We joined a group of passionate owners of Italian cars as they embarked on an adventure taking in SA’s finest roads.
Driving behind the 1974 Ferrari 365 GT/4 BB, I have a marvellous view. There are no fewer than six exhaust outlets but no bumper; in the spirit of a true racecar, part of the 4,4-litre, flat-12 engine is exposed. I can even see the suspension arms from the independent system working the shocks. Further ahead, the owner of a 2006 Maserati GranSport Spyder puts his foot down while behind me, the large moulded aero of the 2000 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 highlights the car’s strong aerodynamic design. During the last week of April, several Classic Italian Auto Owners (CIAO) Club members explored the different facets of the Western Cape, driving on some of the best roads in our country.
One of the members elaborated on the idea behind the trip, called Giro dei Vigneti, or “lap of the vineyards”: “We’ve experienced unique road trips in Europe and we wanted to recreate something similar in South Africa. What better setting than our own Winelands.” The small group made its way from Franschhoek to the Overberg where we joined them for two days.
The love and passion for all things Italian was palpable. One of the highlights in the convoy was a modest 1962 Fiat 1200 Spider, apparently one of only a few in the country. The owner and his wife wanted to share this enthusiasm with their daughters so, during each stint, one of their daughters drove with dad while mother and sister did duty in a backup car.
This story is from the July 2019 edition of CAR.
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This story is from the July 2019 edition of CAR.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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