Daniel Radcliffe makes Keith’s car ‘almost famous’
When filmmakers visited Adelaide recently to film upcoming thriller, ‘Escape from Pretoria’, starring Daniel Radcliffe, they needed to make Adelaide look like 1979 South Africa – and Mr Keith Rothe’s 1977 Classic XC Ford Falcon was the perfect prop!
In the movie, Daniel Radcliffe drives Keith’s beautiful vintage car down Adelaide’s Pirie Street, making it ‘almost famous’.
Keith, who has been a Resthaven Northern Community Services client for more than 15 years, bought the 4.1L V6 sedan brand new on 28 May, 1977. Since then, he has driven it 519,690kms, including seven return trips to Cairns towing the family caravan.
Keith puts the vehicle’s longevity down to having the oil changed regularly (he changes it himself every 6,000kms). The only major mechanical work performed on the car to date was to replace the transmission at around 30,000kms. The second transmission has been good for around 490,000kms!
Besides the woollen seat covers, the only non-original part on the car is the historic number plate, which originally belonged to Keith’s grandfather’s car, a 1927 Vauxhall 14/40.
Keith can’t wait to see his pride and joy on the big screen when ‘Escape from Pretoria’ is released in 2020.
Keith has always had a passion for motor vehicles, particularly Fords. He the President of the Model-T Ford Register of Australia, a position he has held since 1991.
His garage houses a fully restored 1924 Model-T Ford, which he rebuilt himself from original 1924 spare parts. The car has the name ‘Gillian-Sue’ emblazoned in gold letters across the windscreen, in loving memory of his daughter who passed away at the age of 35.
Keith also has a 1969 Ford Cortina, which belonged to his wife, who won it in the Boystown lottery after purchasing a single $2 ticket.
It’s fair to say that Keith really loves cars!
Keith finds the support received in his relationship with Resthaven Northern Community Services staff very helpful, saying, ‘They’re all lovely, I can’t believe how wonderful they are.’
‘They really look after me. No one could say a bad word about them.’
Keith is actively pursuing his interests, and continuing to engage with his community, sharing with others the very interesting hobbies and abilities he has developed over the years.
We reckon Keith is a classic, just like his XC Falcon.
Resthaven’s residential and in-home care and support options are offered throughout metropolitan Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Murraylands, Riverland, Barossa, Fleurieu Peninsula and the Limestone Coast.