- Successfully took part in the ‘Around The World In 80 Days Motor Challenge’ in 2000

- Meticulously prepared, discreetly and thoughtfully modified

- Original paintwork a reminder of this great adventure

- No reserve

“When I learned that the ‘Around The World In 80 Days’ rally would be organised in 2000”, Paul-Émile B told us, “I wanted to take part in it.” He chose as his car a 1942 Pontiac convertible that he had bought in Uruguay and imported to France. It was completely restored and prepared for the event by his mechanic Michel Magnin, after its well-worn body had been replaced by one from another car which Magnin’s best friend, Jean Radrac, found in Belgium. Among the changes may be noted: the fitment of twin fuel tanks, the duplication of several items of equipment (batteries, fuel pumps etc.), improved cooling, a rear axle with a longer final drive ratio, provision for storage behind the seats and a support for the spare wheel. The original side-valve six-cylinder engine made way for a strong and durable GMC pushrod ‘six’: “The regulations allowed for a replacement engine from the same year and, in addition, GMC was part of the same group as Pontiac”, Magnin recalled.

But Paul-Émile B wanted the journey “to have a sense of purpose”, he explained. “I wanted to make a contribution to an orphanage in India that I had been helping for a long time. We went there to present our project and the children made drawings “corresponding to their vision of this journey around the world. For them, the round-the-world trip had to include the poles, so they drew penguins to symbolise the cold, palm trees representing heat and flying fish to travel across the oceans. I then asked a friend who was a painter, Sacha, to reproduce these drawings on the bodywork, which were further embellished in each of the countries we travelled through on this 37,000km journey. The children immediately spotted our Pontiac: we gave them marker pens and they could write their names on the bodywork. It was an incredible human experience.

On a website created for the event, the crew provided a daily update, and each click by visitors generated 1 franc for the orphanage, funded by the sponsors. “We ended up collecting 380,000 francs”, Paul-Émile B concluded.

Setting out from London, the 37,000km odyssey crossed Europe and Asia as far as China, where the 40 cars taking part were transported in the famous Antonov plane to Alaska, before reaching New York, from where they were flown to Marrakesh and then drove to the finish in London.

Naturally, a journey like this led to all kinds of meetings, adventures and mechanical problems. The Pontiac was no exception, suffering a broken front control arm. Magnin picked up the story: “A crowd gathered around our broken-down car and while Paul-Émile tried to order the part with his satellite phone, I looked for a way of repairing it. In situations like this, you manage to communicate using gestures, and one of the onlookers understood that I needed a welding machine. He took me on the back of his moped, with the broken control arm, to a place which had a welding machine. We then took the machine to another place which had electricity and, as I needed a piece of scrap metal for the welding, we went to a building site for a concrete reinforcement rod. And I was able to repair the control arm! The funniest thing of all was that when the kid saw me welding, his opinion of me suddenly went up and he insisted on the way back that he rode on the back of the moped!”

Since this adventure, the Pontiac has taken part in several other rallies, including a Peking-to-Paris event via Iran, and has kept its unusual paint job and special equipment. Well maintained, in good condition and running order and with a file of documents and photographs, it is ready to take to the road and travel the world ... Or simply to go out for a ride and enjoy the luxury of a comfortable, roomy and reliable American convertible.

Photos © Alexis Ruben