Englishman Ollie Jenks recalls the moment when his friend pitched an unusual idea. The proposal from his Canadian buddy, Seth Scott, was to drive an old British-made Reliant Robin from London to Africa’s southern tip—a 14,000-mile journey across 22 countries.
Reliant Robins hold a special place in U.K. culture as modest three-wheelers intended for short trips around town since the 1970s. These cars stopped production in the early 2000s yet still enjoy a cult status. They gained prominence thanks to the popular sitcom “Only Fools and Horses.”
Despite being unsuitable for extensive travel through varied terrains like jungles, mountains, and deserts, Jenks embraced the absurdity of the quest. Their chosen vehicle, Sheila, was a silver three-wheeler among the last Reliant Robins produced. Equipped with essential supplies and boundless hope, Jenks and Scott embarked on the adventure in October.
“No power steering, no air conditioning, and it struggles with hills,” Jenks critically assessed Sheila’s capabilities.
Ignoring caution and expert advice, Jenks and Scott tackled the daunting journey over four-and-a-half months, spending between $40,000 and $50,000. Sponsors and crowd funding supported their documentation of the trip, which attracted nearly 100,000 Instagram followers under the name: “14,000 miles, 3 wheels, 0 common sense.”
Encounters and Challenges Along the Way
As they reached Benin, they entered during an attempted coup. Their path through northern Nigeria coincided with U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State targets. In Cameroon, a military escort guided them for about 300 miles due to separatist violence. Jenks highlighted the oddity of Sheila in a military convoy.
Traffic near-misses were a constant threat, including an incident where an overtaking bus nearly crushed Sheila in Congo. As expected for a Reliant Robin, numerous breakdowns occurred. Wheel springs required replacement early on, and the gearbox failed in Ghana, leaving only fourth gear usable. In Cameroon, clutch and distributor problems followed. The engine blew up as well. Despite setbacks, kindness from strangers fueled their progress.
A Ghanaian man arranged for a new gearbox shipment. Reliant enthusiasts in the U.K. sourced a replacement engine for Cameroon. After yet another breakdown, Sheila was loaded onto a cattle truck to reach a garage. Across continents, mechanics did their best to repair Sheila, often shaking their heads at the whimsy.
A Journey Worth the Struggle
But amidst challenges, they experienced breathtaking scenery. Sheila traversed mountain ranges and deserts—where few Reliant Robins have ventured. The journey included encounters with wildlife, from giraffes to endangered rhinos, even capturing a photo alongside an elephant.
Finally, after more than 120 days, Sheila reached Cape Town. Her journey ended with an engine overheating in the Namibian desert, struggling for about 1,000 miles. Graeme Hurst, a South African car enthusiast, appreciated the sheer perseverance of the adventure despite its comedic elements.
In Cape Town, Sheila was exhibited in a showroom, attracting attention away from luxury cars like Porsches and Mercedes. Displayed with her broken window, gas-stained windshield, and dented rims, Sheila received recognition for her journey.
Soon, Sheila will receive a well-deserved servicing. The plan is to drive her to Kenya, then ship her to Turkey, and finally return her to the U.K. for a permanent spot at the London Transport Museum. Jenks expressed triumph at reaching Cape Town, relieved to conclude the challenging ride in the small two-seater.
“It was like driving a motorized coffin,” he remarked.