Ситроен Мехари: Пустынный верблюд на колесах

the méhari camel

The Citroën Méhari is a lightweight recreational and utility vehicle, manufactured and marketed by French carmaker Citroën over 18 years in a single generation. Built in front wheel (1968–1988) and four wheel drive (1980–1983) variants, it features ABS plastic bodywork with optional/removable doors and foldable, stowable, fabric convertible top. The Méhari weighed approximately , and featured the fully independent suspension and chassis of all Citroën 'A Series' vehicles, using the 602 cc (36.7 cu in) variant of the flat twin petrol engine shared with the 2CV6, Dyane, and Citroën Ami. The car also uses the Dyane's headlights and bezels, and 4WD units differ externally by having the spare wheel on the hood, in a molded recess. The car is named after the fast running dromedary camel, the méhari, which can be used for racing or transport. Citroën manufactured 144,953 Méharis between the car's French launch in May 1968 and the end of production in 1988. The Méhari and variants were built in many additional variants (under license or not), in a host of other countries, including versions with a fiberglass instead of ABS body, and 2WD version with spare wheel on the hood.

The Méhari was designed by French World War II fighter ace Count Roland de la Poype, who headed the French company SEAB Société d'Etudes et d'Applications des Brevets.

The French Army purchased 7,064 Méharis – some of which were modified to have 24 V electric power to operate the two way radio. The 4x4 version has a gearbox with four normal speeds and a three speed transfer gearbox for crossing slopes of up to 60 percent. At the time, the Méhari 4x4 was one of the few 4x4s with four wheel independent suspension. The car had all wheel disc brakes. Méhari 4x4 production stopped in 1983. It only sold in small numbers as it cost twice as much as the standard, two wheel drive car.

The Méhari was manufactured in two different periods: 1971 to 1980 by Citroën Argentina SA with 3,997 units produced. Citroën left Argentina following the collapse of the economy in the late 1970s. The IES company (Industrias Eduardo Sal Lari) in 1984 resurrected the model, this time under the name Safari or Gringa until 1986, maintaining practically all the technical characteristics of the original model, but with flared wheel arches and big tires. The spare wheel was mounted on the hood, thus gaining luggage space. Contrary to French units with the spare on the hood, these were only front wheel drive. The Argentine Méhari used the "3CV" (Citroën Ami) platform, with all its mechanics. Consequently it had drum brakes, and not discs, like its French predecessor. The bodywork also had differences, due to the fiberglass, since there was no machinery to model plastics of this size. The body of the Argentine Méhari was manufactured in Uruguay by Dasur, and the chassis were sent from Argentina so that the Nordex company could make the assembly. In 1971 at the time of its presentation, the only color was red, although later some were made blue for the police of Tucumán. Coinciding with the launch of the 3CV M 28 in 1978, the Méhari II was launched, distinguished by its widened rims and its orange color. This Uruguayan version of the Méhari was manufactured under license by the firm Nordex, and had a fiberglass body – instead of the French original ABS plastic (also used for refrigerator interiors). Equipment to heat ABS sheet material, and then cut with a refrigerated die, did not yet exist in Uruguay. It was decided to make the same vehicle using fiberglass reinforced polyester. Otherwise, it was mostly similar to its French sister, but the rear wheel arches have a different shape and are noticeably larger; it also featured a removable hardtop. 14,000 units were built. Its failure was due to the high unit cost compared to higher quality models, in addition to the failed incorporation into the Chilean Army.

The Méhari ended production in 1988 with no replacement. This left a gap in the market, that others have tried to address.

The VanClee company made a number of fiberglass kit cars. Their models 'Emmet' and 'Mungo' were based on the Citroën A series platform and mechanicals, and were clearly inspired by the Méhari.

The Méhari was never type approved for sale in Germany, because the ABS body is flammable at 400 degrees C.

Due to its mechanical simplicity, the Méhari can easily be restored to "as new" condition; all parts including the chassis are easily available, creating a thriving restoration market.

Méhari Club Cassis, a specialist based in the South of France, has been rebuilding the cars for many years, and as of 2019 sells brand new Méhari cars with an electric powertrain.

The factory began selling a new electric car, the Citroën E Méhari in 2016.

In 1973–1974, 63 Citroën Méharis were burned by an arsonist in Paris for unknown reasons. In 1985, the Neapolitan journalist Giancarlo Siani was murdered, hit 10 times in the head by two hitmen sent by the Camorra while in his Méhari, green with a black canvas top. Between October and December 2013, Siani's Méhari made a trip from Naples to Brussels, passing through Rome, in order to remember the life of this journalist, like all the other journalists killed by the mafia.