Around the world in 90 days - in a Morgan
In 1994, four Frenchmen drove 23,000 miles - in 4/4s. Talk about adventure...
Morgan has fully embraced the adventurous spirit and can-do attitude of its owners in recent years, with cars like the CX-T and an extensive array of accessories for the Super 3. But Morgan was fully into overlanding adventures before lockdown and YouTube made it cool - as this new video demonstrates.
Back in 1994, four members of the French Morgan owners’ club - Jean-Louis Clavere, Jean-Pierre Rivals, Jean Ribot and Jean-Jacques Lascombe - embarked on the journey of a lifetime. They would drive more than 23,000 miles around the globe, in less than 90 days, in their Morgan 4/4s. In a pre-internet, pre-mobile world, remember. Like all the best ideas, this one is said to have begun ‘as an enthusiastic conversation in a small French inn’, but it really did happen - and now a short film from Morgan documents the incredible journey.
Once the factory was aware of what ‘Les Mousquetaires’ were attempting, they helped to modify the three cars used to make them slightly more suitable for all-terrain, cross-continent driving. So the underside of each was protected, the ride height raised 50mm and sturdier Michelin X tyres were fitted. Fuel tanks from the Plus 8 were also installed, to reduce range anxiety in some of the world’s most remote places.
All the Morgans were fitted with tow hooks, too; there wasn’t a Land Rover following along with all the equipment needed, so all the 4/4s completed the journey with trailers hooked up containing camping supplies, spares, medical supplies and so on. You won’t see anything stranger on YouTube today (probably) than an '80s Morgan towing a trailer across Mongolia.
The epic adventure began in south-west France, the crew venturing up Europe through Scandinavia and into Russia. They traversed a huge chunk of Russia (driving top down the entire time, of course), taking in St Petersburg, Moscow, Omsk and Novosibirsk. From there, Les Mousquetaires ticked off Mongolia, Beijing, Manchuria and Vladivostok before taking a ship to Japan. Once across the Pacific from Niigata, the USA must have been little more than a Sunday morning blast after dealing with Siberia. They didn’t even encounter too many problems, so it’s said, with only minor mechanical issues that were all fixed at the side of the road. All the Morgans returned, and remain in use 30 years later.
The foursome travelled with a videographer, Gerard Rossignol, who documented the entire journey. ‘Beyond the Red Gate’ was broadcast in France in 1995, but this is the first time the footage has been seen beyond that. It’s a lovely little film, a reminder of just what can be achieved with determination, ambition and perseverance. And a trailer on the back of a Morgan.
They wrote up the trip in this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Across-Africa-Beyond-Jame...
- They're all called Jean!
- Video would have been much better without the rubbish music.
- Take a look at all the rough, tough, prepper-types running around in jacked-up Land Cruisers, Defenders or Grenadiers with 36" tyres, rooftop tents and satellite navigation systems NASA would be a bit jealous of. Then look at these.
"Good morning, Morgan Motor Co. How can I help?".
" 'Allo? We want to go - 'ow you say? - round ze world in Morgans. Can you 'elp us please?"
"Certainly chaps, I'll have the lads raise the suspension a bit and put an extra coat of Creosote on the chassis. Should do the trick. Tally-ho!"
"Err... what is tally-o, please?"
" 'Allo? We want to go - 'ow you say? - round ze world in Morgans. Can you 'elp us please?"
"Certainly chaps, I'll have the lads raise the suspension a bit and put an extra coat of Creosote on the chassis. Should do the trick. Tally-ho!"
"Err... what is tally-o, please?"
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