Thirty-one years ago, three Morgan 4/4 four-seaters departed the south of France on an adventure that would become one of the most compelling, human-spirited journeys in the storied history of Morgan, a story which is being re-told in Morgan’s latest film ‘Around The World in 90 Days’. On 27 May 1994, four friends from the Mousquetaire Morgan Club, a section of the French Morgan owners’ club — Jean-Louis Clavere, Jean-Pierre Rivals, Jean Ribot and Jean-Jacques Lascombe — set out on a 38,000-kilometre, 90-day route around the world. Known to many in the French owners’ club as Les Mousquetaires, their starting point was, naturally, Château Castelmore in south-western France, birthplace of the legendary d’Artagnan.
What followed remains an extraordinary testament to the passion, camaraderie and adventurous nature of those who choose to drive a Morgan, and a story that has remained relatively untold until today.
Readied for Adventure
What began as an enthusiastic conversation in a small French inn became a bold plan: to circumnavigate the globe in three standard four-seater Morgan 4/4s. With support from the Morgan factory in Malvern, the cars — affectionately named Elliot, Kalliste, and Diou Biban — were carefully prepared for the challenge ahead. Upgrades offered by the Morgan factory were purposeful rather than extravagant, preserving the authenticity and familiar character that define every Morgan.
To help with challenging terrain and poor road surfaces, Morgan increased the ride height of all three cars by 5cm and fitted discreet under-chassis armour and more robust Michelin ‘X’ tyres. Larger capacity Plus 8 fuel tanks were installed to increase range, and tow hitches fitted for the team’s small trailers that carried camping gear, spare parts, clothes and medical supplies.
In a gesture that spoke to confidence, individuality and the spirit of adventure shared by many Morgan owners, all three cars embarked on the adventure without their fabric hoods. The journey would be made entirely open-top, in every climate, without exception.
Always Moving East
From the symbolic departure point at Château Castelmore, the route carried the team through Paris and Brussels – where sixty Morgan owners filled the Grand-Place in a rare moment of permitted parking – before continuing through Scandinavia, into Finland and across the guarded border into Russia.
Travelling without a support crew, the team found that daily progress shifted dramatically – some days covering little more than 100 miles across punishing terrain, others stretching to 600 miles when conditions allowed. Much of the route across rural Russia and Mongolia was navigated off-road, with nightfall bringing little more than a simple roadside camp, yet the Morgans, and their drivers, pressed on. Their route took them through Omsk and Novosibirsk, across the deserts of Mongolia and into Beijing before heading onward to Manchuria, and eventually to Vladivostok where the cars were craned aboard a ship bound for Japan. From Niigata, the journey moved across the Pacific to Seattle, before meandering across Canada and the United States, and eventually returning to France. The circumnavigation was completed as it began; travelling east each morning and closing their day with the setting sun behind them, the team maintained a steady rhythm that carried them around the globe and ultimately back home from an unforgettable journey, driven by a spirit of adventure unique to the Morgan community.
A Mission with Purpose
While the drive itself was remarkable, the expedition carried a deeper intent. As biologists, the team were committed to supporting hospitals in Russia with urgently needed medical supplies, including AIDS and hepatitis test materials and medicines for newborns. Lectures and training sessions were delivered in St Petersburg, Moscow, Omsk and Novosibirsk.
Wherever the Morgans travelled, communities gathered. Families welcomed the drivers into their homes; police at remote checkpoints laughed at the idea of cars crossing Siberia without roofs. While crossing remote Mongolia, the child of the team’s host family memorably asked: “Is this car coming from heaven or paradise?”
Despite the extremes of climate and terrain – from desert heat to monsoon-soaked ruts a metre deep – the three Morgans experienced only minor mechanical issues, all resolved roadside by the team. After tens of thousands of kilometres, the cars returned home very much as they left: running, simple and resolutely themselves. The cars continue to be used to this day.
Documentary filmmaker and photographer Gérard Rossignol captured the journey throughout. His film, Beyond the Red Gate, was broadcast on French television in 1995 and stands today as a vivid chronicle of a globe seen from the cockpit of a Morgan.
Reflecting on the experience, Jean-Louis Clavère said: “Life is not a dress rehearsal. Go, try, win, lose – it doesn’t matter, but try.”
An Enduring Spirit
Today, the spirit embodied by Les Mousquetaires continues to resonate with Morgan owners around the world. They chose to take on a journey of remarkable scale, guided by their individuality, a shared love for their cars, and a desire to seek adventure wherever it might lead. That same spirit continues to define Morgan ownership today. A Morgan is more than just a car, it is an invitation to embrace adventure and to make every journey, however small, part of an enduring personal story.
Morgan revisits the remarkable tale of Les Mousquetaires in a new short film, Around the World in 90 Days, featuring members of the original team and their families. Filmed in France earlier this year, the piece offers an intimate, first-hand reflection on the journey – what it demanded of those who undertook it, what it gave back, and how its spirit has resonated across generations. The film will be available to watch on November 27th at this link – https://youtu.be/iZ8JBAVu9O0
