Teens have an angle on mean little machines

It comes as no surprise that Benoni brothers Duncan and Dillon Fredericks are crazy about classic cars.

Their father, Clifton, or "Bully" as he's known among fellow enthusiasts, is the biggest petrol- head of them all.

Once a regular racer at the Westbank Raceway in Germiston, Fredericks has been burning rubber in American classic cars for more than 25 years.

Now he is ready to relinquish the reins to his boys. That's as soon as the teenagers are able to take to the road legally.

The fact that they are yet to secure their driver's licences, has not dampened their love for cars.

Duncan, 17, and Dillon, 16, both pupils at Benoni High School, have developed an affinity for a 1962 Ford Anglia that is part of their father's fleet of seven treasured classics.

Duncan, who drives the modified Anglia with a learner's permit and his dad by his side, described it as "the one to be beaten".

"The dash looks like an aeroplane cockpit. She has a Mazda 16-valve turbo motor and a Mazda RX7 rotary gearbox, venture diff and racing seats.

"The mean little machine also boasts customised arches with a Porsche 911 front spoiler and a customised Camaro bonnet scoop.

"To add to the mix, it has, would you believe it, Ford Cortina XR6 wraparound bumpers."

Fredericks took the Anglia into his "stable" three years ago and has since clocked up 5000km .

The brothers are awaiting the day when they can take to the road in their dad's other classics, including a 1966 Mark One V6 Cortina, a 1982 Ford Escort Sport that has been modified to a 16-valve turbo and a 1971 Ford Capri 3000 GT.

The teenagers love reading up on classics and restorations. "Our garage is stacked with almost every Speed & Sound and Classic Ford magazine and just about anything with wheels," said Dillon.

"We made a deal with Dad since none of the cars belong to us. If we do well in our last few years at school, we take ownership, so the pressure is on."