Heidelberg Motor Museum – Putting up the old artefacts

I used to run the site way, way back. I’ve put some sub pages up for you to reminisce about what used to be. Leave  comments if you know what the vehicles are called. I have long forgotten.

 

People have blogged about it here and here

 

This is the official story:

26 November 2003
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO SOUTH AFRICA TERMINATES ITS SPONSORSHIP OF THE HEIDELBERG MOTOR MUSEUM
British American Tobacco South Africa has announced its decision to close the Heidelberg Motor Museum on 31 December 2003. However, the collection will be kept intact and maintained for a further period of three months to allow the Lesedi (Heidelberg) Local Municipality and other stakeholders to source an alternative sponsor.
According to communications manager, Fay Kajee, the decision is regrettable but was taken to comply with the company’s International Marketing Standards and its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) strategy. “Due to the nature of our product, our policy is not to engage in any initiatives that directly involve children under the age of 18. Since the majority of visitors to the Museum are school children, we feel we cannot justify our continued involvement.”
Housed in the old Heidelberg railway station, the collection comprises mainly classic, vintage, sports and racing cars, as well as bicycles and motorcycles. The collection is valued at more than R7 million and British American Tobacco South Africa annually pumps an additional R2 million into the operational costs.
“The intention is to redeploy the funds to other projects that will more directly benefit poverty alleviation and community development in the area.” said Kajee.
The decision to terminate its interest in the Museum was taken after consultation with the staff and other stakeholders and British American Tobacco South Africa is hoping that an alternative sponsor can be found so that the collection can be kept intact and in Heidelberg.
The Heidelberg Motor Museum was started in 1975 by Dr Anton Rupert shortly after the Rembrandt Group built a cigarette factory in Heidelberg. British American Tobacco South Africa acquired the Museum in 1999 as a result of the merger with Rothmans International, partly owned by Rembrandt. There are no plans to dispose of the assets at present.