Small, home-based shops doesn’t have to mean measly end results, and Exclusive Conversion in South Africa is a prime example.
Anton Dekker started building cars straight out of school, with his first ever build being the venerable Volkswagen Beetle. He found a floor pan in one place and a body in another, and put it all together. The car bug bit hard immediately. Although the quality and complexity of his small shop’s work have increased in leaps and bounds in the many years since the VW build, in a way he’s still kept things small and simple.
If you walked past Anton’s house you’d never know what was inside, but once the gate opens, you’re greeted by a plethora of Porsches in various states of completion. Clearly Anton’s moved on from simple Beetles to their more elite cousins.
After the first Beetle, Anton built quite a few Beach Buggys (Meyers Manx) to help pay for his studies. Then he started restoring Porsches with friends of his father. Exclusive Conversion was launched in 1998, and in the 23 years since, Anton has amassed a lot of memorabilia, smashed race car body panels, wheels and more.
Anton realised at an early stage that learning to do his own fiberglass work would save him lots of time, and he’d also be able to offer clients more customization options. He also saw a need for lightweight components and started experimenting with carbon fiber.
Many Porsche race cars in South Africa have bodywork from Anton’s shop, including some really special stuff, like an original Porsche 956 Sprint that used to reside in South Africa but now is in the United Kingdom. By only working on a small number of cars at any given time, Anton has been able to keep the quality of work top notch.
When I spotted this Ferrari nosecone mould out back, Anton told me that he’s done quite a few composite repairs on some special Ferraris including an F40, F50 and Enzo.
This Porsche build on the other hand has been an all-metal restoration with some more modern bits added into the mix.
Knowing that building cars for motorsport wasn’t a sustainable business model, Anton started looking at some alternative options. This culminated into manufacturing a multitude of hard-to-find and even impossible-to-get parts for older 911s, allowing him to capture the international market as well.
You might remember the crazy AMG-powered and full carbon-bodied Lotus, as well as the twin-turbo Porsche 912 I’ve featured previously. Both of those cars had their bodywork completed by Anton, as well as things like the custom Kevlar dashboard and seats in the Lotus.
This Lancia Beta Montecarlo replica was built entirely from referenced photos and looks stunning in person.
Anton hasn’t been able to determine if this Lancia Stratos is the real deal or not, because when it came to him it was in two pieces. His gut feeling is that it’s a replica, but the outcome is impressive nonetheless.
I’m not the biggest Mercedes-Benz fan, but this wide-body 190E that Anton built is amazing.
Finding small, super-focused workshops like Exclusive Conversion interest me for multiple reasons. Firstly, they prove that you don’t need a massive, flashy shop to put out quality work. Secondly, they show that when the passion is still there after so many years and the owner is involved in every aspect instead of just being the face of the operation, there will always be a better outcome.
Stefan Kotzé
Instagram: stefankotzemedia
info@stefankotze.com
www.stefankotze.com
Wow look at all those Porsches
And that Lancia, 190E, and Ferrari this man has got good taste
Yeah man, so good stuff around for sure!
Does anyone know where those seats are from in picture 38?
They are .made by Anton and his team at Exclusive Conversion. If I remember correctly they are based on seats from a 964RS, but modified to add the headrests.
Hi Jack
The Brown leather seats are manufactured by Anton and his team at Exclusive Conversion. They are based on seats out of a 964RS... but with headrests added. Give Anton a call.
If I'm not mistaken they're modified Recaros
Yet again another white man in a feature from south africa
want a tissue?
Km stop being such a racist
Yet again, another baiting message. This platform is about showcasing cool stuff, no matter who builds them. Please do send me some details of anyone of any colour or race doing this kind of work, and we'll feature it. Or should we not feature cool stories like this, just because it's a white person. Is that not just reverse racism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZggKnkpLgl4&ab_channel=GreatBigStory
You say that the site is for "cool stuff, no matter who builds them", yet no non-white features out of South Africa? How is this possible? Km unfortunately has a point.
This fool be comparing some bucket e30s with custom built porches LMAO
There has a been a spinning feature on here and I'm very in touch with the spinning community. Actually have some stuff planned as well, but it takes work to organise.
Why is it always South Africa that's mentioned on here. Why don't you complain that there's not enough non-white features when American stuff gets featured, where you're from.
Also there's unfortunately not many African builders doing big build or that have their own shops over here. Is that now my fault as well? If there's no content to feature, how can we feature it.
Instead of getting defensive, do better.
You not answering my question at all, is answer enough to tell me what I need to know.
You're not asking me anything genuine, instead being intentionally obtuse and defensive. You post content on a site called SpeedHUNTERS, do some hunting.
It was genuine, It's literally only when something from South Africa gets posted, that the same question gets asked, not content from any other country. This is also always from people that don't even reside here. Easy to make assumptions from a place so far away
Like I said before; instead of getting defensive, do better.
Speedhunting the fastest runner from tribe to tribe. Maybe outrunning a lion or tiger would do? Lets feature more "donks" from "Merika" and Cadillac's.
If you don't like the feature/color move on or open your own shop with quality builds. They have covered shops all over Asia UE Europe Ireland and America to just list a few. Hope those hit your colorful rainbow.
Nobody wants your drama on this site, do better
Thanks Stefan, well said.
Really. Don't do this.
Great write up! It's so cool to find out about shops like these. Amazing work – love, love, love the Porsches!
What a place. That poor F40 though
Yeah sad to see, but at least it got saved
Every time I scroll down I just go like "WHATTTTT". So much cool stuff! Mind blown!
When I was there, I was checking things out for like an hour and just talking about it all, before I took any photos. Some really interesting stuff
Is that hood in picture 18 for a early viper? very intrigued!
You'd be correct! They busy with it for a track Viper,
cool! did you guys get the viper in Africa?
How does one get ahold of a Porsche 962 front end? I would give my first born for that.
Please feature that Grey Porsche, it looks amazing
I'll be sure to have a look into it once it's done
How love to find the owner of the lance
Because my family restored one in 1998
we Immagrated and been looking for it
Can anyone help
Whenever I read your stories/articles, i just want to use expletives from Cape Town... It's that good! Thanks for the stories from our country, I'm always amazed by the talent pool we have