Following last year’s sell-out success, the 2025 Franschhoek Classic Car Festival returned with even more style, substance, and sensory appeal – cementing its place as one of South Africa’s premier motoring showcases.
Spread across two iconic venues and packed with curated displays, anniversary tributes, and rare automotive masterpieces, the festival offered enthusiasts and casual visitors a full weekend of nostalgia, engineering excellence and motorsport history.
Forty of the Finest kicked the festival off on Saturday, 4 October 2025, at the historic Huguenot Monument, where the grounds were transformed into a polished open-air gallery of automotive brilliance. The day’s headline attraction, “Forty of the Finest”, brought together 40 curated cars from 40 different brands, each chosen for its engineering influence, rarity, or design significance. This signature display was a crystal-clear reminder of why the Franschhoek Classic Car Festival has become a magnet for collectors and connoisseurs. The curation goes beyond aesthetics, celebrating the stories and eras that shaped motoring culture.
Adding to the spectacle, a 75-year Formula One tribute display brought fans face-to-face with the evolution of the pinnacle of motorsport. From early mechanical beasts to aerodynamic modern marvels, the curated lineup showcased how F1’s relentless pursuit of speed and innovation has shaped the wider automotive industry.
Enthusiasts were treated to even more themed displays, including a Ford Perana tribute, honouring South Africa’s own home-grown performance icon, as well as beautifully assembled anniversary showcases for MG and BMW. Surrounding the curated areas, car clubs, enthusiast groups, and dealerships added vibrant energy to the event, proudly presenting their collections and connecting with visitors who shared their passion.
But it was the vehicles themselves that truly stole the show. The calibre of classics on display ranged from a pristine 1930 Ford Model A and an elegant 1965 Karmann Ghia to a meticulously restored Bugatti Type 35 – a car synonymous with early motor racing dominance. A strong showing of American muscle, including Mustangs in every shade of nostalgia, stood alongside iconic European exotics such as Ferraris that turned as many heads as the day’s mountain-framed backdrop. Each vehicle was restored with near-obsessive attention to detail, gleaming under the Franschhoek sun, proudly showcasing the craftsmanship that keeps automotive heritage alive.
Sunday, 5th October 2025, shifted the festival to the magnificent setting of the Franschhoek Motor Museum at L’Ormarins – the perfect venue for a day dedicated to champions, milestones, and motoring icons.
The 75 years of Formula One celebrations continued, this time with an extraordinary centrepiece, an F1 car from a championship-winning team, displayed in all its sculpted, aerodynamic glory. The car served as a living tribute to the engineering excellence that has defined Formula One over the decades. Surrounding it was a comprehensive homage to every F1 World Champion – a walk-through timeline of racing’s finest, culminating with a special nod to South Africa’s own hero, Jody Scheckter, the 1979 World Champion whose legacy continues to inspire local motorsport talent.
Another major highlight was a 50-year celebration of the BMW 3 Series, a model that has become synonymous with sporty sophistication and everyday performance. The showcase charted the evolution of BMW’s most celebrated nameplate, from the early E21 models to the latest generation, demonstrating how the 3 Series has remained a benchmark across decades.
This year’s Franschhoek Classic Car Festival did more than bring exceptional cars together – it created an atmosphere where history, passion, and community converged. With record attendance, elevated displays, and a two-day programme that delighted enthusiasts of all ages, the festival has once again proven that the classics aren’t just vehicles; they’re rolling chapters of our shared automotive story and, judging by the excitement that carried through both venues, the 2026 edition is already eagerly anticipated.
For updates on the next festival, follow them on social media, email fccf@bugaloo.co.za or visit their website at www.fccf.co.za.