The Nicaraguan police force and mechanical misdemeanors were just two of the challenges faced by a heroic team of three Austin Sevens as they travelled from Buenos Aires to New York from 20 February to 12 June.
Tackling the journey were seasoned Austin enthusiasts Jack Peppiatt and Amanda Peters in their 1933 RP DeLuxe Saloon, River Dukes and Diana Garside in a 1929 Chummy (a wedding present from Diana’s mother) and Stan Price in his 1932 RN Saloon.
The trio would follow the same route as Austin Seven adventurer John Coleman whose book, Coleman’s Drive, had inspired Peppiatt to plan the expedition.
Peppiatt said: “My uncle gave me an Austin Seven at the age of 16, complete with its rear axle on the back seat. He told me that the car was mine, all I had to do was fit the axle.”
Having completed the work and read the book, the plan to tackle Coleman’s 1959 route was firmly etched in Peppiatt’s mind.
“I would meet Coleman some years later and shared with him my plan to retrace his steps and he wholeheartedly approved,” said Peppiatt.