Citroën FAF
Encyclopedia
The Citroën FAF is a small open-top automobile
produced by the French
manufacturer Citroën
from 1973 until 1979, built and sold in various developing and Third World
countries.
Like the similar Citroën Méhari
, the FAF derived from the 2CV
. FAF stood for the French Facile à Fabriquer and Facile à Financer (Easy to Manufacture, Easy to Finance). The body was made of easy to produce, folded elements and the car looked effectively like a metallic version of the Méhari
.
The primary target market for the FAF was Africa. As its name suggests, it was meant to allow "easy" production, mostly in developing countries. The idea followed the widespread production of similar 2CV-based vehicles in a large number of countries, including Iran
(Baby-Brousse
, Jyane-Mehari), Vietnam
(Dalat), Greece
(Namco
Pony), Chile
(Yagan
), Belgium
(VanClee), Spain
, Portugal
and others (it is often erroneously reported that some of these vehicles were based on the FAF). However, the concept of a "second-class" car that was connected with the FAF seems to have affected its manufacture and sales that remained low, in contrast to the success enjoyed by some of its predecessors.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
produced by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
manufacturer Citroën
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
from 1973 until 1979, built and sold in various developing and Third World
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
countries.
Like the similar Citroën Méhari
Citroën Méhari
The Citroën Méhari is a utility car and off-roader produced by the French automaker Citroën. 144,953 Méharis were built between 1968 and 1988. A Méhari is a type of fast-running dromedary camel, which can be used for racing or transport...
, the FAF derived from the 2CV
Citroën 2CV
The Citroën 2CV |tax horsepower]]”) was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën between 1948 and 1990. It was technologically advanced and innovative, but with uncompromisingly utilitarian unconventional looks, and deceptively simple Bauhaus inspired bodywork, that belied the sheer...
. FAF stood for the French Facile à Fabriquer and Facile à Financer (Easy to Manufacture, Easy to Finance). The body was made of easy to produce, folded elements and the car looked effectively like a metallic version of the Méhari
Citroën Méhari
The Citroën Méhari is a utility car and off-roader produced by the French automaker Citroën. 144,953 Méharis were built between 1968 and 1988. A Méhari is a type of fast-running dromedary camel, which can be used for racing or transport...
.
The primary target market for the FAF was Africa. As its name suggests, it was meant to allow "easy" production, mostly in developing countries. The idea followed the widespread production of similar 2CV-based vehicles in a large number of countries, including Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(Baby-Brousse
Baby-Brousse
The Baby-Brousse is a Citroën 2CV based buggy. The car is like a metal-bodied Citroën Méhari and is similar in concept to the French Citroën FAF. The vehicle was a success with more than 31,000 being built from 1963 to 1987...
, Jyane-Mehari), Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
(Dalat), Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(Namco
Namco (automobiles)
NAMCO is a Greek vehicle manufacturer, a creation of the Kontogouris Brothers who have been in the automotive industry business since the 1950s.- History :...
Pony), Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
(Yagan
Yagan
Yagan was an Australian Aboriginal warrior from the Noongar tribe who played a key part in early indigenous Australian resistance to British settlement and rule in the area of Perth, Western Australia. After he led a series of burglaries and robberies across the countryside, in which white...
), Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(VanClee), Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and others (it is often erroneously reported that some of these vehicles were based on the FAF). However, the concept of a "second-class" car that was connected with the FAF seems to have affected its manufacture and sales that remained low, in contrast to the success enjoyed by some of its predecessors.