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Citroën FAF

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Citroën FAF
Overview
ManufacturerCitroën
Production1973–1981
Body and chassis
ClassCompact SUV
Body style2-door/no-door utility
LayoutFF layout
RelatedBaby-Brousse
Citroën 2CV
Citroën Méhari
Citroën Dyane
Citroën Ami
Citroën Bijou
Powertrain
EngineFlat-2
Chronology
SuccessorCitroën C-Crosser
Citroën E-Méhari
Namco Pony Super (For Namco Pony)

The Citroën FAF is a small utility vehicle produced by the French 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

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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

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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

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Namco Pony Greece U.S. Model
Pony rear
Citroën Yagan from Chile

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

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Main article: Citroën 2CV § Production
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

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  1. ^ "FAF Facile à fabriquer, facile à financer - easy to build, easy to fund page 1".
  2. ^ a b c d e Marsh, Julian. "Baby Brousse". Citroënët. Archived from the original on 2019-12-22.
  3. ^ a b Marsh, Julian. "FAF: Facile à Fabriquer, Facile à Financer (Easy to build, easy to fund)". Citroënët. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17.
  4. ^ "Citroen FAF 4x4 (1977)". Autoruote 4x4 (in Italian). New Explorer. 7 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2020-12-03.
  5. ^ "Curbside Classic: 1974 Citroën Méhari – Plastic Frenchtastic". Curbside Classic. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  6. ^ Ha, Thanh. "La Dalat: Mẫu xe "nội" đầu tiên ở Việt Nam" [La Dalat: Vietnam's first "domestic" car] (in Vietnamese). Giao Thong. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Citroën La Dalat – First Car Made In Vietnam". VJT Adventures. Archived from the original on 2017-05-19.
  8. ^ Clément-Collin, Paul (2016-04-08). "Citroën La Dalat: la perle de l'Orient aux origines africaines!" [Citroën La Dalat: the pearl of the Orient with African origins!]. CarJager (in French). Archived from the original on 2020-05-22.
  9. ^ "Lot 102: FAF", Vente des réserves de l'Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS (Auction Catalogue) (in French), Leclere Maison des Ventes, 2017-12-10, p. 72, archived from the original on 2017-11-26
  10. ^ a b "The "poor man's jeep" is back on the Greek roads". GR Reporter. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  11. ^ Gilbertson, Scotty (2016-04-10). "It's Greek To Me: 1983 NAMCO Pony-Citroën". Barn Finds. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  12. ^ Moonesinghe, Vinod (8 December 2019). "The Royalists and the Citroën project". Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
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