The National Motor Museum Trust

Long journeys have tested drivers and machines from the earliest days of motoring, one of the earliest being the 9,000 mile, 1907 Peking to Paris Rally.

Adventures have often taken vehicles where few thought it possible; penetrating the jungles of Asia and the rain forests of South America, enduring the frozen expanses of the Arctic and the vast arid deserts of Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. Many adventurous journeys have also been undertaken on bicycles with continents crossed and mountains climbed.

Some gain satisfaction from completing a challenge simply because it is there; crossing a desert or traversing a continent. The desire to win is the driving force of those who compete in long distance rallying while, for others, motoring expeditions can be used to promote a cause, highlight an issue or test new technology.

The vehicles on display in the exhibition illustrated all these motivations. The exhibition ran until the end of October 2011.

The Feats of Endurance highlighted in the exhibition were:

Between 1932 and 1935 A.E. Filby made an incredible overland journey from London to Cape Town and back totalling a distance of 37,000 miles (59,550km). Even more remarkable was the fact that he chose to make the journey in a ten year old Austin Twenty that he had recently purchased for £33.

The Austin was virtually standard apart from a 12 gallon (54 litre) water tank and an extra fuel tank giving a total fuel capacity of 50 gallons (245 litres); an extra load that required strengthened rear springs.

Mr Filby faced many hazards including the Sahara Desert, river crossings and close encounters with wild animals. In Kenya he contracted malaria and his dog was eaten by a leopard. The only mechanical problems encountered on the journey were a broken leaf spring and U-bolt plus two broken lamp brackets, a testament to the design of the Austin Twenty. Only one set of Dunlop tyres was used throughout the four year adventure.

Mr Filby undertook another London to Cape Town journey in 1938, this time using a 1928 Austin Twelve that he had bought for £20.

1922 Austin Twenty

Cylinders: 4

Valves: Side

Capacity: 3,621cc

Power Output: 45bhp at 2,000rpm

Maximum Speed: 58mph (93kph)

Price New: £625

Manufacturer: Austin Motor Company Ltd, Longbridge, Birmingham

Owner: British Motor Industry Heritage Trust

In July 1955, Richard Pape set out from Norway’s North Cape in an Austin Westminster with the aim of driving the 17,500 miles (28,169km) to Cape Town, South Africa.

Having wrecked one car before the start of the journey, Pape and Norwegian co-driver Johan Brun crossed Europe in eleven days, reaching Gibraltar on 8 August.

Brun became ill and Pape continued the journey into Africa with Royal Air Force Sergeant Johnny Johnson, using Brunn’s travel documents. This resulted in both Pape and Johnson (who was absent without leave from the RAF) being arrested in Morocco.

Without official permission, Pape attempted the hazardous Sahara crossing on his own, only to damage the Austin’s suspension in the desert. Stranded and sick, he set out on foot to find help and was eventually rescued by nomads.

Brun rejoined Pape in Nigeria and together they continued the journey through central Africa in the rainy season. They encountered swollen rivers, washed out roads, hostile natives and survived a crash in the Congo. Richard Pape eventually reached Cape Town on 22 October 1955.

1955 Austin A90 Westminster

Cylinders: 6

Valves: Overhead Capacity: 2,639cc

Power Output: 85bhp at 4,000rpm

Maximum Speed: 86mph

Price New: £834

Manufacturer: Austin Motor Company Ltd, Longbridge, Birmingham

Owner: British Motor Industry Heritage Trust

The Camel Trophy was first held in 1980, when three teams ventured into the Brazilian rainforest using Jeeps. In the years that followed, it developed into an annual event pitting international teams against each other in some of the harshest driving environments on Earth. Land Rover vehicles became associated with the event, which has been referred to as the ‘Olympics of 4 x 4’.

The Camel Trophy has been staged in various countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas using a variety of Land Rover models.

In 1989 the event returned to Brazil; deliberately timed to coincide with the rainy season when the normally dusty Trans-Amazonica Highway becomes axle deep in mud. The route covered 876 miles (1,410km) on ‘roads’ and 310 miles (500km) by river barge. Considered by many to be the toughest Camel Trophy event ever; often only a mile or two was covered in a day

The 1989 Camel Trophy winners were Bob and Joe Ives; the only British team to have won the event. They were later awarded the Royal Automobile Club’s Segrave Trophy.

1989 Land Rover 110 Turbo Diesel

Cylinders: 4

Valves: Overhead

Capacity: 2,495cc

Power Output: 85bhp at 4,000rpm

Maximum Speed: 74mph

Price New: £15,000

Manufacturer: Land Rover Ltd, Solihull, Warwickshire

Owner: Mr Bob Ives

Regarded as one of the toughest motoring events ever; the World Cup Rally started from Wembley Stadium on 19 April 1970. The route covered 16,000 miles (25,750km) through Europe, South and Central America with the last car finishing in Mexico City on 27 May, in time for the 1970 Football World Cup.

Amongst the 96 entrants were famous rally drivers such as Hannu Mikkola, Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen driving for works teams including Ford and British Leyland. Other famous competitors included footballer Jimmy Greaves and Prince Michael of Kent.

The rally crossed Europe to Yugoslavia and back to Portugal. Restarting in Rio de Janeiro the route took in Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Columbia with a boat trip to Panama before continuing the journey to Mexico. The entrants experienced extremes of weather and temperature as they passed through mountain, desert and jungle terrain.

Many competitors dropped out, including Prince Michael of Kent, who retired when the transmission of his Austin Maxi failed. The winner was Hannu Mikkola with co-driver Gunnar Palm in a Ford Escort. 23 cars out of the 96 finished.

1970 Austin Maxi

Cylinders: 4

Valves: Overhead Cam

Capacity: 1,485cc

Power Output: 74bhp

Maximum Speed: 86mph

Price New: £1,018

Manufacturer: Austin Motor Company

Limited, Longbridge, Birmingham.

Owner: British Motor Industry Heritage Trust

In 1996 Duncan Mortimer drove round the World in a 1978 Mini 1275GT. In 130 days he covered 14,000 road miles (22,530km) with the Mini and its trailer, crossing the USA, Malaysia, Thailand and Europe.

Three years later Duncan set out again. This time his route would take him across the USA, around Australia, across India, Pakistan and Iran and before travelling back through Europe. He drove 24,000 miles (38,625km) in 11 months.

Problems encountered along the way would be familiar to many travellers; long delays at border crossings, mechanical breakdowns and the theft of equipment. By contrast, along the way many people also offered their help and friendship, including other Mini owners and enthusiasts in the countries visited. During the two journeys a considerable amount of money has been raised in aid of cancer research charities around the world.

In 2009 Duncan Mortimer started yet another round the world trip in the Mini; he has once more crossed the USA and will continue on to Japan, China, Mongolia and Russia.

1978 Mini 1275GT

Cylinders: 4

Valves: Overhead

Capacity: 1,275cc

Power Output: 54bhp at 5,250 rpm

Maximum Speed: 86mph

Price New: £2,589

Manufacturer: Austin Motor Company Ltd, Longbridge, Birmingham

Owner: Mr Duncan Mortimer

Find out more about Duncan's plans for further round the world Mini adventures on his website »

In late 1959 John Coleman set out to drive from Buenos Aires to New York. This followed the route of a horseback journey originally made between 1925 and 1927 by writer and adventurer Aimé Tschiffely. The car he used was a 1925 Austin Seven Chummy, salvaged from a ditch in Oxfordshire. Sponsorship came from the Montagu Motor Museum, Beaulieu; the predecessor of this museum.

Leaving Buenos Aires on 10 November 1959, Coleman drove the baby Austin across the Pampas of Argentina before crossing the Andes at 14,000ft (4,270m). He then headed north along the challenging roads of Chile’s Atacama Desert, into Peru and the jungles and mountains of Ecuador.

Along the way Coleman had to deal with broken springs and a troublesome magneto as well as hazards from earthquakes, dirt roads and flooded rivers. Crossing from Ecuador to Panama by ferry he continued his epic journey through the jungles of Central America before reaching the USA.

The last leg of the journey took Coleman from Texas via New Orleans to New York where he arrived on 6 July 1960 having driven 11,567 miles (18,615km) through 12 countries.

1925 Austin Seven Chummy

Cylinders: 4

Valves: Side

Capacity: 747cc

Power Output: 10.5bhp at 2,400rpm

Maximum Speed: 45mph

Price New: £145

Manufacturer: Austin Motor Company Ltd, Longbridge, Birmingham

Owner: Mr Kai Coleman

The World Solar Challenge was first held in 1987 to promote the development of solar powered cars. Since 1990 it has become a bi-annual event. Entrants race over an 1,800 mile (2,900km) route from Darwin to Adelaide via Alice Springs, across the arid and sparsely populated Australian outback.

The race attracts teams from all over the world; some from large companies such as Honda and Toyota whilst many others are from universities.

Temperatures inside the cars can exceed 40°C. Racing is restricted to the hours between 08.00 and 17.00 each day and the teams must camp by the roadside. Philip Farrand spent four years developing Solar Flair, which was entered in the 1993 event. That year’s race was won by ‘Honda Dream’, finishing the route in 4 days at an average speed of 53mph, over three hours ahead of its closest rival. Solar Flair finished after nine days, second in its class; despite damaging the suspension on a cattle grid. Total time on the road was 85 hours at an average speed of 22mph.

Solar Flair

Power supply: 8m² Solar array. 8 x 12 Volt batteries to store energy and provide boost for acceleration.

Motor: Super efficient 8hp 1.2kw output electric motor, seven times more efficient than an internal combustion engine.

Cruising speed: 35mph

Find out more about this year's World Solar Challenge by visiting their website »

Many adventurous journeys have been undertaken on bicycles. Continents have been crossed and mountains climbed. Perhaps the greatest challenge for the long distance cyclist is to ride round the world. For some the goal is to make the fastest circumnavigation.

In August 2007 Mark Beaumont set out from Paris with the aim of breaking the existing record which stood at 276 days. His journey would take him 18,296 miles (29,444km) through 20 countries, spending 1,600 hours in the saddle. Averaging 100 miles (160km) per day, Mark’s route took him through the deserts and mountains of Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, across India and along the length of the Malay Peninsula. In Australia he faced days of featureless landscape, heat and headwinds on the Nullarbor Plain. Having crossed much of the USA and with only 2,000 miles of his adventure remaining, Mark was knocked from his bike in Louisiana and was mugged later the same day.

The final leg of the journey was from Lisbon to Paris, arriving on 17 February 2008; establishing a new record of 194 days and 17 hours.

2007 Koga Miyata Signature

Frame: Custom made Koga Miyata Signature. Butterfly handlebars, Selle SMP split saddle.

Transmission: Rohloff Hub internal gearing system, which protects the mechanism from damage in extreme road and weather conditions.

Wheels: 700mm x 32mm

Mark was unsupported and carried all his equipment, including tent, sleeping bag, repair kit, first aid, cameras and laptop. When fully loaded the bike weighs about 30-40kg, depending on how much water carried.

Manufacturer: Koga B.V. Heerenveen, Netherlands

Owner: Mr Mark Beaumont

See more about Mark's Around the World Cycle Trip on his website »

The modern World Rally Championship can trace its origins back to the great city-to-city road races of the 1890s. From these developed a number of classic events such as the Monte Carlo Rally and the Alpine Rally, in which production cars were used to compete over timed point to point routes, largely on public roads.

In more recent times rallying has become an increasingly sophisticated sport with many of the leading manufacturers entering cars in the major international events. From the 1950s onwards special stage rallies, originally developed in Scandinavia, took the high speed competitive elements of the sport away from public roads and led to a new generation of purpose built high performance rally cars.

The World Rally Championship started in 1973, originally contested by the manufacturers. The Drivers Championship was introduced in 1979.

This Ford Escort was built for Ari Vatanen to drive in the 1981 RAC Rally. Second place, combined with wins in the Acropolis Rally, Rally of Brazil and 1000 Lakes Rally, was enough to secure him that year’s World Championship.

1981 Ford Escort RS

Cylinders: 4

Valves: Double Overhead Camshaft

Capacity: 1,993cc

Power Output: 255bhp at 9,500rpm

Maximum Speed: 120mph

Price New: Not marketed in this specification

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company Ltd

Owner: National Motor Museum Trust (Donated by Carreras Rothmans Ltd)

It is difficult to think of a vehicle less suited to long distance travel than the 98cc Rytecraft Scoota-Car; yet on 25 May 1965 Jim Parkinson set out to drive a thirty year old model round the World. Driving a distance of 15,000 miles (24,000km) in 421 days, Parkinson’s route took him across Europe and into the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. Refused permission to drive across Siberia, the Scoota-Car had to be transported as baggage on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Parkinson and the car appeared on TV and newspapers in Japan, even selling autographed pictures to finance the onward journey. In the USA the Scoota-Car was initially banned from the roads by the California Police. In North and South Carolina the law turned a blind eye to the 10mph (16kph) car on roads where a minimum speed limit of 40mph (64kph) was in place.

Uphill stretches of the journey had to be completed on foot, with Parkinson walking alongside the tiny car which couldn’t manage gradients with the driver onboard.

1935 Rytecraft Scoota-Car

Cylinders: 1

Capacity: 98cc

Power Output: 0.4bhp at 2,000rpm

Maximum speed: 10mph (15mph claimed by manufacturer)

Price new: £70

Manufacturer: British Motor Boat Manufacturing Co. Ltd. London

Owner: Mr John Drew

In 2002 Kevin and Julia Sanders established a new World Record for motorcycling round the World. As a follow up to this adventure they planned to break the 47 day record for riding the length of the Americas.

In compliance with Guinness World Record rules the journey started at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and finished 17,000 miles (27,200km) and 35 days later in Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina. The route passed through 14 countries and included airlifting the bike from Panama City to Caracas in Venezuela to avoid the infamous Darien Gap. Julia rode pillion for the entire expedition.

Any journey of this type is full of dangers; Kevin and Julia encountered many, including narrowly avoiding a collision in Costa Rica. The couple averaged 500 miles per day and rode one 1,500 mile (2,414km) section from Canada to Arizona in just 28 hours.

Like other travellers before them, Kevin and Julia experienced their share of border delays including waiting a day and a half to clear Venezuelan customs. They were joined at various times on the journey by local motorcyclists

BMW 1150GS Adventure

Cylinders: 2

Valves: Overhead, 4 per cylinder

Capacity: 1,130cc

Power Output: 85bhp at 6,750rpm

Maximum Speed: 130mph

Price New: £8,495

Manufacturer: BMW Motorrad, Berlin, Germany

Owner: Kevin and Julia Sanders

Find out more about the ongoing motorcycle adventures of Kevin and Julia on their website »

In October 1973 Ted Simon embarked on a remarkable adventure; an epic 63,400 mile (102,000km) round the world motorcycle journey through 54 countries that would last four years. At the time he first thought of the idea he didn’t even have a motorcycle licence.

The journey took him the length of Africa, around South and Central America to California. He later crossed Australia, Malaysia and explored much of India. Like many round the world travellers before him, Ted’s journey was full of setbacks and adventures. He encountered wars and revolutions, dealt with hostile guards and red tape at border crossings. In Brazil he was arrested and detained for twelve days on suspicion of being a spy and spent a week in a Malaysian hospital when he sustained an eye injury.

At various times on the journey mechanical breakdowns had to be repaired but the Triumph proved remarkably reliable. On his return Ted Simon wrote about his adventure and the many people that he encountered in Jupiter’s Travels, now widely regarded as a classic piece of travel literature

1974 Triumph Tiger 100

Cylinders: 2

Valves: Overhead

Capacity: 490cc

Power Output: 27bhp at 6,300rpm

Maximum Speed: 100mph

Price New: £515

Manufacturer: Triumph Engineering Company Ltd, Allesley, Coventry

Owner: Coventry Transport Museum, donated by Mr Ted Simon

You can find out more about Ted Simon's adventures on his website »