An American traveller who has driven his Dodge Challenger across dozens of countries says Singapore has proved harder to enter than places such as Afghanistan and Russia.
Keith Sinclair, 29, said applications to bring his US-registered muscle car into Singapore were rejected twice.
In an Instagram video posted on 1 September, Sinclair described Singapore as the world’s most restrictive country when it comes to foreign cars, contrasting it with North Korea. He had hoped Singapore would become the 30th country visited during his round-the-world road trip.
His Dodge Challenger Has Been Turned Into an Overlanding Car
Sinclair is not travelling in an ordinary rental-car-spec Dodge.
He has adapted the Challenger for overlanding, or long-distance self-supported road travel.
According to Sinclair’s account as reported by Mothership, the car had a cooking stove mounted on top, a hammock setup attached around the rear of the vehicle and a water faucet. It also carries a roof storage box.
The hammock and roof box are not new additions. In a March 2025 interview with Top Gear, Sinclair said he had installed a hitch and hammock before later adding the roof box as he converted the muscle car for camping and long-distance travel.
Sinclair said he was initially told that he would have to remove modifications from the car before it could enter Singapore.
He said he complied, but during a subsequent attempt was asked about the roof box and the faucet at the rear. He said he removed the faucet and explained that the box was for storage.
Singapore Does Have Specific Rules for Foreign Vehicles
There is some official context for why an unusual camping-equipped Challenger could face additional scrutiny.
The Land Transport Authority’s current guidance for passenger cars registered outside Malaysia and Thailand says the vehicle must qualify as a passenger vehicle.
It specifically states that armoured vehicles, camper vans, caravan trailers and minibuses with cooking and sleeping facilities are not permitted. Foreign motorists in this category must also have the appropriate International Circulation Permit or Visitor’s Permit, an Autopass card, Singapore-valid motor insurance and properly displayed licence plates.
However, the published LTA page does not establish whether Sinclair’s Dodge was formally classified as a camper van.
Mothership also reported that Sinclair did not identify which government department had rejected his applications. So while his camping modifications appear relevant to the issue, the precise official basis for the two rejections has not been publicly stated in the reports available.
It Is Unclear Whether There Was a Third Rejection
The reports differ slightly on what happened after Sinclair’s two unsuccessful applications.
Mothership reported on 8 September that he had removed modifications to meet local requirements and was attempting to enter for a third time.
Stomp, however, reported that the caption accompanying his 1 September post suggested he had since accepted that bringing the Challenger into Singapore would not be possible. Neither report confirmed a third formal rejection.
What is clear is that Sinclair’s Challenger has already travelled considerably further than most muscle cars ever will.
When Top Gear interviewed him in March 2025, he had already driven nearly 19,000 miles, or about 30,600km, through 18 countries from Le Havre in France to Almaty in Kazakhstan. His planned second leg included Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Southeast Asia.
Mothership reported that Sinclair subsequently made it through countries including Afghanistan and Russia, and that he said Singapore was the first country on the journey to reject the car.
