Among them was one that few know about today: the Central African Federation (CAF), founded in 1953.
Large reserves of gold, asbestos, chrome and copper, farmland that allowed for both self-sustaining food and tobacco for export, and the mass arrival of skilled workers from Europe resulted in a massive influx of investment and constant production rises. Within just one lifetime, this area of empty bushland had become an industrialised society on par with New Zealand.
Car makers were keen to get in on it, for obvious reasons. "To the Rhodesian, a vehicle is not a luxury but more of a necessity of life than an overcoat," Autocar reported on visiting in 1958. "Literally no one can exist here without one, and less than 2% of the male population of licensable age do not own one."
The British Motor Corporation (BMC) was the first to arrive in the CAF. Like it had already done in Australia and South Africa, in 1958 it decided to build a factory to assemble completely knocked-down car kits shipped from the UK to Mozambique and up the steam railway to the city of Umtali.
Denne historien er fra February 28, 2024-utgaven av Autocar UK.
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Denne historien er fra February 28, 2024-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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