Mini expedition to drive 1974 car at 6000m above sea level

British automotive adventurer Ben Coombs has begun his latest border-hopping expedition – celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Mini Cooper by driving a Mini 1000 to an unprecedented 6000m (19,685ft) above sea level.

Coombs, from Devon, has form in long-distance motoring adventures. His previous efforts have included driving from Britain to Cape Town, South Africa in a Porsche 944, crossing Asia in a Corvette and navigating the length of the Americas in a TVR Chimaera to visit both the northernmost and southernmost bars on the plant in an epic 27,000-mile trip termed Pub2Pub.

Coombs’ latest trek, Mini 6000, takes him to South America in search of roads that are high enough, with his 1974 Mini being shipped to Uruguay in early December before tackling gruelling climbs over the Andes in Chile and Peru.

To prepare for the trip, Coombs’ Mini has undergone a nut-and-bolt restoration, had a roof tent fitted and also – and perhaps most importantly – a beer tap carrying the Mini’s own special IPA blend, with the crew hoping to pour the world’s highest pint at the finish.

Coombs said: “Finding the right location to achieve 6000m above sea level was a challenge in itself. Western Europe tops out at around 3250m, while North America evens out at 4347m. Both Chile and Peru harbour towering volcanoes with old mine tracks to their summits, such as the Aucanquilcha stratovolcano, where an abandoned mine reaches 6176m. We plan to explore these possibilities and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the car’s illustrious forebear six kilometres up!”

The journey is expected to take two months, with Coombs accompanied by three friends and a 1990 Range Rover. Follow the progress at detour-roadtrips.com/mini-6000.