We have a detailed feature this month (October 2014) on Overland Cruisers, the company that specialises in converting Toyota Land Cruisers for overland trips and expeditions. It is fitting, therefore, that we can report on one trip that fully endorses the tough character of the model. Domenic Senger-Schenk drove a 1993 model for a 4600 mile trip from Afghanistan to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and in the process raised a significant £22,000 for Mission Motorsport, a group that helps the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by military operations by offering a chance to get involved in the business of racing cars and bikes. Domenic was joined on the trip by ex-Royal Marine Chris Short, who actually completed the route on a motorbike; between them they traversed 17 countries and some of the most demanding desert landscapes in central Asia. The Toyota did the job as Domenic explained: “The only issue was a radiator problem that we easily fixed. Although I had never driven on roads anything like as rough as those in the Afghan and Kazakh deserts, and despite the fact the car was top-heavy with its load, the Toyota coped with it fine.” Looking for an inexpensive machine for a planned expedition? Worth considering the good ol’ Toyota Land Cruiser it would seem.
