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Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
SHASHA Moyo and his son Nkosiyazi Moyo have a shared passion for vintage cars, a rare thing in a world where most men go for the latest BMW or Mercedes. Their love for classics has led them to collect and revamp vintage cars like the Chevrolet Biscoe 1961 model, Chevrolet Impala 1961 model, a Toyota Crown, and a Bedford.
The Moyos keep their collection at home and regularly take them out for a drive around Bulawayo, showcasing their prized possessions.
According to Shasha Moyo, his love for vintage cars began in 1965 when he first laid eyes on the Chevrolet Biscoe 1961 model. He purchased it for a few pounds, and as the years went by, he stored it away as it grew old and couldn’t find the problem that had got it grounded.
“This was until a few years back when my son came home from work where he is a mechanic and told me he needed the keys as he wanted to fix it. I did not think he would be able to fix it because after all it is an old car and most of these youngsters do not know how to deal with but I was shocked when he gave me the keys a week later and told me I could take it for a ride. That is when I knew my son had the same passion and love for vintage cars just like I do. Ever since then we have been collecting cars together and fixing them so we can add them to our collection,” said Shasha.
For Shasha, vintage cars are not just an investment that doesn’t lose value but instead gains value the more years you keep them. His Chevrolet Biscoe has not had its engine changed since he first bought it, and the car still uses three gears, which means it is able to save fuel. The car is also made of strong steel, making it hard to damage.
Although many companies have approached Shasha to buy his car, he has refused all offers. The cars mean more to him than money, and he often hires them out to people for vintage-themed weddings, which is how he makes his money.
Nkosiyazi says vintage cars are like jewels that they have in their possession and are keeping safe. He believes people still have yet to understand the value of vintage cars and often strip them to sell the metal at scrap yards. The Moyos believe vintage cars are investments that are easy to have, and they put a lot of energy into them and invest a lot in them for them to just sell them.
“You will find someone getting those vintage cars and stripping them so they could sell the metal at the scrap yards. People do not understand the kind of gold they will be throwing away by doing that. Or you find someone selling vintage cars to white people saying it is a white people’s car. What kind of car is meant for blacks then that is a white man’s tool. People should really do away with such behaviour because these cars are like an investment that is easy to have,” said Nkosiyazi.
Nkosiyazi said his father once got an offer of more than US$20 000 on one of the cars and they flatly said “no” as they know the cars are priceless.
“The cars are already an investment because we hire them out and we are open for anyone who would want to hire them for their movies, however, we are not selling and we are not thinking of selling anytime soon. Once we get the vintage cars we put so much energy in them and invest a lot in them for us to just sell them without keeping them safe,” said the vintage lover.
“These cars are worth a lot and I would advise anyone who has them even at a rural area to keep them safe. For instance, the white Chevy Biscayne that my father has is valued at US$300 000 so imagine keeping such an investment at home,” said Nkosiyazi.
The Saturday Chronicle also spoke to Delma Lupepe who once owned a Porsche 911 and said he sold his car for a significant amount to a car dealership company. He said vintage cars are becoming extinct and as such, there is a battle on who gets to win the ones left in the world and because of that people offer big sums just for the cars. “As a business man I can tell you all vintage cars are an investment, that is easy to access and does not lose value despite the economic challenges. Keeping those cars would ensure that you are securing the lives of your future generations and making sure they will always have an investment waiting for them,” he said.–@flora_sibanda
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