Carlin Ben and Elinore (w1770)

First circumnavigation by amphibious car

“Frederick Benjamin “Ben” Carlin (Australia) and his American wife Elinore left Montreal, Canada, in Half-Safe, a modified Ford GPA amphibious jeep, on 24 July 1950 intent on travelling around the world over land and sea. It proved to be an eventful trip – Elinore left her husband in India and filed for divorce – but eventually Ben arrived back in Montreal on 8 May 1958, after travelling 62’765 km (39’000 miles) over land and 15’450 km (9’600 miles) by water. For the trans-Pacific stage (Tokyo, Japan, to Anchorage in Alaska, USA), Carlin was joined by The Japan Times journalist Boyé Lafayette De Mente.