Just as the design and idea of Volkswagen's legendary commercial vehicle T1 belonged to a dealer, the first idea of Citroen Mehari belonged to an unrelated investor.
The "Mehari" model of Citroen, which has become a legend and celebrates its 55th anniversary, still has a fan base even today. Because Mehari's electric interpretation did not attract attention.
Just as the design and idea of Volkswagen's legendary commercial vehicle T1 belonged to a dealer, the first idea of Citroen Mehari belonged to an unrelated investor. Roland de La Poype, who was also a jet pilot during World War II and later became an investor and business person, is durable, and easy-going, like the all-terrain vehicle-like Mini Moke derived from the British Mini and the enduring Willy's Jeep of World War II. He wanted to develop an accessible, lightweight vehicle. Thus, the interesting vehicle that emerged was highly appreciated when it was showcased for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in 1968. Citroen introduced its production-ready version 55 years ago, again in 1968, at the Deauville golf course. It was as if Mehari was created for such environments.
Roland Paulze d'Ivoy de la Poype (28 July 1920 – 23 October 2012) was a Second World War fighter ace, a member of the Normandie-Niemen fighter group that fought on the Soviet front. He was also a plastic industry pioneer and founder of the Antibes Marineland in 1970.
Citroen Mehari was built with the "2CV" mechanics, on the "Dyane 6" chassis, with a plastic body. Its designer, Roland de La Poype, also thought and implemented this body. Therefore, it was one of the few models produced with this material at that time. It was a simple and plain design, open top (with a retractable awning roof if desired), removable doors, and a folding windscreen. Mehari, which can produce between 28 and 32 HP, could not be defined as an all-terrain vehicle or a complete "pickup". Probably no one needed his 4x4 because it sold less than 2,000 units, it was mostly used in the army and gendarmerie.
'Dromedary' - an Arabian one-humped camel
The name Mehari came from the male verb conjugation of "dromedary camels" in North Africa and the Sahara. These animals were known for their off-road abilities, stamina, and docileness. The Mehari could transport both goods and passengers over long distances. The name therefore very well represented the Citroën Mehari model, known for its adaptability to all terrains, as a very versatile and versatile vehicle.
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 Mehari was also a highly modular vehicle. Part of the floor could turn into a backrest. This added two seats to the back. This allowed a capacity of 4 passengers. It could serve different purposes, carry different types of cargo, and could also be used for passenger transport. The body of the car consisted of 11 easily repaired parts. Apart from that, it could be easily cleaned by spraying water both inside and outside. This made the maintenance of the car easy and economical for customers.
Different careers...
Mehari was a very attractive solution for tradesmen, artisans, and individual users, apart from public uses such as police, customs, airports, hippodromes, and so on. He had the opportunity to have a long career in the French army, which ordered a total of 11,457 Meharis between 1972 and 1987. Mehari 4x4, on the other hand, made a career in medical aid in different geographies of the world. He also participated in the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1980. Ten 4x4 Meharis were leased to the organization to provide medical assistance along the route. Apart from this, Mehari also made an unforgettable career in the field of cinema, especially with the famous movie "Saint Tropez Police Chief" starring Louis de Funes.
Mehari remained in production for about 20 years. During this time it only had three different versions, two of which were limited edition specials. More than 144 thousand vehicles were produced in Iran, Argentina, and Greece in different brands, names, and forms.
The modern Mehari, which was tried to be electrically revived in 2016, did not have much success.