Citroen

The Citroen C5, new for the 2001 model year, and part of the new range at the 2000 Sydney International Motor Show.

See the C5, Xsara, Berlingo, Osee, C-Crosser and 2001 prices pages

Historic

In the 1920's Citroen halftracks or Autochenilles, fitted with Adolphe Kegresse's rear tracks, took part in major expeditions in North Africa:

1922 December 17: Georges-Marie Haardt and 11 others crossed the Sahara Desert from Touggourt in Algeria to Timbuktu in Mali on 7 January 1923.

1924 October 28: Citroen halftracks traversed Africa from north to south, and finally arrived at the east coast on 26 June 1925. The trip was known as La Croisiere Noire.

1931-1932 Citroen-Haardt Expedition

On 4/4/1931 seven Citroen halftracks led by Georges-Marie Haardt departed Beirut in Lebanon heading for Beijing (at that time Peiping) following Marco Polo's route along the Silk Road in part. Seven other half-tracks left Tianjin (Tientsin) on the Yellow Sea to meet them.

Russia had withdrawn permission to drive through Turkmenistan at a late stage, so two of the vehicles were manhandled north into the Karakoram, crossing the Burzil Pass (13,755'), to Mishgar where they were halted by the terrain. The group proceeded on camels and horses to Kashgar (Kashi). They met the others and, despite arrest, bandits, rebels, and crashing through ice at a river crossing, went on to Beijing in the other vehicles, arriving 12/2/1932. Sadly, Georges-Marie Haardt died of pneumonia at the end of the expedition. (Williams '32). This trip was known as La Croisiere Jaune.

Citroen 2CV Sahara 4x4

The Citroen 2CV was a long-running front wheel drive model. For a while a four wheel drive version, the Sahara, was available fitted with two of the 425cc (66mm x 62mm), flat-twin, air-cooled engines, one in front and one in the rear. Prototypes were produced in 1958; production ran from 1960 to 1966.

The Brit's toyed with the two engine idea in the form of a twin engined Mini Moke but that only got to prototype stage - 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html

Go to the Tracks, Moke twin and 4WD History pages