing.   

That Franschhoek Motor Museum site is quite classy - way above your average car site.

There are two details that bother me, though ...

1. On the Tech Specs page for the 1964 230S, it says "drum brakes all round".

Surely not?

I thought that all W111s had front disks, with only the early W110s (190, 190D / 200, 200D) having front drums.

I thought that even the short-nosed 230 (W110, not the long-nosed W111 230S) had front disks by the time it was released.

2. I believed that the W111 230S was released in late '65, and was not around in '64.

Seems odd that people with such a great collection and fancy site would have their published facts wrong, so perhaps I'm in error.

Can anybody confirm or demolish my assumptions?

[frikkie]

1. On the Tech Specs page for the 1964 230S, it says "drum brakes all round".
Surely not?

2. I believed that the W111 230S was released in late '65, and was not around in '64.
Seems odd that people with such a great collection and fancy site would have their published facts wrong, so perhaps I'm in error.

I've found that strange as well, but don't know enough about the model to be 100% sure.
Also, I would think that that car should be a 220S, not a 230S.

Another fault I picked up is that they swapped the descriptions on the two Beetles around.

If someone can confirm the details on the W111 for us, I'll let the webbie know.

[OzBenzHead]

If someone can confirm the details on the W111 for us, I'll let the webbie know.

frikkie:  I did a little research and came up with this:

According to The Heckflosse site (http://www.heckflosse.nl/) - commonly regarded as the best, most comprehensive Finnie site anywhere - the following data tell the story.

The W110 (190c, 190Dc) up to August '63 had hydraulic drum brakes front and rear, with optional servo assistance; from August '63 (200, 200D) they had dual hydraulic circuit and disc front with servo assistance (see table on http://www.heckflosse.nl/tech4.htm).

The W111s had:
220b - as for W110 190c (so front disks from Aug '63)
220Sb - up to April '63 - hydraulic drum front and rear with servo
220Sb - from April '63 - front disks
220Sb - from Aug '63 - front disks + dual hydraulic circuit
220SEb - as for 220Sb
230 (W110) - as for 200
230S - (debuted 1965 at the same time as the "new S-Klasse" 250S/E W108) - hydraulic with dual circuit and servo assistance; discs at front and drums at rear.

I can't swear that the above are true, but it's a good start.

[CraigS]

frikkie: Thanks for sharing.   



1. On the Tech Specs page for the 1964 230S, it says "drum brakes all round".

I thought that all W111s had front disks, with only the early W110s (190, 190D / 200, 200D) having front drums.

Front disks, drum rears

2. I believed that the W111 230S was released in late '65, and was not around in '64.

Production 7/1965 to 1/1968

Seems odd that people with such a great collection and fancy site would have their published facts wrong, so perhaps I'm in error.

Can anybody confirm or demolish my assumptions?

[OzBenzHead]

Also, I would think that that car should be a 220S, not a 230S.

Hard to tell from the chrome clues, as they were, I think, identical.

However, the mirror in the photos is in the pre-'65-revision forward position; the revised model had the mirror on the door, just forward of the quarter light, so you may be correct in supposing that it's not a 230S.

[Grant V]

I wonder whether all the cars are owned by the museum, or whether some are privately owned, but displayed for public benefit?
I understand that some of those cars came from the old Heidleberg Museum, which was sponsored by British American Tobacco. When sponsorship dried up, the Ruperts stepped in, hence the new museum.
Glad to see it.

[frikkie]

I wonder whether all the cars are owned by the museum, or whether some are privately owned, but displayed for public benefit?
I understand that some of those cars came from the old Heidleberg Museum, which was sponsored by British American Tobacco. When sponsorship dried up, the Ruperts stepped in, hence the new museum.
Glad to see it.

They're all personally owned by Johann himself, as is the farm and everything else.

When Heidelberg closed down, he bought the whole lot, and started plans for the new museum. At the time, he already owned a sizeable collection of cars in his own right. I understand the entire collection comprises around 200 vehicles, of which around 100 will be on display at any given time.

The restoraration and maintenance of all the cars get done in his own comprehensive workshop, onsite at the farm.

All the vehicles are in 100% running order, and get started and driven at least once a month. Several of the cars are licenced, and get driven by Johann himself on a regular basis.

Cars like the Enzo and Carerra GT, being LHD, cannot be registered in SA. They also get driven though, but not anywhere on public roads. I believe that the Enzo was imported by some bloke, and only then he realised he couldn't register or drive the car here. It was destined to be shipped back to Italy at considerable cost - Johann got wind of this, and bought the car for his collection.

Easy, when you're the 2nd wealthiest person in SA...

[gregdeklerk]

Frikkie, when I was there on Sunday, Johann said that if anyone has an interesting car, they are welcome to leave it with them for display! The Ruperts also donated a lot of the cars to the Heidelberg museum, so many of the cars were theirs, or previously theirs.

The LHD cars are here on temporary permits. I understand that Rupert owns a Gullwing, which had to be shipped overseas as the temporary permit was only valid for 6 months.

I know for a fact that the restoration work is not done on site. It is done by a fellow in Hout Bay.

[frikkie]

I know for a fact that the restoration work is not done on site. It is done by a fellow in Hout Bay.

Oh. Sorry - I stand corrected then.

A friend was taken through the workshops though, and according to him and the photo's he took there, it certainly seems that at least some of the restorations are done on site - they certainly have all the necessary workshop space and equipment.

Meh, no matter - it remains an awesome collection.

Also heard about that Gullwing - I'd love to see that... and that 6.9 for that matter!

[James R]

Can I just say three words. "CLK"    "DTM"      "Yum!"

[frikkie]

Frikkie, were you there yesterday? I was and it was a great experience!!

Mr Rupert as has a very nice white 6.9, which was not on display. The Mercedes Club is working on an outing there in about 2 weeks time.

I have some photos of yesterday's opening if anyone would like me to post them?

Yeah, post away! I couldn't make it yesterday, even though I had it planned as such...

I haven't joined the club yet, (bit hectic with other things...) but please keep me informed w.r.t the trip to FMM? The CarToday'ers have also mumbled something about going in two weeks time. Either way, I'd like to join up with you guys, either there, or maybe in convoy?

Hi Greg

Any news on whether this trip is happening this Sunday? I've got some freinds here from JHB who'd love to go as well...