Citroen Tangara Teilhol

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Most classic car enthusiasts are well versed with the story of the iconic Citroen 2CV, designed as it was to motorise France’s largely rural agricultural populace away from the horse and cart.

The design brief given to Paul Boulanger, Citroen’s chief of staff, has become a legend: to design a low-priced, rugged "umbrella on four wheels" that would enable four farmers to drive 50 kg (110 lb) of farm goods to market at 50 km/h (31 mph), in clogs and across muddy unpaved roads if necessary. The car could use no more than 3 litres of gasoline to travel 100km (78 mpg)….. The iconic 2CV was born.

Citroen announced the 2CV-based GRP-bodied Mehari as a quasi-jeep in 1966. A popular choice, some 144, 000 had been sold by 1988 when it became a victim of Citroen’s drastic cost-saving programme and was given the chop.

Close links between the Mehari’s designer, Roland de la Poute, and specialist vehicle manufacturer, Roaul Teilhol, raised the opportunity to fill the gap with an updated version which they called the Tangara. With the backing of Citroen, Roaul Teilhol’s specialist plastic company offered wind-up windows and even doors in the new jeep’s design, whilst it retained the rugged simplicity of the outgoing Mehari which made the most of its cross country abilities.

The Tangara attracted a buyer who wanted a truly multipurpose car. In full dress, its heavy duty hood kept its five occupants dry. When the sun came out, the Tangara took on a different personality, the removable sections of canvas rolling off easily, even the driver’s polyester roof panel coming off and living under the bonnet once removed.

Teilhol only produced them for a two-year period before running out of money in the crash of 1990. Most were sold on the French market, some 400 finding their way into the French army who found it an ideal lightweight general purpose truck.

In 1988 an English company saw the marketing opportunity and ordered two RHD cars for appraisal. G787 OVA is the sole remaining example.

Registered in November 1989, but off the road since 2006, this unique Tangara has been carefully recommissioned, a process which included a new fuel pump and thorough service. During the check over, many of the small yellow markings used to confirm that the bolts had been correctly torqued were found to be still in place, showing that much of the car has been undisturbed since build.

The vendor reports that the willing and eager twin cylinder pushes the ‘lightweight’ along at a good pace. The brilliantly designed top converts this practical machine from top-down beach transport into ski shuttle in minutes - this one even coming with a set of four snow tyres. Practical additions of a bull bar (small bulls only), stone guards on the rear lights and even a handy tow bar all add to its Tonka Truck looks!

This is your one and only chance to buy a RHD Tangara, so it’s now or never, don’t delay, just remember that shrouds have no pockets and life is not a rehearsal…..