Africa in Serie 3, yes it's possible!
Diego and his friends are going to prove it!
They're setting off in a 44-year-old Land Rover Series 3, with no air conditioning or electronics, just the right equipment and good maintenance!
Yes, old cars can still make it across a continent like Africa.
Martie, as their Land Rover 4x4 is known, will take Diego and his friends from the UK to South Africa for several months.
For Diego, who initiated the journey, "In a world where everyone wants to go faster and do things quicker, we want to take it easy and we can't wait to discover Africa at 70km/h through a windscreen cracked open ."
This dream will become a reality in January 2024, and we are delighted to be accompanying them on the exciting roads of this magnificent continent!
On the road
Let's meet them!
- Diego Luyckx is both Spanish and Belgian. He has an unconditional love of Land Rovers and travelling has been part of his life from an early age. His father visited Algeria and Morocco in an old Series in the 1980s, and the stories he told Diego fascinated him. Diego lives in the UK with his girlfriend, Issy, who is from the UK. She will be joining the journey towards the end when they reach South Africa. Diego works in security intelligence and covers West and Central Africa. Issy works in development. Diego has travelled around Australia, Patagonia and much of Europe in various cars.
- Emeric de Meester is Belgian and has lived in Belgium for 25 years. He met Diego in Chile on one of his trips to South America, and they've been friends ever since. He works for a tech start-up in the innovation sector as a consulting agent. He also has a master's degree in business accounting. His thirst for adventure prompted him to leave corporate life to enjoy what he loves most: nature, people and their cultures! For him, travelling in Africa will broaden his horizons in many ways.
- Sebastien Muguerza will be Diego's first passenger. They will be travelling together for the first month then Emeric de Meester will take over until the beginning of January 2024.
The Route
Departing from the UK around mid-October 2023, they will head down to Spain and then on to Morocco.
They will then sail along the west coast of Africa to Cape Town in South Africa, their final destination.
Their vehicle
It's a 1979 Land Rover Series 3, with 61,000 km on the clock. Martie is its nickname.
It used to be a breakdown truck in England. It has four gears and 69 horsepower, that's all it's got! It's not fast, it doesn't like motorways, its steering is heavy and its air conditioning is non-existent, but it'll go anywhere!
The vehicle has been fully serviced and Diego carried out the repairs himself.
All the filters have been changed, as have most of the seals. The carburettor and leaf springs have also been changed.
They also decided to change the engine cylinder head after overhaul.
And that's not all! The gearbox and brake system are still missing.
The interior is currently being fitted out. But above all, they're aiming for simplicity and efficiency!
You can follow MartieAfrica on Instagram : @rovingwestafrica
Ready for your next adventure? Look no further than Euro4x4parts! No matter where you are in the world, our teams are here to help and ensure fast delivery of your 4x4 parts and accessories.
Find all the parts you'll ever need in our catalogue of 4x4 parts and accessories. Join the Euro4x4parts community today, just click here: www.euro4x4parts.com/en/sponsorshipAll the photos in this article were taken on authorized roads or tracks, private land, or during supervised competitions. Let's all do our part to preserve the environment!