Santos Beach Auto Extremo: Pebble Beach Meets the Southern Cape

Santos Beach Auto Extremo: Pebble Beach Meets the Southern Cape

‍

Ask most petrolheads what some of the world’s best outdoor car exhibitions are, and places like Lake Como and Pebble Beach are sure to come up. Pebble Beach in particular hosts the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, an annual automotive delicacy held on the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.

Widely considered as the most prestigious car show in the world, it is regarded as the pinnacle Concours d'Elegance competition for its historic metal, innovative prototypes, and even a few motorsport-themed surprises – all competing for top honours.

With this Pebble Beach exclusive feel in mind, event founder and owner of Scribs BENZeum, Waldo Scribante, hosted the prestigious Santos Beach Auto Extremo, which took place earlier in September on the sun-drenched shores of Mossel Bay, in the picturesque Southern Cape, with over 200 cars on display.

The automotive passion in attendance included all marques, from American muscle to European classics, street rods, sports cars, and future collectibles. Visitors enjoyed rarities such as a Ford Thunderbird, AMG SLSRoadster, a few Studebakers, and BMW’s legendary 333i, alongside modern Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, and even Merc’s latest SL Roadster.

“We catered for all sorts of collectable cars,” says Scribante, “including the marvellous, technically interesting DKW two-stroke saloons, which enjoy something of a stronghold in the Mossel Bay area. Also in the line-up were all sorts of ‘Deek’ variations, including the older 3=6 models and 1000S models in two-door, four-door and stylish coupé variations.”

On the veteran front, the over 1500 visitors revelled in classics such as a Model T Ford dating back to pre-1918, and vintage models from 1919 to 1930 – including the more technically-advanced Ford Model A; while a more unusual sight was the rarer Porsche 914 (which the owner pointed out was known as the Volks-Porsche when introduced in the 1970s, as it used a tuned variation of the Volkswagen 411 engine).

What started off nearly three decades ago simply as a casual Spring Snoek Braai among local car lovers has now become one of South Africa’s most scenic motoring events, with Vajra Singh, CEO of headline sponsor MUA Insurance, mentioning that “For MUA, protecting these beautiful machines is a privilege, and celebrating them with good wine, great food, and sharing of car memories is what it's all about. We were delighted to celebrate a weekend of automotive passion in the stunning Southern Cape”.

Singh adds that MUA believes that “The only thing better than a classic car is sharing this passion with like-minded afficionados. That’s why we are so proud to be part of the Santos Beach Auto Extremo this year”.

Event founder Scribante adds “Our headline sponsor for 2025, MUA Insurance, underlines the show’s growing prestige in the country’s collector car scene. Once again, heritage met horsepower with everything from retro classics to razor-sharp supercars on display at Santos Beach.”

The event was proudly supported by deserving organisations such as the Lions Club, Round Table, and NSRI Mossel Bay, ensuring a well-managed, family-friendly vibe. Hosted with the help of #ICONIC Mossel Bay, the event also played a key role in promoting the region as a Southern Cape highlight. All profits from the show will be shared with deserving local charities.

‍