Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

Gunther Holtorf is proud of his Benz wagon. - Photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

The paint job on this 16-year-old model didn't shine like the others in the showroom. But it could tell stories of its world travels that would make newer engines sputter with envy. At Euro Star Motors at South South Camp Road last Thursday, eager guests came to see a 1988 G Wagon Mercedes Benz that had travelled to 151 countries with its adventure tourist owners; Gunther Holtorf and his wife, Christine Boehme.

In 1990, the German nationals wanted to travel Africa, the continent they found most intriguing. After spending his professional life as a pilot and seeing the world from the skies, he wanted to see it form a different angle. They spent five years zig-zagging across the continent staying in the villages and visiting all the countries they could. But being bitten by the travel bug, they simply continued. They have been to South America, Argentina and even Afghanistan and Iraq .

Their choice of a Mercedes Benz made the makers very happy. It now gives them bragging rights of an engine that has conquered some of the roughest terrain in the world, travelled over 600,000 miles without an engine change, and even boast its original coat of pain.

The Holtorf Wagon has all their needs. The back is converted into a sleeping area, they have cooking utensils, spices, drinking water and spare tyres. The couple arrived in the island in time for Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival from Cuba, where they got a special permit from Raul Castro to allow the first ever tourist vehicle into the country. They will leave Jamaica later this week for Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago, among other Caribbean islands.