When Martin Smith moved countries, the one thing he refused to part with wasn’t a piece of furniture or a family heirloom. It was his 1998 Dodge Ram.

Over 28 years, the pickup has followed Smith through every major chapter of his life.

Today, after travelling thousands of kilometres, crossing the Atlantic and spending months in Botswana before arriving on the North Coast, the faithful Dodge has been restored to its former glory and is beginning its retirement in Ballito.

Smith bought the truck new in British Columbia in May 1998. What began as everyday ride soon became something much more. Instead of selling it with each international move, he loaded it up and took it with him.

The Dodge accompanied the family on a 3 784km move from Canada to Texas in 2008 and another 4 464km relocation to Washington State in 2020.

Its biggest adventure came in 2024 when Smith decided to return to South Africa.

Rather than leaving the vehicle behind, he drove it from Washington State across the United States and Canada before delivering it to Newark, New Jersey, for shipment to Durban. The road trip alone covered 6773km, roughly the same distance as driving from Pretoria to Lagos, Nigeria.

“The trip from Canada to New Jersey was memorable in that we nearly froze. The heater had packed up and it was winter with temperatures as low as -6°C,” said Smith.

After arriving in Durban, the Dodge was transported to Botswana before eventually reaching Ballito, where years on the road had left it weathered and worn. Smith entrusted its restoration to My Paneel Klopper in Shaka’s Head, whose five-week respray returned the pickup to showroom condition.
“They really did an amazing job of restoring her,” said Smith.

For Smith, however, the real value of the Dodge has never been measured in kilometres.

It has carried him across two continents, through countless life changes and thousands of memories.

Now, after a lifetime on the road, the truck has finally reached its best home ever.

“The North Coast is incredible. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”