Documentary Examines Little Known Classic Car Culture in Africa
Dedicated enthusiasts and builders have created a world dedicated to restoring vintage cars including a 1972 Porsche 911.Â
We recently came across the first part of an ongoing documentary entitled Made in Nigeria: The Unexplored Vintage Car Industry and we were fascinated. In Nigeria, a group of avid car collectors, enthusiasts, builders and more have created a rarely seen culture in West Africa. The group finds discarded luxury rides, such as a 1972 Porsche, and they rebuild these cars back to life.
Made by TayoAinaFilms, the film shows a few of these restored cars, including a vintage Mercedes and Dodge. While they are still in rough shape aesthetically, they are fully road capable. The group meets frequently to drive the cars, and document their progress on social media.
“What really took it from being a random hobby to a passion for me is that I realized there are certain niche things that are part of our history that people don’t capture.” Says Tayo Aina, the film’s director and one of the classic car fanatics.
“Everybody says ‘wow! these cars are in Nigeria?’ Yes. People were driving these cars many years ago,” Aina says. He hopes that one day future generations will see the 1972 Porsche and appreciate its power and beauty.
Of course these cars have a ways to go. But this group doesn’t mind doing the work. “It feeds into our maintenance culture as well,” Aina explains. “Bring me that old car and [I] try to preserve it and bring it back to life.”
The group has seen many salvageable vintage cars get the chop. Owners often sell these old Porsches for scrap. Ouch.
The documentary is not only beautifully shot, but it opens up a whole new world of Porsche restoration. These enthusiasts work to not only preserve the cars, but their history as well. And when they’re not doing that, they’re having a ball driving around in some of the hottest cars ever made.
