Some people find their passion later in life. For Devan Scholtz, it started with grease-stained afternoons alongside his dad when he was barely tall enough to reach the bonnet.
Restoring cars is in Devan’s blood. His grandfather was a panel beater, his father too – so it seemed only natural that he would follow the family tradition. But Devan’s sights were set higher: exclusive, vintage masterpieces that deserved meticulous care.
“I love working on the old-school cars,” he said. “That’s why I started Classic Auto back in 2022.”
After two years building a name in Pinetown, Devan realised he needed to be closer to the rare machines he loved – the Ferraris, the Porsches, the Bentleys. So he moved his workshop to Ballito, near the heart of Durban’s high-end motoring scene.
Refurbishing luxury cars isn’t easy work – or cheap. Labour, paint and polishing often cost more than the parts themselves. Devan, who mixes his own paint, knows every job demands perfection.
“It’s stressful. I won’t lie; everything has to be flawless when you are fixing multi-million-rand cars. When the customer picks it up, it has to look like it’s just come out of the dealership.”
At just 30 years old, Devan has already worked on some dream machines, including a custom-made 1980s Dutchmann 911 Weekend Racer and a Bentley Bottega valued at around R5-million.
Yet, his favourite project wasn’t the most expensive one, it was a green Chevy C10 pickup, a labour of love that reminded him why he fell in love with cars in the first place.
At home, Devan has his own personal project: a 1962 Chevrolet Biscayne 4-door Sedan, complete with a 350 motor. Restoration won’t be easy – cutting out rust, welding new panels, re-aligning the body from roof to bonnet – but that’s exactly how Devan likes it.
“It’ll probably take six months and a lot of cash to get it back to original, but that’s the goal. It’s not just a paint and polish job; it’s a full rebuild.”
Classic Auto Refinishers, now based in Imbonini Business Park, keeps its focus sharp: low volume and high quality. Most of Devan’s clients come by word-of-mouth. Car enthusiasts who want trust, attention to detail and the kind of craftsmanship that only someone raised around classic cars could deliver.
“We have to be perfect,” he said. “Our name depends on it.”
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