Africar

The Africar project set out to provide vehicles able to cope well with the rough terrain of Africa. They were to have Citroen engines and drivetrains, and the bodywork was to be made of wood and fibreglass which could be repaired with locally-available labour and materials.

A company, Africar International Limited, was set up in 1986 to make and sell the vehicles. Based in Lancaster, England, it intended to offer a variety of vehicles, ranging from a four wheel drive car to an eight wheel drive panel truck. There was considerable interest in the vehicles and their potential, both from firms who saw the commercial possibilities of the project, and from users who appreciated the vehicles' capabilities.

Three versions were actually completed, an estate car, a pick up and a six wheeler and these were tested in 1984 on an expedition from the Arctic Circle in Norway to the equator. A Channel 4 television programme was made of this.

Sadly the project foundered because of financial difficulties, and in July 1988 the company ceased trading. The company's founder and sometime owner, Tony Howarth, was in 1994 arrested and charged with fraudulent trading and obtaining property by deception. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.

The project briefly resurfaced as the Bedouin.

External links

* [http://www.oldwoodies.com/feature-africar.htm "Old Woodies" information]