The next time they see their vintage 1927 three-litre Roller will be in six weeks, when they are reunited with the vehicle at the start of a marathon trek across two continents.

Denis and Jill, from Glenavy, Co Antrim, are planning to drive 10,500 miles on their great adventure from Beijing through China, across the Gobi Desert, into Mongolia and Siberia, and on - hopefully - to a champagne reception in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

It's exactly 100 years since Italy's Prince Borgese challenged the desert and the elements to make the first Beijing-Paris drive - after being warned what he was attempting was dangerous and impossible.

Now the Wilsons and nearly 50 other intrepid drivers and navigators are setting out in convoy to follow the Royal trail carved out in the spring of 1907 by the prince.

"Borgese persevered and arrived safely against all expectations," says Mr Wilson.

"It's an honour to be celebrating what he did a century ago," he said.

"Like him, Jill and I will spend our nights, when the temperatures in the desert drops below freezing, in mud huts or huddled in tents.

"But it's better than sitting at home watching Coronation Street.

"We leave late next month and it is going to take us a couple of months to reach Paris."

The roller - 14 miles to the gallon - has been tuned by mechanic Brian Mooney, with special attention to the radiator and shock absorbers, and is now on its way to Southampton to be shipped to Peking and on to Beijing to await the arrival of the Wilsons.

"I can't wait to drive up the Champs Elysees - and then go shopping," says Jill.