The duo spent eight months restoring a 1988 Renault Express they found abandoned in a farmhouse. Purchased for just 150 euros, the van has been completely overhauled to participate in the Chatarras Raid, a cross-country rally for vehicles over 25 years old traveling from Nador to Merzouga.
“"It has been a somewhat complicated adventure that has kept us entertained for the last eight months."
The journey is not about speed but endurance, with daily stages lasting up to nine hours on sand and rocky terrain. Aníbal, aged 65, provided the technical expertise to ensure the nearly 40-year-old machine could survive the harsh conditions of the Sahara.
Beyond the mechanical challenge, the Villalba family is carrying 10 kg of food for the Almería Food Bank and school supplies for remote Moroccan communities. They are part of a 250-team convoy focused on mutual aid and humanitarian support.
