Engineering:Citroën FAF
| Citroën FAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Citroën |
| Production | 1973–1981 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact SUV |
| Body style | 2-door/no-door utility |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | Baby-Brousse Citroën 2CV Citroën Méhari Citroën Dyane Citroën Ami Citroën Bijou |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Flat-2 |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Citroën C-Crosser Citroën E-Méhari Namco Pony Super (For Namco Pony) |
The Citroën FAF is a small utility vehicle produced by the France manufacturer Citroën from 1973 until 1981.[1] It was built using a combination of imported and locally sourced components in various developing countries.[2] The body was made of easy to produce, folded steel panels, giving an appearance resembling a metal-bodied version of the Méhari.[3] The flat metal panels and simple components were meant to allow for easier production, mostly in developing countries.[2]
Origin
The origin of this idea was the privately built 1963 Baby-Brousse from Ivory Coast, and its many derivatives.[2] Notably these include La Dalat (Vietnam), Pony (Greece), Jyane-Mehari (Iran), and Yagan (Chile).
The various Baby-Brousse cars were quite successful, selling over 30,000 units.[2]
Both the FAF and Baby-Brousse are derived from the 2CV. The concept predates the FAF name, so it is often erroneously reported that some of Baby-Brousse vehicles were based on the FAF.[3]
Name and target market
FAF stood for the French Facile à Fabriquer and Facile à Financer (Easy to Manufacture, Easy to Finance).
The primary target market for the FAF was Africa. However, the concept of a "second-class" car that was connected with the FAF seems to have affected its manufacture and sales remained low.[4]
Pre-FAF cars
The FAF idea coincided with the widespread production of Baby Brousse 2CV-based vehicles in many countries, so the two often overlap.[5]
In 1969, Citroën's Vietnamese subsidiary began building La Dalat, the first automobile manufactured in Vietnam.[6][7] Production ended when Americans departed Saigon in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War.[8] In total, 3880 Dalats were built.[9]
In 1972, the Greek firm Namco began production of the Pony. This was the most successful version of these 'simplified' 2CV utility vehicles, selling 30,000 units.[10] The Pony was exported as well, including to the United States of America .[11] Production of this "poor man’s jeep," that benefitted from special tax rules, ended in 1983, two years after Greece joined the European Union. 67% of the parts were of Greek origin.[10]
An attempt to start production in Sri Lanka by the Ceylon Transport Board in the early 1970s failed due to a dispute over royalties, but a prototype was displayed at the Republic Day celebrations in 1974.[12]
Various kit car style bodies inspired by the FAF and Méhari, such as Belgium's VanClee, were also developed.
Production history
| Country | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | Total |
| Portugal | 180 | 30 | 180 | 240 | 180 | 810[2] |
| Guinea Bissau | 0 | 0 | 120 | 180 | 0 | 300 |
| Central African Republic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 60 |
| Sénégal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Indonesia | 0 | 0 | 60 | 540 | 0 | 600 |
| Total FAF | 181 | 30 | 360 | 1,020 | 195 | 1,786 |
References
- ↑ "FAF Facile à fabriquer, facile à financer - easy to build, easy to fund page 1". http://www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/faf/faf01.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Marsh, Julian. "Baby Brousse". Citroënët. http://www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/baby-brousse/index.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Marsh, Julian. "FAF: Facile à Fabriquer, Facile à Financer (Easy to build, easy to fund)". Citroënët. http://www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/faf/faf01.html.
- ↑ "Citroen FAF 4x4 (1977)" (in it). Autoruote 4x4. New Explorer. 7 February 2014. https://www.autoruote4x4.com/it/070201_citroen_faf_4x4_1977.html#.X0lbl9NKhkc.
- ↑ "Curbside Classic: 1974 Citroën Méhari – Plastic Frenchtastic" (in en). Curbside Classic. 22 July 2017. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/curbside-classic-1974-citroen-mehari-plastic-frenchtastic/.
- ↑ Ha, Thanh. "La Dalat: Mẫu xe "nội" đầu tiên ở Việt Nam" (in vietnamese). Giao Thong. http://www.baogiaothong.vn/la-dalat-mau-xe-noi-dau-tien-o-viet-nam-d63759.html.
- ↑ "Citroën La Dalat – First Car Made In Vietnam". VJT Adventures. https://vjtadventures.com/citroen-la-dalat-car-vietnam/.
- ↑ Clément-Collin, Paul (2016-04-08). "Citroën La Dalat: la perle de l'Orient aux origines africaines!" (in fr). CarJager. https://www.carjager.com/blog/article/citroen-la-dalat-la-perle-de-lorient-aux-origines-africaines.html.
- ↑ "Lot 102: FAF" (in fr), Vente des réserves de l'Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS, Leclere Maison des Ventes, 2017-12-10, p. 72, http://fr.zone-secure.net/27293/452939/publication/contents/pages/72/2048x0.jpg
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The "poor man's jeep" is back on the Greek roads" (in en). GR Reporter. 10 May 2014. http://www.grreporter.info/en/poor_man%E2%80%99s_jeep_back_greek_roads/11116.
- ↑ Gilbertson, Scotty (2016-04-10). "It's Greek To Me: 1983 NAMCO Pony-Citroën" (in en-US). https://barnfinds.com/1983-namco-pony-citroen/.
- ↑ Moonesinghe, Vinod (8 December 2019). "The Royalists and the Citroën project" (in en). Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20191208/282166473057196.
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