CITROËN : Under the cobblestones...the beach - Lot 38

CITROËN : Under the cobblestones...the beach Mehari 1973 12,500 euros restoration bill 89,600 km CT against inspection Chassis n°04CA9929 French registration This Mehari was first registered on October 3, 1973. Its current owner acquired it in 2014, at which time the car was in strict original condition and had 88859 km on the odometer. He immediately joined the Mehari Club de Cassis and undertook a complete restoration of the vehicle: chassis, running gear, body and engine, at a cost of over 12,500 euros (invoices included in the file). During the last twelve years, its owner has taken great care of it, since it has only covered 1000 km in his hands, with the main task of moving bales of straw! For the photo shoot, the car got off to a flying start and got around without a hitch. The car comes complete with all its soft tops, and has a practical circuit breaker on the dashboard. A theft-deterrent rod, the Mehari guide and the technical review will be supplied to the new owner. Now all you have to do is find a house by the sea, so you can enjoy this refreshingly cool vacation car to the full. A non-conformist vehicle, the CitroënMéhari has never gone out of fashion over the years. The idea of a vehicle with a plastic body came from Count Roland de la Poype, whose factory would later assemble the bodies. May 11 1968 saw the launch of the Mehari, presented in Deauville. It was a bad start! France was experiencing some "events". It was unveiled to the general public at the Paris Motor Show that same year. Available as a 2-seater, the rear bench could be optionally converted into a 4-seater. Most of the mechanical components, including the 602cm3 engine, came from the Dyane 6. The 28-hp air-cooled twin-cylinder engine tows the vehicle's 525 kilos and 400 kilograms of payload, proving that the Mehari can be as much a pleasure car as an efficient utility vehicle. Modular, it can be completely uncovered, including the windshield, with all components above the beltline being removable. Proof of its versatility, the Mehari was ordered in large numbers by the French army and gendarmerie. It also became an indispensable accessory in coastal regions, adorning many second homes.