And an honorable mention
It is 55 years ago this year since Citroën introduced the Méhari to the world and given the unique character of that model, we would like to take a moment to think about it. A look back!
It is still a head turner of jewels: the Citroën Méhari, irreverently said a multifunctional container on wheels. Citroën launched the crazy model, which is based on the technical base of the Dyane 6, on a French golf course in 1968. Why? That remains somewhat unclear, but his designer – Roland de la Poype – did have a vision when he came up with the Méhari. It had to be a cheap and multi-purpose car that could take you anywhere.
That immediately explains why the Méhari is so called: ‘Mehari’ is the name of a dromedary species and dromedaries are simply good at transporting heavy loads to inhospitable areas. So is the Citroën Méhari. It is a robust, easy to repair car (the cheap plastic panels could have been easily replaced if necessary) that, due to its low weight and long suspension travel, is not easily out of the way in unpaved conditions. In addition, quite a lot of stuff fits in a Méhari: the rear two seats can be folded flat against the floor, creating one large box behind the driver.
In the back of the Méhari is a panel that can be folded up, which must pass for a backrest, so that it becomes a four-seater.
More tools than car
Also handy: if the car gets dirty, you can simply hose it down – both inside and out. But if you prefer to keep the inside clean, that is also possible: a kind of tent was available for the Méhari – including a construction of ‘tent poles’ – which closes off the entire ‘box’ from the outside world.
firm? No, but with about 30 hp and quite dramatic aerodynamics it never goes fast (maximum about 90 km / h). This car was intended for shopkeepers, farmers, handymen, airport staff and anyone else who carries things professionally or not. Get in there and hop, chug on to the next destination. The army was also able to use the Méhari, for which the inspiration partly came from the original Willy’s Jeep. More than 11,000 Méharis went ‘in service’ with the French.
A four-wheel drive Méhari: very rare.
E-Mehari
In total, Citroën made just under 145,000 copies between 1968 and 1987, of which 1,213 units with four-wheel drive – they are certainly unstoppable. Neither does Citroen, by the way. In 2015 it introduced a successor: the E-Méhari. A fairly early electric car with a limited range, a droll appearance, a top speed of 110 km / h and a fairly hefty price. It would eventually only go on sale in France, but did not match the original.
Do you have special memories of the Citroën Méhari? Share them below!
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl