The General Motors 50-car caravan arrived in George at Martins Garage in Hibernia Street on 17 April 1928. They then left on their way to Mossel Bay and Riversdale. This was a record-breaking event in the annals of motoring history.
In Riversdale, Mayor Mr H M van Rensburg, Mr J van Wyk (Manager of J F van Rensburg & Co) and Mr J de Vries of De Vries Garage met the caravan at Albertinia. After tea in the village, the Mayor of Riversdale returned in the Imperial Fleetwood Sedan Cadillac. The caravan paraded through the town after dark and made a wonderful impression on the crowd that collected along the route. A full evening's entertainment was provided on the town square, with demonstrations and bioscope pictures.
Cars ranging from the lowest priced car to the highest priced and most luxurious model manufactured were exhibited.
Then there was the Buick. This was the largest selling and most popular six-cylinder car in the world. Another product of General Motors was the 'Frigidaire' one of the finest self-contained refrigerators in the world. There was a series of bioscope films shown on the wall of the Riversdale Town Hall that gave a pictorial record of the work of the Port Elizabeth factory where these cars were produced.
The trucks with trailers stayed overnight at Heidelberg after a hasty meal at Riversdale. The rest of the crew spent Tuesday night in local hotels.
The cars represent an investment of £22 000. The personnel consist of 92 men, drivers, motor mechanics, motion picture operators, publicity director, 10 erectors etc. The itinerary covers a mileage of 5 200 and the lowest car was priced £190 and the highest £1 575.
The arrival of the General Motors' 50-car caravan in George at Martins Garage in Hibernia Street. The transport section consists of eight GMC trucks and trailers used for transporting the large tent used for displaying the cars. Photo: James Martin Collection
ARTICLE: EMSIE MARTIN
