For more than five decades, the BMW Group Plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, has not only produced vehicles – it has crafted icons. It’s the only plant outside of Germany that has ever been authorised to build models like the BMW 333i, the 745i, and motorsport legends such as the 1984 BMW M5 (E28), the 1988 M5 (E34), and the 1992 M3 (E36). In many ways, South Africa became the proving ground – not only for vehicles – but for talent, with many BMW executives rising through the ranks here before moving on to bigger international roles.
Capturing this extraordinary legacy is a one-of-a-kind collector’s coffee table book, BMW: The Unique South African Story, authored by lifelong BMW enthusiast Johann Venter. The 640-page tome is not just a book – it’s a tactile celebration of BMW’s heritage on African soil.
Seven years in the making, the book is a meticulous blend of storytelling, rare photography, and archival material, documenting landmark launches, iconic models like the BMW 2000 SA, and the full arc of BMW M Motorsport’s history. “The book is a proudly South African product – except for the paper,” says Johann with pride. “It tells the story of determination, ingenuity, and passion, embodied by the characters who built this legacy.”
Johann’s personal story adds a compelling layer. “From as early as I can remember – knee-high, really – I was drawn to cars,” he shares. Growing up in Johannesburg’s Eldorado Park, he’d identify cars on the school bus ride from Soweto to Bosmont – Toyotas, Datsuns, and eventually, BMWs, the latter introduced to him by family friends who revered the brand.
But the defining moment came when, amid the 1980s apartheid riots, he saw Richard Maponya’s BMW dealership in Orlando, Soweto – a symbol of aspiration and dignity. “That image stayed with me,” Johann recalls. “It was powerful to see that a black entrepreneur chose BMW, of all brands. That’s when I knew: this is the brand.”
Collaborating with fellow enthusiast and BMW car collector Marek Letowt, Johann turned his lifelong passion into a living tribute – a book that is as much about BMW as it is about South Africa and the spirit of excellence that binds them.
With only 2 000 copies of the standard edition (R3 950) available, and just 333 copies of the heirloom-in-the-making limited edition (R8 900) – which features a bespoke BMW ‘50 Years an Icon’ badge, a numbered VIN plate, and Nappa leather, amongst other surprises – on offer – it’s a piece of history, an object of beauty, and a bold celebration of African ingenuity.
