Industry.”
symbols and artefacts into one cohesive unit, just like how Ford brings together people from different backgrounds who work towards one common goal.”.
Tebogo Mohlala and Thabiso Magane were responsible for the life-like zebras and Tsonga village depictions, David Serithi and Given Manzini did the spray work on the flag, Daniel Malinga did the finishing coats and Ben Manala was tasked with reassembling the bakkie.
“The project was a great learning experience for me, and an opportunity to demonstrate my skills,” added Alana Jansen. “It validates my ability and competence as a woman in the automotive
“I don’t think Henry Ford, who once famously, said: ‘Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black’ could ever, in his wildest dreams, have pictured how incredible all these colours on just one vehicle would be,” said Ford’s operations vice-president Ockert Berry.
“But we have no doubt that he would be immensely pleased with what we have achieved.”
At present there are no plans to produce more than one of these arty Rangers, which is a pity.
HAVING A bakkie with 1.7 million kilometres on the clock is quite an achievement. Much like reaching that diamond (60th) or platinum (70th) wedding anniversary. Gerhard du Toit compares his relationship with his Isuzu bakkie (previously known as the Isuzu KB), Roadrunner, which is also the name of his courier business based in Oudtshoorn, to a long and very prosperous marriage.
“You have to understand that I treat my bakkie very well and talk to my bakkie every day. I ask the bakkie to drive nicely and tell the bakkie that I rely on it, to get me where I need to be,” said an earnest Du Toit.
He uses Roadrunner to travel between Oudtshoorn and George twice a day, every day, for his courier business. This daily commute is through the scenic, yet treacherous Outeniqua Pass with several sharp corners and 90-degree bends.
But it is not the more than 300km a day that Roadrunner travels that makes this bakkie a true workhorse: “I stop and start the bakkie between 80 to 100 times per day. This is as I drop off the parcels or pick up parcels at my various clients in the two towns.
“I have had to replace my front seat covers twice already, but I think Roadrunner may still outlive me one day,” chuckled Du Toit.
Other than his unique and careful driving skills, Du Toit also keeps his bakkie in top condition by never missing or skipping a service.
“That is a given; you do not miss that 10 000km service for anything. Other than the oil and filter changes, wheel alignment and so on, there is never any major problems when I take the bakkie for its service,” he said.
Du Toit, who is 74 years young, has been driving Roadrunner since his retirement more than 15 years ago when he started his courier business.
The previous owner of the bakkie was his brother, who first bought Roadrunner in 1997, when it was just a young demo model with only 7 000km on the clock.
Buying Roadrunner was a decision Du Toit has never regretted.