Hundreds of historic Willys jeeps on Tuesday rambled through the coffee-growing region of Colombia, a country long-enamored with the World War II-era vehicles, to set a world record for the longest jeep convoy.

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An observer from Guinness World Records was brought in from Chile to measure what drivers hoped would be a new listing. Ospina said at least 300 vehicles participated.

Guinness officials were not available for comment.

The Andes mountains of Colombia may seem a strange place to find so many U.S.-built Willys. But the vehicle found a loving home in this South American country especially its mountainous coffee-growing region ever since Willys began arriving from an Ohio factory in the 1950s.

Tens of thousands of the aging vehicles are reportedly still alive and kicking in Colombia, and local company Willys of Colombia even produced new vehicles based on one of the most storied names in four-wheel-drive history.