The first woman to travel around the world by car
- Paul Aage Hegvik
- Jan 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 26
Clärenore Stinnes defied all odds to become the first person to drive around the world in a standard car. Beginning her journey on May 25, 1927, she braved unforgiving terrains, extreme climates, and societal expectations to complete a 46,758-kilometer adventure that made history.
Clärenore Stinnes began her groundbreaking journey on May 25, 1927. In the midst of the interwar period, she crossed continents in an adventure filled with encounters with diverse cultures, formidable challenges, and life-threatening risks. With this epic trip, she became the first person to drive around the world in a standard passenger car, breaking both records and conventions.
From industrial heiress to adventurer
Born on January 21, 1901, in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, Clärenore was the third of seven children in the prominent Stinnes family. Her father, Hugo Stinnes, was an industrial magnate and one of the most influential figures of the German Empire. His conglomerate, Stinnes AG, was a powerhouse of mining, industry, and trade.
Clärenore grew up surrounded by ambition and innovation, traits she herself embodied. As a child, she preferred playing cowboy and exploring her surroundings rather than traditional pursuits. Her fascination with cars began early, inspired by her father’s factories. By 15, she was already driving, and at 24, she entered the male-dominated world of car racing, amassing 17 titles in just two years.
A daring journey around the world
In 1927, Clärenore, then 26, sought a new challenge. Backed by sponsorships from companies like Adler, Bosch, and Aral, she embarked on her ambitious quest to drive around the world in an Adler Standard 6 car. Inspired by Charles Lindbergh's solo transatlantic flight just days earlier, she began her expedition from Frankfurt with a small team: Swedish cameraman Carl-Axel Söderström, two mechanics, a truck carrying supplies, and her loyal dog, Lord.
Her journey spanned continents and defied expectations. Crossing the Balkans, Middle East, and Soviet Union, she encountered mechanical failures, harsh winters in Siberia, and treacherous terrains in Mongolia. When her mechanics abandoned the journey, Clärenore and Söderström pushed on alone, driving across frozen Lake Baikal, through the Gobi Desert, and facing threats from bandits.
Triumphs and tribulations across the Americas
After reaching Japan, Clärenore and her team sailed to the United States, where they were celebrated as pioneers.
From Los Angeles, they continued through South America, facing quicksand, illness, and a host of other obstacles. In Bolivia, local workers pulled their car from a sand pit using ropes, and in the Andes, dynamite cleared their path. When supplies ran out, they even drank water from the car’s radiator to survive.
Eventually, the team returned to the U.S. and toured factories, meeting industrialists like Henry Ford and even President Herbert Hoover, before heading back to Europe. The journey spanned over two years, covered 46,758 kilometers, and concluded on June 24, 1929.
Love and life after the journey
During the journey, Clärenore and Söderström developed a deep bond, which led to their marriage in 1930. They settled in Sweden, running a farm and raising three children, as well as several foster children. Clärenore lived a long life, passing away at 89 on September 7, 1990.
Legacy in film and history
Clärenore’s travel diary and Söderström’s footage of the journey became the foundation for the 1929 documentary Im Auto durch zwei Welten (By Car Through Two Worlds). In 2009, a dramatized documentary titled Fräulein Stinnes fährt um die Welt (Miss Stinnes Drives Around the World) revived her incredible story, blending archival footage with reenactments.
Clärenore Stinnes’ journey was not just a pioneering feat in travel but also a testament to resilience, innovation, and breaking societal norms. Her legacy continues to inspire adventurers and dreamers worldwide.
