1968 Citroen Mehari

Citroën Mehari (Convertible), 1968-1988

The Citroën Mehari was in production from 1968 until 1988. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, front wheel drive convertible range seating four adults.

The Mehari was developed by a French Count and wartime fighter ace, le Come Roland de la Poype, as a response to the failings he identified with the British Mini Moke. Its low ground clearance, rust prone steel body and hard suspension limited its use either for recreation or military use. Mehari used a plastic body and 2CV chassis with raised ground clearance, and was offered to Citroën as a working prototype. Launched in 1968, an all wheel drive version was introduced in 1979 using a three speed transfer box unlike the previous twin engined 2CV Sahara. Distinguished by its bonnet mounted spare and - from 1982 - flared arches, the Mehari 4x4 thus had two different low range settings. Production of the 4x4 would end in 1983, five years before the standard car left production.

Just over 7000 were supplied to the French military, and Meharis were built in Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Uruguay as well as their native France. Twelve were ordered by the Irish Defence Forces, one of which is still in use. The FAF and Baby-Brousse were metal bodied military alternatives offered by Citroën, but neither captured the market as effectively as the Mehari. The Mehari wouldn't be replaced after production ended in 1988, but as of 2019 the restorer Mehari Club Cassis has been selling new electric Meharis under VSP light vehicle classification in France. These cars, in their native country, do not require a driving licence.

The Mini Moke is the only competitor to have endured and to have made it into the world of the electric car to boot, but its failings mean that it wasn't as versatile as the Citroën. Renault had a go too, with the open sided Renault 4 Plein Air, but these never caught on to the same extent outside of France. Neither did the more obviously Mehari inspired Renault Rodeo, built under licence for Renault by ACL.