THE BEGINNING

Our motoring tale begins around 50 years ago, when Tim’s father, John, was cutting his teeth as an accountant at Williams Hunt, one of South Africa’s oldest vehicle dealers. Long before the Porsche bug bit, John was a big fan of the MG brand, and in the 1950s he courted his soon-to-be-wife Judy in a two-seater MGA. John’s automotive tastes began to change when Tim was born and the MG was traded for a far more 'practical' Fiat 500 Abarth.

At this point, John had left Williams Hunt and bought into a Shell garage which sold fuel and carried out vehicle servicing under the Servishell banner. The garage brought John closer to his passion for cars. He absorbed all the information he could, immersing himself in books and manuals, and acquiring as much information as possible from anyone willing to share it.

During this period the Fiat made way for an Alfa Romeo, but as time went on, John became more drawn to the Porsche brand. In the late 1970s, he bought his first – a 356 – and soon after a 911. John’s fascination and obsession with the German marque had begun.

The Shell garage kept servicing all types of cars, but John’s passion for Porsches only grew. At this time John was taking part in numerous Porsche club activities, and subsequently club members began bringing their cars to him for maintenance and repair work.

NEW BUSINESS

During the ’80s, the workshop business continued to grow, which prompted a move to a larger Mobil location complete with showroom space. Now John could sell cars too.

While all this was happening, Tim had gone through school and then served time in the South African Defence Force. Once his military service was up, Tim joined his father at the family business and completed his mechanic apprenticeship, working under his uncle Robert Abbot. In 1987, Tim took over the role as workshop foreman.

In the following years, Tim went on to develop a well-earned reputation within the South African Porsche community for being an excellent diagnostician and engine builder. Although he didn’t own a Porsche of his own at this point, stripping down and completely rebuilding other cars and even motorcycles – including a Yamaha TZ 125cc race bike, a V6 Ford Escort van, a V8 Land Rover, a split-screen VW camper and his Baja Bug – laid the foundations for a love of restoration work. With an eye for detail and a cut-no-corners mindset, Tim was very good at it.

During this time Johannesburg was changing with a migration of business from the CBD to northern districts of the city, and the Abbots followed suit with a move to the newly-developed Kyalami Business Park. This facility was located on Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit’s old Leeukop Bend and main straight section, which was opened up for commercial development when the track was reconfigured.

With Porsche having dominated the family business in the years leading up to the move, the focus at Kyalami was solely put on the German brand, Judy being the driving force behind the change. A push was made to have the new facility completed and launched the same weekend as the 1992 South African Grand Prix. Kyalami Business Park grew around the family, and any thoughts that the move and Porsche focus would not pay dividends was ultimately laid to rest. John and Judy eventually sold the business, with Tim retaining part ownership and continuing to run workshop. But by 2004, he was ready to go his own way.

A PLACE OF HIS OWN

Tim’s exit deal from the company included ownership of the lifts, and specialist tools and equipment, allowing him to set up on his own Porsche workshop at home. While a full range of mechanical services are offered, a large part of Tim’s business today is classic Porsche restoration work. In fact, it’s what he’s best known for now. He’s done more 356s than he can remember and loads of 911s as well.

Today, the trophies, bikes and memorabilia of the family business set the emotive backdrop to his workplace where he is more often than not quietly rebuilding Porsche engines and gearboxes, readying them to be fitted to beautifully restored machines where the smallest of details have been thoroughly researched and put back to factory spec and finish.