Shifting gears: This man went from being a judge to owning the biggest Jaguar collection in SA

The farm at the end of a long gravel drive doesn’t look much different to the properties surrounding it. Rutted roads, koppies and croplands stretch for kilometres under a wide-open sky.

But once you’re beyond the gates of Noble House, the home of retired judge Fred Beckey, it’s a different story – it’s like stepping into a wonderland of vintage magnificence.

Three gleaming warehouses near Bloemfontein are packed with classic cars in pristine condition. There’s a blue XK150 Jaguar sports car, a 1075 Jaguar coupé and a luxury four-door Jaguar Mark VIII.