Taurai Maduna | Frank Lukeit
May 20, 2026Advertisement
In South Africa, Mercedes-Benz is far more than the name of a luxury car brand. It's intrinsically linked to the country's industrial heritage, the dreams of the middle class and collector culture. Keyan Valkhoff and his daughter Bella are better known to Mercedes enthusiasts as "The Old Merc Guy" and "BelBenz". Both help to maintain and restore classic Mercedes-Benz models made between 1975 and 1995 — not only for South Africans, but for drivers and collectors from around the world. We pay the Valkhoffs a visit, and catch up with Mercedes W123 owners who drive their classic cars from the Cape to Cairo.