If you have even a passing interest in cars, you probably have an epic cross-continental road trip sitting somewhere near the top of your bucket list. Here are our top five suggested routes, along with the perfect cars in which to take on the specific challenges of each one.
Pan-American Highway
Spanning a mind-boggling 30,000-odd miles, the Pan-American Highway crosses 18 countries of North, Central and South America. As the miles disappear beneath your wheels, you’ll encounter diverse climates, cultures and ecological systems – so you'll need to plan properly. Timing is crucial: some sections can only be tackled in the dry season, and you’ll want to time your stopover in Monterey to coincide with the inimitable Pebble Beach extravaganza.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Paris-Dakar
Despite its relative youth, ‘The Dakar’ has become one of the most widely recognised automotive endurance events – though not always for the right reasons. In some parts, the political climate is just as intense as the ecological one, but beyond the dangers are some life-defining moments waiting to be experienced. We recommend loosely following the route at your own leisurely pace to enjoy the full palette of European and North African sights.
Lamborghini LM 002 'Rally Dakar'
Peking to Paris
"What needs to be proved today is that as long as a man has a car, he can do anything and go anywhere. Is there anyone who will undertake to travel this summer from Peking to Paris by automobile?" - Le Matin, 31 January 1907. We’d agree, and although that statement was made 106 years ago, at the dawn of the motor car, there’s no denying that deciding to embark on a more than 9,000-mile journey across some of the world’s wildest regions is not for the faint-hearted. Today, a modern 4x4 would be the most obvious choice, but a re-enactment of the original 1907 race is held on an infrequent basis as a regularity event, with crews choosing from a variety of interesting cars, including this Aston Martin DB5.
Aston Martin DB5
East Coast to West Coast
It’s on everyone’s dream list of things to do before they die: crossing the USA from coast to coast. The choice of car is not critical, but one thing’s for sure, it’s got to be home-grown. The adventures will follow you, whatever the wheels. And we like this Buick Station Wagon, just the thing for collecting souvenirs along the way. Cactus samples, Stetsons, moonshine whiskey and rare blues records, all can be accommodated in the big Buick’s boot as it glides from New York to LA.
Buick Special Estate Station Wagon
Arctic Crossing
The Arizona desert? For wimps. Mongolia and Kazakhstan? Please… a Sunday School outing. Real guys and gals only go to the South Pole, and the Moon-Regan Transantarctic Expedition will begin its journey at Union Glacier and then make for the South Pole. And don’t come all “but I don’t have winter tyres” on us, the Winston Wong Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle is propeller-powered, with a tricycle skis, and can run at a maximum speed of 84mph.
Moon Regan
Text: Joe Breeze / Steve Wakefield (Classic Driver)
Photos: Getty / Classic Driver dealers
