Cressidas don't die.

Old, but going strong

Retired electricity supply worker Sket Mkwanaze (60) is the man whom new car salesmen love to hate.
Sket bought this 1979 Toyota Cressida new in Ermelo, Mpumalanga.
That is the part they love.
More than 35 years later, Sket is however still driving the same car -- every DAY.
That is the part they hate.
Three decades is a long time for a car dealer not to sell a new car to a man.
Both Sket and his beloved mid-size sedan have retired to the leavy suburbs of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, where he now does a bit of bargain hunting at the local hospice store.
His car is still in mint condition inside, but outside the paint works shows the three decades of wear and small rust bubbles along the beading and doors hint at a lot of corrosion inside the panels.

In any modern car the steering wheel will be pitted by wear.
Not in this 35-year-old Cressida.

The 1.8 four cylinder engine never gave him a day's trouble, but Sket says he has a little trouble starting it these days -- "but it is only the battery, they don't last as long as they used to".
With 467,260 km (290,342 miles) on the odo, it is a small miracle that he has only used three batteries.
His is not the only Cressida that simply goes on and on and on and on.
At the time of posting this blog, two of the same vintage Cressidas were selling for over R20,000.
In Pretoria, a certain Obed was advertising his automatic 1978 Cressida for a rather steep R22,000. (about US$2,000). But then Obed boasts very low mileage (just over 286 000) for a car this old.
"Its a very good running car with a very nice condition and is very safe on fuel regardless of its age or size. You can still drive Cape to Cairo with it." Obed advertised.
In Springs on the east of Johannesburg, Martin was selling his "collectors 1,8 Cressida" for R26,000 -- he did not specify mileage, but does include "a radio", in the deal.

Sorry mate, she mine and not for sale.

Sket said he has no plans to sell his five speed 1,8 Cressida. Patting the lovely original turgoise paint of  his old gal, he said he would go to his ancestors in this car.