Private collection: bug life
most passionate you’ll find South Africa’s visit Just outside Bloemfontein, for a rather special He invited us over Volkswagen collector.
IF there is a criticism to be levelled at Gerhard Ryksen’s Volkswagen collection, it’s that his location – in the middle of the Free State – is so far away from the coast. Surely all the Kombis should have surfboards on the roof and be parked next to the beach?
Given that the pristine structure house that holds his homage to Wolfsburg was purpose-built, we will forgive him this geographical shortcoming: Gerhard is doing his part to preserve VW’S heritage. The building also houses his of ce and a small entertainment area, and next door there is a restoration facility along with a covered area that stores projects and parts he might sell … at the right price.
Against one wall in the main building, no fewer than 13 Beetles are parked, including sought-after Karmann Cabriolets, and to the left is a combination of Kombis, Karmann Ghias and Variants.
My eye catches the real treasure of the collection, a Brazilian-built SP2. It’s one of only three believed to be in the country and the only one of cially imported through Volkswagen South Africa. Like many other sought-after Veedubs in his collection, it’s not a car that simply fell into his lap. He had to chase it for years. After an overnight bus ride from Bloemfontein to Stellenbosch, equipped with only a small toolbox and a battery pack, Gerhard managed to get the car running after it had been standing for 10 years, and immediately drove it back to Bloemfontein via Mossel Bay, Gerhard is a walking encyclopaedia on Volkswagen details and speci cations and, as with many of us, the seed was planted early.
“A month after my birth, my father realised we needed a larger car and bought a 411 station wagon. I grew up with the Variant and we had one until I went to matric.
“One of my main objectives is to preserve cars. That is why most of these cars parked in the collection are one-owner cars. My philosophy is to nd cars that are in no need of restoration; meaning, cars that the rst owner eagerly maintained for a number of decades and which I can then continue to do.
“I do have a few vehicles that I have restored, like the Karmann Ghia and Autovilla, to name two, but these are usually cars of which I’m con dent I won’t be able to nd a welllooked-after example.”
Along with that SP2, another highlight in the collection is a 1955 Kombi that belonged to a music shop in Beaufort West. It still features the colourful hues in which the shop originally painted it, and the quirky camping furniture inside is present and correct.
“I can’t strip and restore this car,” says Gerhard. “That will erase the most important part of its history.”
Originality is, fortunately, an important part of collecting for Gerhard. His oldest car is a 1952 Beetle that he bought from a friend and it’s currently undergoing a full restoration.
“I decided to store the car until I had the correct setup and equipment I needed to restore it. It is not the type of car you send off for someone else to work on. Some cars need expert and thorough attention, and this is one of them.
“I have a soft spot for lefthand-drive cars. After all, these are German vehicles and they should be left-hand drive.”
Don’t for a moment think Gerhard merely polishes and then parks his cars. He hands me two albums lled with pictures of two separate trips he made with two of his Kombis that covered thousands of kilometres. He might not live close to the coast, but he makes sure the Kombis see their natural environment.
“This is a working museum. I can climb in any of the cars and turn the key. I can con dently take 70% of them for a long trip on the open road.”