In 1959 John Coleman set out from Buenos Aires in a 1925 Austin Seven, aiming to travel across America and attracted support from Austin Motors, which offered spare parts and its agents' services.

After Argentinian mountains, dirt roads of Chile, earthquakes in Peru and the rainy season in Ecuador, the Austin Seven faced many extremes. In Costa Rica the Pan American Highway comprised 40 rivers, with only ten bridges. From there, good progress was made into the United States.

In the Southern states many of the roads were in poor condition. After eleven months and 11,000 miles, car and driver arrived in New York. The adventure is described in John Coleman's book, 'Coleman's Drive'.