The Generational Game – Albert Bester’s Cool Classic Car Collection

Just outside Cape Town, we visit a collector who not only has an impressive classic-car collection but has also furnished the building with all things relevant to his family’s history, the motoring world and historical objects. Read Wilhelm Lutjeharms’ experience below.

Image: Peet Mocke

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Family, cars, history, memories and custodianship. These were just a few of the thoughts that went through my mind as I stepped into Albert Bester’s barn. A common theme runs through the artefacts in the room. Apart from his collection of classics, Albert’s passion for history and tradition is evident. And like his cars, each artefact is kept safe and in meticulous condition so that it can be enjoyed by the next generation.

Albert grew up among cars, with a father who, many decades ago, enjoyed the journey of finding an old car, repairing it and owning it. I took a stroll through the collection and walked along the walls. There are newspaper articles about the work his father did for the local town, keepsakes of the family and framed photos of several cars they’ve previously owned. There’s a strong sense of family history, and Albert was quick to point out the pictures with anecdotes or special memories attached to them. Currently, more drawings and photos depicting various memories and events in the motoring world, are being put up on the walls.

“My late father grew up in Hopefield and was one of eight or nine children. One day, a Duesenberg came through the town. My father constantly asked his father if they could go to Langebaan to look at the car, as it was there for a period of time. They eventually went to investigate, and I think that set the foundation for my father’s love of cars. He wanted to work on cars, and the first one he got in the 1940s needed a lot of work. He then started working on that car himself. Following this experience, he started buying old bicycles from the people in town, fixed them up and sprayed them in different colours. He would then sell them. He also worked in one of the local shops for extra money – I still have the old cash register he used to work on in that shop. He joined a company as the assistant to the mechanic and worked hard through the ranks until he became the managing director. At one stage, he started his own business and built that up. During these years, we had a truck and would travel as far as Namibia in search of old cars. We even went to scrapyards to dig cars out that were half-buried.”

“We finished rebuilding a number of cars for several years in a row. When my father passed away, we had an auction and had to spend a lot of man-hours getting the hundreds of parts ready for the event. At the height of the collection, we had a few hundred cars.”

Looking at all the vehicles, it’s apparent how much searching and hard work went into building up such a large collection over the years. Albert shared how they eventually sold a large part of the collection to another notable collector, who is also based in South Africa. However, that hasn’t stopped him from being involved with his classic cars. “It is a hobby I enjoy, whether driving the cars or working on them – it is relaxing.”

“I’m busy with the full restoration of a Karmann Ghia with a specialist here on the farm. We are two years into the project now. That is what some people don’t understand, it takes a lot of time to restore these cars. In the end, when the car is done, it gives you quite a level of satisfaction.” He admits that specialists who know how to work on cars, and how to restore them, are few and far between.

One of the most recent additions along the museum’s walls are pictures from a Buick sales manual. “Back in those days, the pictures in the brochure were painted by an artist. I had it scanned and then printed. There is even a drawing of the car’s chassis.”

“One of my favourite cars is the beautiful red 1932 Chrysler Tourer. The previous owner wanted to build a hot rod from it, so when we found the car, it was cut in two! People used to tell my father he was mad to undertake such a project, but all those years ago, a specialist in Strand restored it.” Understandably, this Chrysler is one of Albert’s three favourite cars.

Most of the cars in the collection came from his father, while a few Peugeots belong to a fellow enthusiast. Another one of Albert’s favourites is a rare 1982 Toyota Land Cruiser BJ42. I pushed Albert to select his final favourite, and he stopped at a Buick. “My father appreciated the Buicks, and I also have a strong interest in them. It is enjoyable to drive them, even though they weren’t the top cars of their time.”

One of the most significant cars in the collection is a brown 1938 Buick. Albert quickly pointed out that it’s completely original, including the paint from the factory. It has been part of the collection since the 1980s. “This is the type of car generals drove during World War II.” Other cars include a 1939 Buick sedan, a manual Mercedes-Benz 280SE sedan, Peugeot 202, 1962 Volkswagen Beetle, 1932 Chrysler, a 1955 Buick and even a 1930s Ford V8.

Image: Peet Mocke

I wondered which cars would be at the top of Albert’s list if he could add a few more to the collection. “A Mercedes-Benz SL “Pagoda”, a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible, an original Ford Mustang and a Duesenberg, or something like an Auburn Boattail,” he said.

It’s clear that Albert is not only passionate about cars but also wants this building to be a place that captures the memories of his late father, artefacts of a forgotten era and a place for classic-car club members to visit and appreciate. Having spent some time here, I simply wanted to grab one of the old car books and make myself comfortable in one of the wingback chairs with a cup of tea or glass of wine, so I think it’s fair to say he’s succeeded.

Find the full feature in the June 2025 issue of CAR Magazine.

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