Hurrah! Otto the G-Wagen is 500,000 miles old...
Discussion
link below said:
This Mercedes Benz G-Wagen, affectionately named Otto, has carried Gunther Holtorf and his wife Christine on an incredible 500,000 mile journey around the world.
In 1989, Gunther Holtorf and his wife Christine climbed aboard their 1988 Mercedes Benz G-Wagen to travel from Germany to Africa, where they planned to complete a once-in-a-lifetime road trip that would last 18-months.
Except the trip didn’t last 18-months, it has lasted 23 years, spanned more than 200 countries and the G-Wagen now has 800,000 kilometers, or 500,000 miles, on its odometer. That’s the equivalent of 20 times around the equator.
The trio have visited everywhere from Alaska to Zimbabwe by way of North Korea, the Sahara desert, Mount Everest and Siberia in an effort to drive around the globe. Sadly, Gunther’s wife Christine passed away in 2010, but he has continued to travel the world, as per her wishes.
In June this year, the Philippines became the 200th country visited, and the G-Wagen showed 799,783 kilometers on the clock.
At 74-years old, Gunther Holtorf is an inspiration, but for all his and Christine’s determination, they couldn’t have done it without Otto — the name given to their trusty G-Wagen.
linkIn 1989, Gunther Holtorf and his wife Christine climbed aboard their 1988 Mercedes Benz G-Wagen to travel from Germany to Africa, where they planned to complete a once-in-a-lifetime road trip that would last 18-months.
Except the trip didn’t last 18-months, it has lasted 23 years, spanned more than 200 countries and the G-Wagen now has 800,000 kilometers, or 500,000 miles, on its odometer. That’s the equivalent of 20 times around the equator.
The trio have visited everywhere from Alaska to Zimbabwe by way of North Korea, the Sahara desert, Mount Everest and Siberia in an effort to drive around the globe. Sadly, Gunther’s wife Christine passed away in 2010, but he has continued to travel the world, as per her wishes.
In June this year, the Philippines became the 200th country visited, and the G-Wagen showed 799,783 kilometers on the clock.
At 74-years old, Gunther Holtorf is an inspiration, but for all his and Christine’s determination, they couldn’t have done it without Otto — the name given to their trusty G-Wagen.
Brilliant - What top people! That's the way to live a life. I wish I was brave enough to drop the corporate grind and go do something like this.
And I love seeing a car doing what it's designed to do and building up that fantastic patina of proper wear and grime.
Edited by DeadMeat_UK on Tuesday 24th July 13:17
Rach* said:
Amazing, what a fantastic life they have lived. Would be interested to know what kind of things they've done to keep funding themselves along *inspired*
I wondered when you'd turn up here 
It's quite possible, given that he was 50 when they started, that they didn't need too, it's not an expensive life they led, would love to do that.
When shall we go?
Council Baby said:
Rach* said:
Amazing, what a fantastic life they have lived. Would be interested to know what kind of things they've done to keep funding themselves along *inspired*
I wondered when you'd turn up here It's quite possible, given that he was 50 when they started, that they didn't need too, it's not an expensive life they led, would love to do that.
When shall we go?
I'm squirreling money away, I would give anything to find my soulmate and head off
I also spotted that on the BBC News site this morning. Awesome adventure, I tip my hat to the chap and his other half. Pity she passed away recently, but nice to see he is still carrying on.
I would love to do something similar but doubt it would be possible to do it without technology like he has done as I am far too reliant on sat navs and the internets.
I would love to do something similar but doubt it would be possible to do it without technology like he has done as I am far too reliant on sat navs and the internets.
Johnboy Mac said:
Awesome, it would nearly bring tears to your eyes.
Indeed. Especially when the narrator mentioned his wife having passed away recently.When you've been on such an adventure for over 20 years with just one person, I can't imagine carrying on when you suddenly find yourself alone.
Rach* said:
Council Baby said:
Rach* said:
I'm squirreling money away, I would give anything to find my soulmate and head off
I'll let you know if I spot him anywhere
Oh well.
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