The South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal is a hotbed for classic cars and the opening of the Munster Motor Museum is sure to take the enthusiasm one step further.

Rod Kinsey who, with Con Engelbrecht and Ken Sink, managed Classic Cars and Motorcycles in Margate for four years, has built a motor museum in a specially constructed barn on his family estate. Known as the Munster Motor Museum, the facility reflects his family’s lifelong passion and contribution to cars and motor racing.

The Kinsey family has over 150 years’ engineering and motoring experience. Rod’s great grandfather William Barnes Kinsey received an acknowledgement from the London Patents Office in February 1867 for ‘improvements in gas engines’ and also took charge as the engineer building the Port Shepstone harbour in 1898. Rod, his father and grandfather all followed suit with backgrounds dominated by engineering and motoring.

The Munster Motor Museum provides displays of restoration projects through to completed cars with a dose of motorcycles, engines and models showing the inner workings of steam, diesel, petrol and electric lumps thrown in for good measure. Oh yes, and there’s a host of model planes, ships and cars mixed in with other interesting motoring, shipping and flying memorabilia.

Dr Rory Byrne, our famous Pretoria-born ace that went on to become chief designer to the likes of Benetton and Ferrari Formula 1 outfits, was on hand as guest speaker at the facility’s opening. The museum is situated at Sithela Country Estate in Munster and entrance will cost between R5 and R20 with special rates for pensioners, scholars, groups and frequent customers.