Citroën Méhari US: America at the end of the double chevrons
Some cars already seem original in their most common version. And then there are, within these very atypical models, even rarer variants, almost confidential, which immediately attract the collector's attention. The American Citroën Méhari is one of those.
Already unconventional in Europe, with its ABS plastic bodywork, beach car look and laid-back utilitarian spirit, the Méhari takes on a completely different personality when it crosses the Atlantic. Adapted to American standards, produced in very small numbers for that market, it became an absolute curiosity in Citroën's history.
It is this rare version, recognisable at a glance, that I have decided to reproduce in 1/43 scale.
Historical reminder: the Méhari, a Citroën unlike any other
The Méhari was unveiled by Citroën on 16 May 1968 at the Deauville golf course. Created by Roland de La Poype, it is based on a Dyane 6 platform and features an ABS plastic bodywork—a modern material for the time, which was coloured throughout, lightweight, washable and largely resistant to corrosion. Citroën produced 144,953 examples of it between 1968 and 1987, including 1,213 Méhari 4×4s.Stellantis Media)
The Méhari is at once a leisure pick-up, a holiday car, a small utility vehicle and a totally unique automotive object. Its bodywork, made up of simple elements, its hose-washable interior and its modularity make it a practical, economical and instantly appealing car.Citroën Origins)
Its very name evokes travel: the méhari is a Saharan dromedary renowned for its endurance, its frugality and its ability to cross difficult terrain. A name perfectly suited to this light, simple and resourceful Citroën. (Stellantis Media)
The American Méhari: a French car built to US standards
At the turn of the 1970s, Citroën was still trying to maintain a presence in the United States. The DS was already familiar to a niche clientele there, and the Méhari might have seemed appealing in certain regions such as California or Hawaii, where the idea of a simple, open-top leisure vehicle seemed a natural fit. Citroën therefore adapted the Méhari to American specifications to enable it to go on sale from 1970. (Classic Cars)
This version features numerous modifications. The most noticeable change is at the front: the small European headlamps have been replaced by large 7-inch sealed-beam headlamps, as required by US regulations. The front end has therefore been radically altered, taking on a much more imposing and almost naive appearance. Added to this are side marker lights, reflectors, reversing lights, a right-hand rear bumper, a special rear side panel designed to accommodate an American number plate, and a two-speed windscreen wiper motor. (Classic Cars)
In the United States, the Méhari is classified as a ‘truck’, that is to say, as a small commercial vehicle. This classification allows it to circumvent certain restrictions applicable to passenger cars, particularly as the plastic bodywork posed difficulties in terms of type-approval. (Classic Cars)
His career in the US, however, was to be very short-lived. The figures vary depending on the source: *L’Argus* puts the number at around 1,000 units that crossed the Atlantic between 1970 and 1971, whilst other sources state that fewer than 1,000 were produced for this market and only 214 were sold in 1970, some of them in Hawaii. In any case, the US Méhari remains an extremely rare model. (L'Argus)
An instantly recognisable silhouette
What makes the US Méhari such an exciting car to reproduce is precisely this contrast between the French simplicity of the original model and American regulatory constraints.
The large headlights completely transform its look. The side lights, reflectors, rear details and the US-style number plate give it a very different look. You can still recognise the Méhari, of course, but it looks as though it’s been dressed up to star in a 1970s American film.
It has that very special charm found in export cars: a familiar model, but adapted to the regulations of another country. It’s exactly the sort of variant that deserves a place in a collector’s display cabinet.
1:43 scale miniature Méharis
The Citroën Méhari has already been widely reproduced in 1:43 scale. In particular, Norev versions can be found, including 1978 Méharis in light blue, khaki or Kirghiz orange currently listed on the brand's official boutique.Norev)
Other manufacturers or collections have also offered 1/43 scale Méharis: Solido, IXO, Eligor, Universal Hobbies, Atlas, Salvat, Mondo Motors, as well as partwork and promotional models. There are numerous variants: standard Méhari, Méhari 4x4, Tour de France versions, ice-cream vendor, fishmonger, military, gendarmerie, beach, Argentine, and promotional editions.voiture-miniature.com)
However, after doing some research, I couldn’t find any commonly available, clearly identified 1:43 scale models of the American Méhari. Whilst there are plenty of Méhari model cars available, this US version – with its distinctive front end and unique features – seems to be missing from the usual range.
It is precisely this lack that makes the project interesting.
The Garage143 project: the US Méhari in 1/43 scale
So I decided to tackle this rare version of the Méhari: the 1970 American Méhari.
The aim is to produce a faithful 1:43 scale model, capturing the distinctive features of this version: the modified front end, the large sealed-beam headlights, the side lights, the specific rear details and the overall look of this Méhari, which was designed for the American market.
As always, it is not simply a matter of producing yet another Méhari replica, but of offering a miniature model that tells a story. The story of a French Citroën that set out to try its luck in the United States, was adapted to local standards, sold in very small numbers, and has since become a real curiosity for fans of the brand.
This future scale model will be produced in a limited run, in the spirit of Garage143 creations: rare models, sometimes forgotten, often absent from mainstream catalogues, but which nonetheless deserve their rightful place in a 1/43 Citroën collection.
Conclusion
The Citroën Méhari US is a paradoxical car: simple yet rare, lightweight yet subject to regulations, French yet designed for America. It retains the Méhari’s cheerful spirit whilst displaying a completely different personality.
For the collector, it is a truly unique piece. For the Citroën enthusiast, it serves as a reminder that the chevron-badged marque has always dared to think outside the box, sometimes straying very far from its roots.
It is this uniqueness that I wish to bring back to life in miniature.
The 1:43-scale American Méhari will soon be joining the Garage143 range. A rare little Citroën, having taken a long detour via the United States, ready to take its place in your display cabinets.