1972 CITROEN MEHARI - excellent original condition, very low miles, runs great

1972 Citroën AX Mehari Description

1972 CITROEN MEHARI

Unique, Rare, Collectable, Super FUN Vehicle.

Excellent Condition, Runs Great

( please note this is not an "AX" - Ebay inserts that designation for Citroen listings)

A rare and special motorcar with unique character and abilities, this all-original Citroen Mehari was recently imported to the US from Italy. Original owner was an elderly lady that only drove the car during the summer at her private residence on the shores of Lake Garda. (no kidding!) This lucky car has lived there all its life. Always garaged and driven only during sunny days. Actual mileage is under 20K miles (31,399 Kilometers on Odo). Overall condition is very good cosmetically, excellent mechanically.

A full mechanical inspection, service and tune up was completed recently prior to embarking for the US. This is in addition to the conservative cosmetic restoration done in Italy. All work performed by a well known and well regarded Citroen Mehari specialist. This car is ready to enjoy.

The car has been professional maintained for its entire life, shows nicely with no faults or cracks in the bodywork, nor visible rust to the chassis.Starts, runs and drives very well. Odometer shows 19.5K miles, believed original, and the extremely simple 2CV engine is noted for longevity.Features front wheel drive and a 4-speed manual transmission.

The canvas top and side panels are new, as are the tires. The wheels have recently been powder coated in the factory color and fitted with new tires. The wooden interior panels have been replaced recently and sealed with marine varnish. The durable vinyl upholstery is in fine shape.

The ABS plastic body features molded in color in a striking orange hue (factory original), all trim and lenses are in good order, panels are straight and undamaged, with only a few minor scuffs. The body is in excellent condition.

Chrome and brightwork in good shape, some minor corrosion is visible on some fasteners. Overall condition is quite good and very presentable in all regards.

The Mehari offers many configurations : top with sidecurtains, surrey top only, open bed or rear seat fitted, windshield on or off. Really useful layout options.

The perfect promotional vehicle for resort or winery use.

A rare opportunity to own one of the most "fun" vehicles ever built.

Offered at $24,495 ... willing to consider reasonable offers.

Current California registration and title. CA smog exempt.

Car is currently garaged in San Francisco, willing to arrange shipping to any US Location.

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CITROEN MÉHARI Background
One of the most interesting vehicles ever created and a real example of French uniqueness, the Citroen Méhari is truly one of a kind. The Méhari was designed by French World War II fighter ace Count Roland de la Poype, who headed a French company, SEAP, specializing in plastics. Already a supplier to Citroën, SEAP developed a prototype and presented the concept to Citroen, who then approved it for production.
Mechanically the Méhari is based on the legendary chassis and powertrain of the Citroen 2CV, a true back-to-basics vehicle created in the aftermath of WWII. Clever engineering and a focus on low cost production and simplicity made the 2CV a great success. The Méhari concept replaced the quaint snail-like body of the 2CV with a rugged looking, open utility body made of ABS plastic well suited to recreational uses. Simple in the extreme and relatively inexpensive, it found a ready audience around the world. Over 140,000 Méharis were built from launch in 1968 til production ended in 1988.
The Méhari derives its name from a species of fast-running dromedary camel, which can be used for racing or transport. You won’t be racing it often, but it serves well for all sorts of transport duties. The Méhari offers basic seating for four with an open cargo compartment behind the seats. There are two small doors, a folding windshield, and it is possible to fit a canvas roof with plastic windows to protect against the elements in an elemental fashion.
The powertrain features a 602 cc flat twin engine pumping out 29 HP and a 4-speed manual transmission to the front wheels. Performance is very modest with leisurely acceleration to a top speed near 60 mph. Ride and handling are in class of their own as the very soft - but cleverly interconnected - suspension allows extreme roll angles, but never seems to lose grip. Overall weight is under 1300 lbs and, if fitted with proper off-road tires, the Méhari can crawl around the outback surprisingly well.
Due to its mechanical simplicity and large production volume – all parts including the chassis are easily available and a Méhari can be restored to ‘as new’ condition if desired and maintained at modest cost.
There is no better “beach” car to be found anywhere and the Méhari is perfect for resort or large compound duty. It is fun to drive and surprisingly capable within it’s limited performance envelope. Truly a breath of French air.
Engine : 602 cc flat-2 29 HP
Wheelbase : 94.5 in
Length : 138.6 in
Width : 60.2 in
Height : 64.6 in
Curb weight : 1,256 lb