There is something uniquely South African about setting off before sunrise with a convoy of bakkies pointed towards the Free State. The roads are quieter, the coffee stronger, and conversation tends to flow easier somewhere between the first highway onramp and the endless stretches of mielie fields that define the route to Bothaville.
That was the scene as we departed Nissan South Africa’s head office in Pretoria en route to NAMPO Harvest Day 2026, widely regarded as the largest agricultural exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere. Every year, the event transforms the sleepy farming town of Bothaville into a bustling showcase of agriculture, machinery, technology and rural culture, drawing thousands of visitors from across the country and beyond.
It is not a short drive from Gauteng, but spirits inside our convoy of Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warriors remained high as the kilometres rolled by beneath us. There is something reassuringly honest about a proper road trip in a double-cab bakkie, particularly one designed with South African conditions firmly in mind. As the Highveld scenery gradually gave way to the wide open plains of the Free State, anticipation built around what Nissan had planned for this year’s exhibition.
CELEBRATING THE PAST WHILE LOOKING AHEAD
The purpose of the journey was to visit Nissan’s stand at NAMPO, which this year revolved around one central theme – heritage. It is an especially important message for the brand to communicate now, as Nissan transitions from being a major local manufacturer to operating as an importer in South Africa.
For more than six decades, Nissan formed part of the fabric of South African motoring. In fact, had circumstances unfolded differently, 2026 would have marked the beginning of the company’s 61st year of vehicle assembly at its Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria. For generations of South Africans, Nissan products were not simply imported vehicles. They were locally built machines that became woven into family life, business fleets, farms and motorsport memories alike.
Today, however, Nissan faces the task of redefining itself for a new era. The challenge is not only to reassure the thousands of loyal Nissan owners across the country that the brand remains committed to South Africa, but also to prove that it still has an ambitious future ahead. Against the backdrop of its heritage, Nissan executives repeatedly emphasised that the company plans to grow the brand locally with new products arriving over the next two years.
Among those in attendance at NAMPO were Mohamed Samad (Managing Director of Nissan Africa), Ramy Mohareb (Head of Brand and Communications at Nissan Africa), and Juan Wheeler (Chief Financial Officer of Nissan Africa), all eager to immerse themselves in true South African culture and share their vision for the company’s future.
Part of that future includes two particularly important new models. Nissan confirmed that the all-new Tekton compact SUV, based on the Renault Duster platform, will arrive locally later this year, while the long-awaited new Nissan Patrol is finally expected to reach South African shores early next year.
Yet while the future formed part of the conversation, it was heritage that truly stole the show at NAMPO. Several vehicles displayed on the stand stirred deep nostalgia among visitors, many of whom either grew up with these models or still own them today.
Among the stars were the iconic Nissan 1400 Champ, arguably one of the most beloved half-tonne bakkies ever produced in South Africa. Manufactured locally from 1971 to 2008 in various forms, it remains the country’s longest-serving locally produced vehicle. Sharing the stand was the modern-day Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior, representing the final chapter in the locally assembled Nissan bakkie line before production ceased earlier this year.
Other rarities included a Datsun Patrol pick-up, a beautiful Datsun Fairlady SPL 213, a Datsun 280 ZX and several other gems from Nissan’s rich history.
HIDDEN TREASURE IN THE FREE STATE
Following our visit to the stand, the journey continued deeper into Bothaville itself for what proved to be one of the highlights of the trip – a visit to the Nissan & Datsun Heritage Museum owned by Oom Freek de Kock. Like many enthusiasts, I had absolutely no idea that such a place even existed.
What awaits behind its doors is nothing short of extraordinary.
According to De Kock, the collection consists of more than 300 vehicles, making it the largest private collection of Nissan and Datsun models outside Japan. Walking through the museum feels like travelling through decades of motoring history, with rare and often forgotten machinery around every corner.
Among the highlights were locally produced homologation specials such as the Datsun 140Z and 160Z, built in limited numbers between the mid-1970s and 1980. There was also one of only 10 four-door Nissan Exa Ninjas in existence, specifically number five, alongside a pair of Datsun 240 Z models, several Nissan GT-Rs, a Datsun Bluebird and countless other treasures.
LAST WORD
Eventually, it was time to point the Navaras back towards Gauteng. Yet the journey home felt like more than simply the conclusion of a whirlwind visit to NAMPO and Nissan’s heritage collection. Instead, it felt like a reminder that while one chapter of Nissan’s South African story may have ended, the brand is determined to ensure the next chapter is only just beginning.
Report & Images by BERNIE HELLBERG JR
