Old Wheelers Club revs up for 40th anniversary

Enthusiasts and owners of vintage and classic cars share a singular passion for vehicles of yesteryear.

For them, it means spending hours in the sun, boasting, talking, sharing information, and reminiscing about the cars from a bygone era.

This was a time when cars were primarily made of steel, roads were often gravel, and fuel was sold by the gallon.

Many owners acted as their own mechanics, a stark contrast to today, where complex, computerised vehicles require servicing and repairs by highly trained technicians.

Rainer Rusch from the Old Wheelers Club (OWC) says 2025 is shaping up to be a year packed with highlights.

These range from their regular activities, such as ‘bonnets-up’ events and vintage drives, to bike shows and the annual senior citizens drive, usually held in June.

However, planning is already underway for a bigger celebration in 2026, as the OWC prepares to mark its 40th anniversary.

“Next year is our 40-year anniversary with special events and a bigger ‘Day of the Old Wheel’ again, and the chance to win a raffle car – a secured old VW Beetle.

We at the club are really looking forward to that one,” Rusch says.

He confirms that anyone will have the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket for the chance to drive away in the classic Beetle.

More information, including the date for this major celebration, expected to be in September next year, will be communicated soon.

Rusch also mentions another unique addition to the calendar – a ‘gentleman’s drive’, similar to events held by owners in the United Kingdom.

Contrary to popular belief, the Old Wheelers Museum (OWM) is open and accessible to the public.

It serves as more than just a repository for old and vintage cars; it is a place where young and old can learn about the past and allow nostalgia to run free.

The museum, located at Olympia, Windhoek, was a dream come true, Rusch says.

Owners of old cars had long hoped for a dedicated venue to display and share their cars and accessories.

The current building is now proving too small, and plans are underway to expand the premises to house more cars.

To offer variety to visitors, the OWM rotates its display, replacing it with different vehicles every six months. All the cars on display are roadworthy, in good running condition, and belong to proud owners.

The museum gained international attention in August 2022 when three Bentley owners stopped over in Windhoek and stored their prized possessions at the OWM.

One recent highlight was watching proud owner Peter Breitenstein reverse park his legendary 1938 Buick.

Reverse parking a vehicle of that magnitude without power steering requires significant skill and patience.

Like a true vintage owner, he opened the engine bonnet to proudly boast about the straight eight-cylinder engine to admiring visitors.

His light-hearted words from a few years ago remain memorable: “Eight cylinders all in a row make the Buick go.”

In the classic car world, a car is generally defined as ‘classic’ if it is between 20 and 45 years old, ‘vintage’ if it is 25 years old or older, and ‘antique’ if it is at least 45 years old.

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