A COUPLE has spent three years driving more than 50,000 miles (80,467 km) around the world in a century-old Ford.

    Dirk and Trudy Regter bought the iconic Ford Model T in 1997 and, after retiring, decided they wanted an adventure.

    So the grandparents got in the vintage motor, which is famous for being the world’s first mass-produced car, and set off on a global road trip.

    In 2012, they traveled through Africa, racking up 24,140 km in just six months, visiting the likes of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia before ending up in Cape Town.

    Despite the tough roads, the Model T proved the perfect car for the epic tour, emerging from it with no problems.

    The following year they visited Canada and the U.S., home of the Model T, and this time managed to drive the Ford 27,358 km.

    Just like in Africa, the Model T demonstrated its reliability — only suffering a broken alternator and one flat tire.

    In 2014 Dirk and Trudy, from Holland, decided they would like see South America, driving the Model T a further 25,749 km through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil.

    During this period the couple have raised almost £30,000 (US$43,400) for SOS Children’s villages International, a charity that helps orphans around the world.

    The Model T has a three-liter petrol engine which develops around 20 bhp (14.9 kw), giving it a top speed of around 40 mph (64 kmph).

    Dirk and Trudy’s Model T is entirely original apart from the tires, which are slightly larger to improve the quality of the ride. The spokes on the wheels are wooden.

    It was built in Canada and imported to Europe in 1997.

    Dirk, a retired architect, previously owned a 1923 Ford Model T and a 1928 Ford Model A, inheriting his passion for vintage Fords from his father and grandfather.

    He said, “My wife and me had the idea to make a long trip but couldn’t make a decision to we said let’s do the whole world.

    “A lot of people said you are crazy, why do you do that? But it gets a lot of attention and we need the attention to raise money for orphaned children worldwide.

    “On the border of South Africa and Botswana we met a farmer who had an old Ford Model T in the shed.

    “In Africa we had to weld a broken front wheel at the local blacksmith.

    “I’m pretty handy, and a screwdriver, hammer, some duct tape, tie wraps and tensioning straps go a long way.”

    In 2014 they returned to Europe but they were hit by a truck on the motorway in Belgium, wrecking the Model T.

    They took 2015 off and will set off again this year — continuing their journey through New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, and India, crossing the Himalayas to China, through Mongolia and back to the Netherlands via Central Europe.(SD-Agencies)