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The highest car of the year at the start of 2024 was a 1974 Mini 1000, which travelled to a dizzying height of 5920 metres above sea level
A group of four friends have driven a 1974 Mini called Daisy to an altitude of 5920m above sea level without any major support on the same volcano in Chile where Porsche set an absolute altitude record of 6734m just weeks earlier, albeit with the assistance of a large support team and major sponsors.
By contrast the Mini’s owner, adventurer and travel writer Ben Coombs, told CCW: ‘Our attempt was a very low key. It was just a group of mates going on a trip set-up. We didn't quite make the full 6000m that we were aiming for due to issues with the thinner air at altitude. However, reaching 5920m at the turn of the new year meant that the Mini was the highest car on the planet as 2024 began. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Umling La Pass in India is the highest road on earth at 5798.25m, just 122m metres lower than Ben and his team reached with their Mini.
Supported by Classicline Insurance, the high-achieving Mini team comprised Ben and Aglaia Wieland in the Mini with Fraser Pestana and Darren Weeks in a 1990 Range Rover support vehicle. Startin
