<VV> Daring the Darien Epitath

[peter koehler]

As most of you know, the 1961 trip through the jungle was 
the sequel to the previous year's trip from the US down 
through Mexico and to the then-end of the Pan American 
Highway. The cars used were three red 1960 Caveman 
Corvairs. At the end of the trip the cars were not brought 
back to the States and I remember hearing that they may 
have been used for Taxi service in Mexico.

The Darien trip used three red 1961 Corvairs. These cars 
took a real beating and were not fit for use after the 
trip. I have heard previously that they were left behind 
in the jungle even though they had less than a couple of 
thousand miles on each of them. There was a report a while 
back that someone on an expedition in the area where the 
trip ended found some of the remains still rotting away.

Another sad note to this story is that the Chevy dealer 
from Dundee, IL that made the trip possible (Dick Doane - 
noted Corvette racer and a real "gearhead") contracted a 
jungle disease while on that trip and died a few years 
later after returning to his dealership in the Chicago 
suburbs.