The Citroën Méhari occupies a singular place in French automotive culture: part utility, part beach vehicle, entirely its own thing. By 1970, just two years into production, it had already found a devoted following across France and Europe. This 1:18 scale model by Norev reproduces the yellow-and-black variant — among the most photographed and recognised of all Méhari colour combinations.
A Plastic Body on a 2CV Backbone
What made the Méhari genuinely unusual in 1968 — and still does today — is its body construction. Rather than steel panels, Citroën used ABS thermoplastic throughout, keeping weight down and eliminating the risk of corrosion entirely. Underneath sat the tried-and-tested platform of the Citroën Dyane, driven by the 602 cc flat-twin air-cooled engine shared with the 2CV, producing between 28 and 33 hp depending on specification year. The standard model was rear-wheel drive; a 4×4 variant arrived only in 1979.
Named After a Desert Camel
The name Méhari comes from the Mehari dromedary camel, the long-distance mount of the Tuareg nomads of North Africa — a deliberate nod to the vehicle's go-anywhere ambitions. Produced at Citroën's Rennes-La-Janais plant across a nineteen-year run from 1968 to 1987, total production reached 144,953 units. Bright colours were a deliberate marketing choice, positioning the Méhari firmly in the leisure and lifestyle space rather than the workaday commercial sector. The yellow-and-black combination, with its contrasting dark trim, became one of the most enduring visual signatures of the model.
Norev's Die-Cast Interpretation at 1:18
Norev is a French manufacturer with deep roots in producing die-cast scale models of French classics, making the pairing of maker and subject a natural one. This 1:18 scale model renders the Méhari's distinctive flat panels and open-top silhouette in die-cast metal, translating a vehicle famous for its non-metallic body into the traditional collector format. The yellow livery with black accents is reproduced across the bodywork and interior trim, reflecting the period-correct specification of a 1970 example.
In the Display Cabinet
The Méhari sits naturally alongside other 1:18 French classics — the Citroën 2CV and Dyane are obvious neighbours, given the shared mechanical DNA. The Mini Moke and Renault 4 occupy a similar cultural register and complement the Méhari well on the shelf. For collectors focused on French automotive history or the growing leisure and lifestyle car category, this model bridges both: it is as much a piece of social history as it is a die-cast subject. The yellow-and-black colour scheme also provides strong visual contrast in any mixed display.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What is the Citroën Méhari?
The Méhari is a lightweight, open-top utility and leisure vehicle produced by Citroën from 1968 to 1987. Its body panels are made from ABS thermoplastic rather than steel, and it shares its chassis and 602 cc flat-twin engine with the Citroën Dyane and 2CV. A total of 144,953 units were built.
Who makes this 1:18 scale model?
The model is made by Norev, a French die-cast model manufacturer.
What material is the model made from?
The model is die-cast metal — an interesting contrast to the real Méhari, whose body panels were made from ABS thermoplastic rather than steel.
Why is the yellow-and-black colour combination significant?
Citroën offered the Méhari in a range of bright colours to underline its leisure character. The yellow variant with contrasting dark trim is one of the most recognised and collected colour combinations across the model's nineteen-year production run.
