Citroën Méhari: more than a classic car, a lifestyle

Sun on your face. The top down. The typical sound of the air-cooled twin-cylinder engine. And above all: no rush.

There are cars you buy because they are practical.

And then there's the Citroën Méhari.

A car you don't just buy to get from A to B, but because it moves you. Because you smile when you see it in the garage. Because people look twice when you drive by. And because even a simple ride suddenly feels a little like a holiday.

Owning a Méhari is more than just bringing home a classic Citroën.

It's a lifestyle.

And it doesn't stop when you turn off the engine.

From simple workhorse to Citroën icon

The Citroën Méhari appeared in 1968 and was originally not at all intended as a hip lifestyle car.

The idea came from the French industrialist and inventor Roland de La Poype. He saw possibilities in a lightweight plastic body and developed a simple vehicle based on existing Citroën technology.

Citroën saw potential in the concept.

The Méhari got an air-cooled 602 cc twin-cylinder engine, technology closely related to that of the Citroën 2CV and Dyane, and a special body made of coloured ABS plastic.

No superfluous luxury.

No complicated technology.

Just a light, simple and practical car.

It was precisely this simplicity that would ultimately become its greatest asset.

Why is a Citroën Méhari called Méhari?

Even the name has character.

A méhari is originally a fast dromedary used to travel long distances through the desert.

An animal known for its endurance, simplicity and ability to withstand difficult conditions.

This fitted perfectly with Citroën's new lightweight off-road and leisure car.

The name stuck.

And how.

Almost twenty years of Citroën Méhari

Production of the Citroën Méhari ran from 1968 to 1987.

During this period, almost 145,000 units were produced. Some of these were also assembled in the former Citroën factory in Vorst, Belgium.

Throughout its long career, the basic concept hardly changed.

Why would it?

Simplicity was the Méhari.

Nevertheless, special versions appeared, some of which are now highly sought after by collectors.

Think, for example, of the Méhari Azur and especially the rare Méhari 4x4.

The latter appeared in 1979 and received real four-wheel drive, short gear ratios and four disc brakes.

Only just over 1,200 units were built.

Today, an original Méhari 4x4 is therefore one of the absolute collector's items.

From utility object to lifestyle icon

The remarkable thing about the Méhari is that its image ultimately became almost the opposite of what it was originally designed for.

From a simple utility vehicle, it grew into an icon of the good life.

Southern France.

Saint-Tropez.

A beach.

A surfboard.

A terrace in the sun.

A pair of espadrilles.

And somewhere between all that, a Méhari is almost automatically parked.

The Méhari was never designed as a status symbol.

And perhaps that's why it became a status symbol.

Not one to show how much power or technology you can afford.

But one to say:

I'm not in a hurry.

How does a Citroën Méhari drive?

Anyone who drives a modern car daily enters a completely different world.

No touchscreen.

No driving modes.

No automatic air conditioning.

No dozens of electronic assistance systems.

You get a steering wheel, a few simple instruments, the typical Citroën gear stick and an air-cooled twin-cylinder engine that constantly lets you know it's still there.

And luckily so.

With a weight of just over 500 kilograms, the Méhari doesn't need hundreds of horsepower at all.

The figures are actually unimportant.

Because driving a Méhari is not about performance, but about sensations.

You hear the engine.

You feel the road.

You smell the surroundings.

You feel the wind around your ears.

And when the roof comes off, the boundary between the car and the outside world almost literally disappears.

A Méhari doesn't have to be fast

0 to 100 km/h?

Top speed?

Lap time?

All completely useless figures when you're talking about a Méhari.

The best speed in a Méhari is the speed at which you can still enjoy what's happening around you.

That's why 50 km/h in a Méhari can sometimes give more feeling than 120 km/h in a modern car.

You don't buy this Citroën to get somewhere as quickly as possible.

You buy it because being on the way suddenly becomes more important than arriving.

Buying a Citroën Méhari

Anyone looking to buy a Citroën Méhari today will quickly discover that the simple French car has meanwhile become a coveted classic.

For a well-maintained example, asking prices easily run towards €20,000 to €25,000. Beautiful restorations, special versions and especially rare models can be considerably more expensive.

The condition of the car is much more important than just the shine of the bodywork.

Because there is one misconception that every future Méhari owner must know.

Can a Citroën Méhari rust?

Yes.

Although the well-known body panels of the Méhari are made of ABS plastic, this does not mean that the car cannot suffer from rust.

Underneath the plastic is a metal chassis and frame construction.

And that's exactly what you need to look for when buying a Méhari.

A bad chassis can be replaced and many new parts are still available for the Méhari. But a thorough restoration naturally requires time and money.

The plastic bodywork also deserves attention. Years of exposure to UV radiation can cause panels to discolour, become harder or more brittle, or show cracks.

So, anyone buying a Méhari should look a little further than just the cheerful colour.

Is a Citroën Méhari reliable?

The simple technology is one of the great charms of the Méhari.

The air-cooled twin-cylinder engine is thoroughly known and was widely used within the Citroën A-types.

Parts are still readily available and there is a large community of enthusiasts, specialists and clubs.

This makes a Méhari interesting for people who like to work on their classic themselves.

Because owning a Méhari also means for many owners:

tinkering, improving, searching for parts, exchanging experiences and occasionally trying to find out where that new sound is coming from.

For some, a problem.

For enthusiasts?

Part of the hobby.

You don't just buy a Méhari with your head

Let's be honest.

Nobody really needs a Méhari.

There are faster cars.

More comfortable cars.

Quieter cars.

Cars with better heating, more luggage space and considerably more safety features.

But try to get the same smile when you open the garage on Sunday morning and look at a modern grey SUV.

That's harder.

You buy a Méhari because you fall in love with it.

Its simplicity.

Its shape.

Its colours.

Its sound.

Its history.

And above all, the feeling that comes with it.

Méhari is more than the car in your garage

For true enthusiasts, the passion doesn't stop when the Méhari is back inside.

You recognise the silhouette immediately.

An image on a T-shirt.

A small illustration on a cap.

The typical front on a mug.

A detail that for someone else is just a drawing, but that immediately makes you think:

Méhari.

That's what makes classics special.

They become part of your identity.

You carry the passion with you.

Sometimes literally.

Citroën Méhari clothing for enthusiasts

That's precisely why there is now a whole Méhari lifestyle around this iconic Citroën.

A Citroën Méhari T-shirt, for example, is more than just a shirt with a car on it.

For enthusiasts, it's recognition.

You don't have to explain to another Citroën fan what that angular plastic bodywork means.

They know.

The same applies to Méhari hoodies, sweaters, polos, caps and other clothing inspired by the classic Citroën.

Subtle for those who understand.

Recognisable for those who share the same passion.

Citroën Méhari accessories

Of course, the love for the Méhari doesn't have to stop at clothing.

With Méhari accessories, you can give that French classic a place outside the garage too.

A mug for morning coffee.

A phone case.

A cap for on the go.

Or an accessory with an illustration that immediately brings to mind sun, France and an open Méhari.

Small things.

But just like the car itself, they don't have to be complicated to make you happy.

Looking for a gift for a Méhari enthusiast?

And then there's that one question that family and friends of Citroën fans sooner or later get:

What do you give someone who loves a Citroën Méhari?

A real Méhari with a bow around it is of course a fantastic gift.

However, the budget for a birthday is usually just a little lower.

Fortunately, there are alternatives.

A Méhari T-shirt, hoodie, cap, mug or accessory is an original gift for someone who owns, restores, dreams of, or simply loves classic Citroëns.

The big advantage?

You don't even need to know its chassis number.

2CV and Méhari: same family, different character

The Citroën 2CV and Méhari are often mentioned in the same breath.

Logical.

They share a lot of technical DNA and belong to the same special Citroën family.

Yet they each have their own character.

The 2CV stands for French nostalgia, simplicity, and that instantly recognizable bulbous silhouette.

The Méhari adds something extra:

holiday.

Roof down.

Sun.

Wind.

Beach.

Freedom.

Perhaps that's exactly why the Méhari still feels so modern many years after production ended.

Not technically.

But in what it represents.

Why is the Citroën Méhari so popular today?

Because cars have become almost the opposite.

Modern cars are getting bigger, heavier, faster, and more technological.

The Méhari does none of that.

It's small.

Light.

Simple.

Open.

And cheerful.

It doesn't try to shield you from the outside world.

It draws you right into it.

In a time when almost everything needs to be faster and more digital, such a car feels surprisingly liberating.

Perhaps that's why new generations of car enthusiasts continue to discover the Méhari.

A lifestyle that doesn't stop when summer is over

The Méhari is often seen as the ultimate summer car.

Rightly so.

But being a Méhari enthusiast is fortunately not a seasonal hobby.

Even when the car is safely stored indoors during winter, the passion remains.

You tinker.

You search for parts.

You plan trips.

You talk to other enthusiasts.

You look a little too long when you see a Méhari for sale somewhere.

And of course, you can wear that passion too.

With Citroën Méhari clothing and accessories, you take a small piece of that lifestyle out of the garage and into your daily life.

Frequently asked questions about the Citroën Méhari

When was the Citroën Méhari built?

The Citroën Méhari was introduced in 1968 and remained in production until 1987. Approximately 145,000 units were produced in almost twenty years.

What engine does a Citroën Méhari have?

The classic Méhari uses an air-cooled 602 cc two-cylinder engine. The technology is closely related to that of other Citroën A-types, including the 2CV and Dyane.

What is a Citroën Méhari made of?

The striking body panels are made of ABS plastic. Beneath that plastic body is a metal chassis and structure.

Can a Citroën Méhari rust?

The plastic body panels themselves do not rust, but the metal chassis and underlying structure can be affected by corrosion. When buying a Méhari, the condition of the chassis is therefore important.

How many Citroën Méharis were built?

During the production period from 1968 to 1987, almost 145,000 Méharis were built.

What is a Méhari 4x4?

The Méhari 4x4 is a rare version with true four-wheel drive. Only just over 1,200 units were produced, making this version particularly sought after by collectors today.

How much does a Citroën Méhari cost?

The value depends heavily on the version, originality, condition, and restoration. For well-maintained examples, asking prices can easily range from €20,000 to €25,000, while special or exceptionally restored Méharis can be considerably more expensive.

Where can I find Citroën Méhari clothing and accessories?

In specialized webshops for classic Citroën enthusiasts, you can find Méhari T-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, caps, mugs, phone cases, and other accessories with designs inspired by the Citroën Méhari.

What is a nice gift for a Citroën Méhari enthusiast?

Clothing or accessories with a Méhari theme are suitable for both owners and enthusiasts. Consider a Méhari T-shirt, hoodie, cap, mug, or phone case. This way, you give something that aligns with the passion for the classic Citroën.

Méhari: Le Luxe, c'est le temps (Luxury, it's time)

Perhaps that one sentence summarizes the entire Méhari.

Le Luxe, c'est le temps.

Luxury doesn't always have to mean more power, more technology, or more comfort.

Sometimes luxury is simply having time.

Time to take the roof off.

Time to drive without a destination.

Time to stop somewhere because it looks cozy.

Time to tinker with a car that has been around for decades.

And time to enjoy something that is actually completely superfluous.

That is the Méhari.

Not a car that tries to impress with numbers.

But a car that still makes people smile almost sixty years after its introduction.

You don't just drive a Méhari. You are part of the Méhari lifestyle.

And that passion should be seen.

Discover our collection of Citroën Méhari clothing, T-shirts, hoodies, and accessories and carry a piece of French automotive history with you.