Let’s see, how many beach cars can we name? The Mini Moke, Fiat Jolly, maybe the VW Thing, Meyers Manx… then the weird ones, like the Honda Vamos and today’s special – the Citroën Mehari. Find this beachy project here on craigslist for $10,500, including spare parts. The new owner will need a trailer to retrieve the Mehari from Eugene, Oregon. Just in case you are wondering, here’s an actual Mehari in its native habitat… The French automotive version was conceived by Roland de la Poype – a WWII fighter pilot – as a competitor to the Moke. De la Poype improved on the Moke by designing his invention with higher ground clearance, a plastic body to fend off rust, and a more compliant suspension. His company sold parts to Citroën, so when he approached the automaker with his idea, management was receptive. More than 145,000 Meharis were sold over the production run from 1968 to 1988 – almost three times the number of Mokes that found new homes. Thanks to Tony Primo for another great tip!
The Mehari sits on the same chassis as a Deux Chevaux – Citroën’s A-series car featuring four-wheel independent suspension. The engine is the 2CV6 “big block” 602 cc air-cooled flat twin, producing about 29 hp. The little engine is only responsible for propelling 1100 lbs, so top speed is around 70 mph – if you dare. A four-speed manual gearbox drives the front wheels; braking is via drums all around. The seller notes that the car ran when purchased, but after the installation of electronic ignition and a carburetor rebuild, it will not start. This Mehari is a two-wheel drive version; in 1979, a 4WD option was introduced with four-wheel disc brakes.
As with most plastic-bodied cars, the color is impregnated into the plastic; these body panels are sun-faded, so a new owner might opt for paint or replacement panels. A host of expensive parts is included with the sale: a new windshield, soft top, body parts, shocks, bushings, and so on. The cabin is built for fun off-road, which is where a Mehari belongs. Even the 2WD versions can ramble trails competently, thanks to the long-travel suspension originally built for farmer’s fields.
The good news is, if you’re looking for a Mehari, you’ll find plenty to choose from. Some are customized, but original examples abound. The best Mehari in the world will sell for less than $30k; nice drivers will hover around the high teens. There’s a fair amount of work ahead of a prospective owner here; some negotiation is in order, in my opinion. What do you think?
Yet again, Michelle brings the strange and wonderful!
Meharis seem to be somewhat rare in the U.S.; I can recall seeing maybe a half-dozen over the years. Oddly enough, three of those were in Jerome, Arizona, at least when I drove through there back in the early 1980s.
For such a limited-production vehicle, parts aren’t much of a problem. You can still buy a replacement body shell, and of course 2CV parts are plentiful.
This one is a long way from finished, though. The ask is pretty optimistic, and I would hope the seller is a) in no hurry to part with it or b) amenable to making a substantial discount.
What Ray T said, though I’ve seen a few Mini Mokes but never a Mehari! Another one of those that make people stop and say “What the heck is THAT thing?” and you tell them it’s not a Thing..
I love that line!!! It’s not a Thing!!! Good one Nevadahalfrack!!!
This Mehari is really neat. I’ve always been curious about 2CV models and seeing that this is mechanically related to one is something else. This is great Michelle!!
Here in France, we also can have a Teilhol, which is also 2CV -based, but slightly more recent than the mehari. They are rare, though, when mehari used to be aplenty, especialy on the coast because their body wouldn t rust . If you also like our renault 4, we had the renault rodeo, which was based on a renault 4 chassis. It definitly was the renault competitor to the citroen mehari.
Looks a lot like the NAMCO Pony car but with a plastic body. Would make a nice project
Only officially imported to the USA for one year. 1970.
Hello from France American Cars Lovers.
I want to share with you the best place in the world to find all parts for Méhari and 2CV, NOS parts and rebuilt, everything you want.
I don’t have any interest in this business but I know how much it’s difficult to find parts to restore an exotic car…
I have in south west of France a Pontiac Chieftains convertible 1951 and a Chevy Truck 6500 1957 to restore all both.
https://www.mehariclub.com/fr/mehari/?_gl=1*1utfs2l*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAp-zLBhDkARIsABcYc6slW3UGsM7OujZpK_hikMnqZIJ_PFyaf0YypEG5Qo-6rqFpVgm4fbsaAkb4EALw_wcB
These were very popular in Europe for a while in the 70s and 80s. They are not something you want to get in an accident in. They were cute and a lot of fun as a beach resort car.
Most recently I saw an electric one in Arcachon in France. The owner said there was a conpany that was restoring them to new condition and converting them.
I took a lot of pictures and briefly imagined that I needed one, but got over it when I sobered up.
My wife is from Arcachon, a semi upscale beach town. A few years back I was there in August–I’m rarely there in tourist season–and I saw 4 Meharis the first day. All were in excellent condition. I guess Meharis are “in” with the glitterati.
It’s the “mid upscale” mini moke.
Ha ha ha.
Actually there is a new generation. The E Méhari, with new body, always a beach car but bigger and safer.
Yeah I guess it looked a little too new to have been restored.
Price is extremely optimistic, there was a driving example for sale for months at $16k. Going to take a big price cut and/or the right buyer.
We had a lot of weird cars growing up in the 70s. A Mehari was one of them. At the time we own this, my folks also owned a Citroen sedan and wagon. The kids on our lane called the wagon the Noodle, and the sedan was the Super Noodle. At the time we were in a somewhat rural area, and our neighbors thought we were from another planet. I used to get a kick out of explaining to people that the car was actually plastic, not fiberglass as most people thought. We had lots of other nicer, and normal cars, but my mom‘s absolute favorite was the Mehari. My fondest memory was when my mother came to high school with our great Dane in the back, and it jumped out of the car wreaking havoc at the smoking courtyard! At 65, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as I currently own a mini Moke. Life is too short to drive boring cars!
For 15 years, my 2CV has been the most reliable and economical car I’ve ever owned. If and when you need parts, they are easily available and reasonably priced. As an around-town or fun car, a 2CV is hard to beat. Just be careful about driving one on a fast interstate highway (truck drafting is a thing).
As mentioned above, Club Mehari (in France) have almost everything for these. ECAS (in England) have loads of 2CV-related stuff too. Fun wee cars.
There’s a Renault 4 – based beach car too, incidentally.
I have 2 Mehare’s “out back”. One I bought in 1980 and used as a commuter car 100 miles a day from Saugus to Glendale Ca. She ran beautifully. I set her out back and later bought another which the owner abandoned as a Summer camp car because the trans went bad.
I commuted at 60 mph but when came to mountain passes reduced to 50. No seat belts but a chain at the “door”. Still love the car and will get her going again as she was “running when parked.
I visited the Citroen Club in Cassis France a few years ago. Both cars, the bodies crack and deteriorate. But the good thing is they can supply new plastic bodies. Mine, when I bought it in 1980, I had painted and that stopped the sun damage.
These are fun cars but do not limit them to the beach.
Cheers to the new owner.