The Baby-Brousse is a
Citroën 2CV-based
utility vehicle, initially privately built, that later spawned the FAF series of vehicles.[1]
Similar to a metal-bodied
Citroën Méhari, the Baby-Brousse was a success with more than 31,000 being built from 1963 to 1987. The entire body was made of folded sheet metal with the other parts being bolted together [2][3] without welding.
Background
The Baby-Brousse was originally conceived in 1963 by two Frenchmen, Messrs. Letoquin and Lechanteurin, owners of Les Ateliers et Forges de l'Ebrié, a company in Abidjan, the capital of the
Ivory Coast.[3][1]
NamcoPony in
Thessalonika,
Greece (1974–83),[4] built with
Dyane 6 components in a specifically built factory. These had better build quality and equipment than others. 30,000 examples were built[12] (16,680 according to Marie & Étienne Christian).[4] The Pony was the only Baby Brousse exported to the United States.[13]
Vietnam Citroën La Dalat (1969–1975)[1][16][17] was manufactured, with 3,850 examples produced.[4] Its creator, Jacques Duchemin, proposed the
FAF concept to Citroën when he returned to France after the fall of Saigon.
The first FAFs were built in 1977, at the Citroën plant in
Mangualde, Portugal.[4]
Other
In Argentina: Savoiacars
[1], has prepared some cars based on the Méhari, with improved platform and engine, and another with a body of their own design.
Various kit car style bodies were also developed, inspired by the Méhari, such as
Belgium's VanClee.
^
abcdefgMarie Christian & Étienne Christian (2014). 2CV Citroën - Ses dérivés, Baby Brousse, Dalat, FAF et autres (in French). L'Autodrome Éditions.
ISBN978-2-910434-39-7.