26 replies to this topic

[ZA Perana]

Australia has the A9X and Peter Brock, America has Parnelli Jones- Boss 302 and the Donahue- DZ Camaro. South Africa has neither, we had a Basil van Rooyen in the home brewed DZ 302 powered Firenza Can Am, a car loosely based on a Vaxhaul Viva. In race trim the car was putting out 400 bhp.

Of course there was Basil Greens Z181 Capri Perana, 380 bhp courtesy of a 302 out of the Ford GT40 complete with Gourney Westlake heads and 48 IDA Webers. The tales of this car are legenday, the fact it was timed at 175 mph down the old Kyalami main straight, the fact it won 14 out of 15 races in 1970.

Politically SA had nothing to be proud of but on the race track we had a lot to be proud of, the Perana simply destroyed any potential challengers, the Can Am did likewise in 1973.

Its remains a huge pity that neither of these cars competed overseas....Have a few pictures somewhere to post up but am sure there are a few people on this forum who also may have some pics.

[sterling49]

Welcome to TNF Perana, I read about these cars and it would have been super to see them race in the "free formula" saloon races of the day. I suggest that they could have been winners, we had few V-8 saloons in the early '70s, but in club races, things got really hot with Gerry Marshall's Big and Baby Bertha, formidably fast cars with (IIRC) Repco V-8s fitted. Any photos ZA?

[Gregor Marshall]

I have numerous photos & articles of period & current Can-Ams from members of the Droop Snoot Group and friends; one of my late father's best friends imported the first Can-Am (road-going) into the UK in the late '70s and is now owned by a DSG member and I think it's the only one in the UK.

[RS2000]

A South African built V8 Firenza competed at one Wiscombe Park hillclimb (the MGCC meeting) in the early 90s. So you could say one did in fact "race" in the UK. Talking to the owner and looking at the car (which I think was second in the roadgoing class to my 2.0 Escort), the space left for the exhaust manifolds was a massive restricting factor with the standard body.

[ZA Perana]

Originally posted by RS2000
A South African built V8 Firenza competed at one Wiscombe Park hillclimb (the MGCC meeting) in the early 90s. So you could say one did in fact "race" in the UK. Talking to the owner and looking at the car (which I think was second in the roadgoing class to my 2.0 Escort), the space left for the exhaust manifolds was a massive restricting factor with the standard body.

I beleive that car was one of the orginal race cars, it was subsequently broken up for spares in the UK...sad but true..
Am looking for some pictures.

[ZA Perana]

Not sure how to post pics but hope this works. Road going Can Am

[Hieronymus]

Same thing...?

[ZA Perana]

Correct that is a full race car built on the platform of a road going Can Am...many Can Am race cars started off as normal Firenza 2 door Coupes....

[Hieronymus]

Fred Philip's car...

[Hieronymus]

...with a real racer behind the wheel, this time around. I am sure Sarel can still blow away the best in the world, even at his age.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Hieronymus
...with a real racer behind the wheel, this time around. I am sure Sarel can still blow away the best in the world, even at his age.

Sarel van De Merwe or some such?

[Lee Nicolle]

The Aussie Torana LC LJs XU1s were also Vauxhall Viva based though with a stronger chassis and longer front chassis. Looking at those pics there is a lot of parts the same or similar, the common Vauxhall heritage. The Toranas were to be brought out with 308 Holden V8s but were scared off by the 'Supercar Controversy'
The Perana Capris have been cloned world wide it seems so South Africa has some decent entrys into performance cars.

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by sterling49


Sarel van De Merwe or some such?

That is Mister Van der Merwe to you. Sarel will entertain you with some colourful stories of the Brits.

Seriously, though, he is still very, very fast and once a year he will still entertain the locals by driving the wheels off whatever they ask him to drive. Naturally kicking dust in the eyes of fellow competitors.

[ZA Perana]

Sarel aka Supervan, also drives a 7 liter Galaxie....to see him throwing this monster around is truly something to behold, the car is a replica of the car Bob Olthoff won the 1965 Saloon Car Championship.

[barrykm]

Originally posted by Hieronymus


That is Mister Van der Merwe to you. Sarel will entertain you with some colourful stories of the Brits.

Seriously, though, he is still very, very fast and once a year he will still entertain the locals by driving the wheels off whatever they ask him to drive. Naturally kicking dust in the eyes of fellow competitors.

Damn right!

[ZA Perana]

Some pictures of the famous racing Capri Perana's
The famous A2 car as driven by Bob Olthoff and Koos Swanepoel back in the 1970s


The Group 5 Z181 car.


Local racing CanAm

[Speedy27]

Is it just me, or is that Team Gunston colour scheme truly one of the most awesome racing colour schemes of all time? Every time I see it, it sends a shiver down the spine!

Thanks for sharing the pics - they are magic and it's great to see that cars like this are now also coming down to race at Killarney. I assume that the pics were taken during this year's David Piper International Series?

Talking of which, why did the international cars like the Porsche 917 and Ferrari 312PB only race at Zwartkops? From what I seem to recall reading, Piper was at Killarney, but not his (and the other imported) cars. Does anyone know why?

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by Speedy27
Is it just me, or is that Team Gunston colour scheme truly one of the most awesome racing colour schemes of all time? Every time I see it, it sends a shiver down the spine!

Thanks for sharing the pics - they are magic and it's great to see that cars like this are now also coming down to race at Killarney. I assume that the pics were taken during this year's David Piper International Series?

Talking of which, why did the international cars like the Porsche 917 and Ferrari 312PB only race at Zwartkops? From what I seem to recall reading, Piper was at Killarney, but not his (and the other imported) cars. Does anyone know why?

As far as I recall David Piper's name was not linked to the historic races at Killarney in February. The FJunior chaps very much stoled the limelight in the Cape. Piper was at Killarney, but did not race after he was denied the starting money he required.

[Speedy27]

Thanks - I hope that's not an indication of the future of the historic sportscars in Cape Town. You will no doubt remember that Killarney was the first SA track they appeared at back in 1988.

[ZA Perana]

Originally posted by Hieronymus


As far as I recall David Piper's name was not linked to the historic races at Killarney in February. The FJunior chaps very much stoled the limelight in the Cape. Piper was at Killarney, but did not race after he was denied the starting money he required.

Sad but true....the 312 PB was badly crashed at Zwartkops...have a few more pics to post in time.

[Speedy27]

Ouch - that will be one seriously expensive rebuild.

'Look forward to seeing more pics, as it takes me a while to receive my copy of Classic Car Africa (now re-named) over here! Talking of which, the recent change of ownership has, to my mind, lifted the mag to a new level - it's far better than ever. If you haven't seen the new version, I suggest that you check out the current issue.

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by ZA Perana


Sad but true....the 312 PB was badly crashed at Zwartkops...have a few more pics to post in time.

Yes, I know, but he did not race at Killarney due to the appearance money issue. Health problems were also put on the table as reason...

[Hieronymus]

A local website on the Perana Capri:

http://www.capri-perana.co.za/

[ZA Perana]

Originally posted by Speedy27
Ouch - that will be one seriously expensive rebuild.

'Look forward to seeing more pics, as it takes me a while to receive my copy of Classic Car Africa (now re-named) over here! Talking of which, the recent change of ownership has, to my mind, lifted the mag to a new level - it's far better than ever. If you haven't seen the new version, I suggest that you check out the current issue.

Will post up in a general thread..

[zahistorics]

Speedy - Yes! A Team Gunston car in the late afternoon sun is a most wonderful thing.

[WDH74]

I have to say that I've always liked the looks of the Firenza-it's a very cleanly styled car (rather like the Capri, as well). I don't think we got them over here, in any form, but it's one of those cars I'd buy if I lived in England. I just like 'em. But the idea of one with a V-8.....woohoo! I imagine quite a few have been built after the fact.

-William

[zahistorics]

I have posted some pics of Team Gunston saloons in this thread:
http://forums.autosp...threadid=105379