Africa by '57 Splitty

[Pine]

The April 2011 issue of the WegRY magazine has this very interesting article on a trans-Africa safari in which two brothers, Ivor and Raymond Wiid from South-Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) took a 3-month journey through Africa with their 1957 Kombi in 1960. They joined up for a part of their journey with a Dr Cloete and Mr Mac Mckenzie from Oudtshoorn who were also on a trip through Africa in a Mercedes-Benz 180D Ponton.

Interestingly enough, this very same black 180D Ponton was offered to my Dad a few years ago by the grandson of Dr Cloete. The car was returned to Oudtshoorn after the trip and was standing in a barn for many years, it still had the map of their route painted on one of the doors. My Dad, who was busy with the restoration of the 600 at the time couldn't take it, and it ended up in the George Car Museum, and was even on display at the George Show a few years ago. Unfortunately the whereabouts of the Splitty are unknown, but it was used for touring through Europe, returned to Cape Town harbour on a ship called the Cape Town Castle, and driven back to Bulawayo.

I scanned the pics of the article for the Forum, but if you want to read the full story, you'll have to go and buy the magazine yourself. R 29.95 at a news agent near you, currently still on the shelves - it has a dark green Land Cruiser on the cover!























This pic is on the cover of the magazine, but there is no reference to the second Splitty (bamboo green, Fig?), so it can be assumed it was just one they found along their way

[jolas]

Brilliant, thanks Pine, I'm going to buy that issue asap, is there an English equivalent ?

[Pine]

Brilliant, thanks Pine, I'm going to buy that issue asap, is their an English equivalent ?

Thanks, to be honest - I am not sure! (There is however no reference to an English version on their site?) This is what the cover looks like:

[jolas]

OK thanks man

[fig]

The second bus looks like palm green/sand green, my favourite bus colour combo ever.

Interesting that their bus had already been resprayed at three years old.

[Pine]

Interesting that their bus had already been resprayed at three years old.

OK - so the obvious question now is: how did you pick that up?

[Dawie]

Looks like a double door panelvan (loading doors both sides).

[fig]

Interesting that their bus had already been resprayed at three years old.

OK - so the obvious question now is: how did you pick that up?

The blue is not correct dove blue, the roof is white (bus should be all one colour), and the bumpers are single colour when they should be two-tone.

The first split bus I ever bought was an ex-Rhodesian, double door, 57 panelvan with similar windows cut in the doors. I cut it up for parts years ago.

[sean]

Brilliant, thanks Pine, I'm going to buy that issue asap, is their an English equivalent ?

I think there is a English version, it's called Drive Out.

[Pine]

Following the article on the Splitty and the Ponton, this letter written by my Dad was just published in the latest issue of WegRy!

[jolas]

Nice one !

Even better is the fact the the Merc still lives on to tell the tale. Peter Boshoff is still the owner (he bought it from the doctor). It was at the George Old Car Show 3 or 4 years ago. It still has the map of Africa painted on the doors and has'nt been resprayed or anything like that. It is also still in driving condition.

Peter was at the George show this year with a few vehicles, one of which was a blue split bus and a red bay window Westy. He did a rather long road trip in the split bus last year, which included Namibia. I have been pestering him for the photos and the story - but I'm still waiting

He is a heck of a nice guy and every year he brings an odd assortment of vehicles to the show, including old Mercedes trucks, Bedford fire truck and unfinished projects, I think he had about 10 vehicles there this year

[Pine]

While we are still on the topic of Pontons, this is a pic that recently sufaced on FB showing youngPine with a Ponton my father bought around 1978 when we stayed in Alberton. It was used as a parts donor by the seller, and my father soon realised it would be too costly to restore, and sold it again (perhaps my mother also had something to do with the decision ) I do however recall us taking it around the block once or twice, it could still be driven

[Pine]

Just a BUMP for this interesting read

[jolas]

I'm glad all the pics for this thread are still "here"

[splitbusahollic]

[/quote Fig] The first split bus I ever bought was an ex-Rhodesian, double door, 57 panelvan with similar windows cut in the doors. I cut it up for parts years ago.[/quote]
You cut Up buses for spares Fig ?? ..."it's like "the Godfather hates pasta" or something along those lines ...