Adventurers Set Reliant Robin Record on 14,000-Mile Africa Trip

In Cape Town, South Africa, British adventurer Ollie Jenks and his Canadian companion Seth Scott completed a grueling 14,000-mile journey in a vintage Reliant Robin three-wheeler last month, setting a record for the longest trip ever undertaken in such a vehicle. The pair drove the silver car, nicknamed Sheila, from London through 22 countries along Africa's west coast, navigating jungles, mountains, and deserts over more than 120 days starting in October.

The idea originated from Scott's pitch to Jenks, fellow enthusiasts of cars and bold escapades. "It was so ridiculous I couldn't say no," Jenks recalled. Sheila, one of the last Reliant Robins produced before the model ended in the early 2000s, became a cultural icon in Britain through its appearance as a battered van in the popular sitcom Only Fools and Horses. Designed for short local trips in 1970s Britain, the humble three-wheeler lacked power steering, air conditioning, and the capability to handle steep inclines or declines effectively. Jenks described it bluntly as "the most unsuitable car for probably any journey," noting that even the car's designer hesitated to drive it beyond 20 miles.