In what can only be described as an exercise in automotive masochism, two adventurers recently completed a transcontinental journey across Africa in perhaps the least suitable vehicle imaginable: a Reliant Robin, the quirky English three-wheeler notorious for its instability and mechanical unreliability.
Ollie Jenks from the United Kingdom and Seth Scott from Canada traversed 14,000 miles through 22 countries over more than 90 days, documenting their improbable odyssey from London to Cape Town under the Instagram handle Hold My Gear. Their tagline—"14,000 miles, 3 wheels, 0 common sense"—proved remarkably accurate.
The Reliant Robin, a vehicle designed primarily for inexpensive trips to the local store, features a single front wheel that makes sharp turns a recipe for disaster. The car lacks power steering and air conditioning, struggles with inclines of any kind, and has earned a reputation as one of the most unreliable vehicles ever manufactured. The previous owner of their particular Robin—affectionately named Sheila—admitted the car made him nervous driving more than 20 miles in a single trip.
"No power steering, no air con, and it doesn't do well up hills or down them. It is the most unsuitable car for probably any journey," Jenks told the South China Morning Post. Yet unsuitable proved to be an understatement for what lay ahead.
The expedition faced mechanical catastrophes at nearly every turn. In Ghana, the transmission and gearbox failed completely, forcing the duo to wait five days while Reliant Robin enthusiasts in the United Kingdom located replacement parts and shipped them across continents. This act of international solidarity would be repeated when the engine later exploded. Tires, springs, shocks, and gauges failed with such regularity that the pair lost count of their breakdowns.
Beyond mechanical challenges, the journey intersected with geopolitical turmoil. The adventurers found themselves driving through Benin during a military coup. In Cameroon, authorities provided them with a military escort alongside local buses, all of which eventually abandoned the perpetually breaking-down Robin and its determined drivers.
Daily Instagram videos chronicled both the absurdity and ingenuity required for such an undertaking. On day 53, the pair demonstrated their approach to handling bribe requests from rural Nigerian police officers by offering gas station confectionaries. By day 89 in Namibia, faced with radiator failure, they engineered a makeshift cooling system by diverting the windshield wiper fluid pump to spray water directly onto the overheating radiator.
The journey concluded at a high-end car showroom in South Africa, where Sheila—battered and scarred from her continental crossing—became the unlikely star attraction. The silver Reliant Robin, one of the very last ever manufactured, now rests at the London Transport Museum, where she holds a place of honor befitting her achievement of two world records alongside her intrepid drivers.
The expedition stands as a testament to human determination, mechanical improvisation, and the willingness to undertake journeys that defy all conventional wisdom. Through jungles, deserts, mountains, and some of the world's most challenging roads, Jenks and Scott proved that with enough tenacity—and a network of helpful enthusiasts back home—even the most unsuitable vehicle can complete the most improbable journey.