Before flying over the Sahara was commonplace, some people were presistant in crossing by vehicle, here's the strangest way that worked, mobile carpet

All kinds of vehicles have crossed, or tried to cross the Sahara. This 28 Hp Peugeot of Liegeard is equipped with belts, and drove the 450 km of Biskra in Touggourt and back, and 150 km of Tebessa in Gafsa in 1908.

This one above and below seems to be a caterpillar tread endowed tractor

Found on http://steampunkvehicles.tumblr.com