News: Austin Seven South American Adventure
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The Austin Motor Company was founded in 1905 by Herbert Austin. When car production started the cars were to be built in the "now famous" Longbridge works seven miles south of Birmingham.
Next year sees the 100th Anniversary of "The Austin" as the Longbridge firm was to become affectionately known. In celebration of this event, and to remind the motoring world of arguably his most famous model, a small group of a dozen enthusiasts will set off in 6 cars to Argentina on 06.02.05 in the tyre tracks of John Coleman to take part in the "Austin Seven South American Adventure". They will drive across Argentina, over the Andes and across Chile to the Pacific Coast at Vina Del Mar and ultimately to return to Buenos Aires by a different route. This exciting journey will be made in six Austin Seven cars built between the years of 1926 and 1934. Three of them will be "Chummy" short wheelbase models, two will be longer wheelbase 2 seater sports specials and there is one long wheelbase Box saloon. The event will span the period 6 February 2005 and 18 March 2005 after which the cars will be loaded for return by sea to the UK and the participants will fly back to London.
Many will remember that John Coleman made an even longer journey in 1959 when he travelled single handed across from Buenos Aires to the Pacific coast. Then travelled north across the Atacarma desert through Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico and onward to the USA finishing up in New York City. This journey was made in a 1925 Chummy, look out for his book "Colemans Drive".
More details of this new adventure will be released in the next few weeks as plans are finalised. Consideration is actively being given to setting up a web site where progress may be monitored by interested parties. If successful then details will be released in the next few weeks.
Sponsorship by Exitflex and Millers Oils, others invited. | 
