Birtles, Brown and Bean: Warren’s madcap world tour, in a vintage car

Warren Brown on driving through 80 countries in searing heat and pouring rain in a vintage Bean car, while recreating the 1927 world tour of Australian motorist, Francis Birtles

Today we bring you the next chapter in the adventurous exploits of author and cartoonist Warren Brown.

Some years ago Warren Brown stumbled on the true story of a pioneering Australian motorist, Francis Birtles, who set out to drive a 'Bean' car from London to Melbourne in 1927.

For nine months he rattled through Europe, Turkey, Iran and India, through murderous mountain ranges and blustering blizzards.

Warren has just returned from his own recreation of Birtles' epic journey, in the very same model of car and 1920s outfits. 

He and his co-pilot Matthew Benns travelled through 80 countries in the open-top car in searing heat and pouring rain while recreating Beans' escapades.

To his great surprise, while they were en route, their trip made them accidental celebrities in Saudi Arabia.

This episode of Conversations explores modern history, Australiana, Australian explorers, car rallies, Peking to Paris, motorsport, motoring, motoring history, automobiles, Gaza, Suez Canal, travel, Ford, historical re-enactment, politics, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Middle East, Cairo, Pyramids, royal family, Laurence of Arabia.