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The H-Van was simple to maintain, cheap to run, and durable, enabling the French to have their goods to market after WWII. Its distinctive corrugated sheet metal bodywork was sturdy and light, and the 2-liter engine was virtually indestructible. The van was roomy and offered ample access – one sliding door on the side and […]

The Citroën D series was the sensation of the 1955 Paris Auto Show. With its streamlined silhouette and its hydro-pneumatic suspension (no springs), this car had many features that were ahead of its time. The D series was produced as both the ID and DS – the ID series had a manual transmission and cloth

Introduced in 1968, the Mehari was a new multi-purpose, all terrain pick-up joining Citroën’s family of light, flat twin vehicles. The Mehari was originally designed with a plastic body which prevented corrosion problems and resisted impact. Roughly 145,000 Meharis were produced from 1968-87, and in 1979, the 4×4, which you see here, was introduced. A

The SM came into being as a pure experiment. With the exception of small, low-powered cars, Citroën was practically alone in building front-wheel drive models. Worried that other manufacturers were right, Citroën began testing DS-based experimental cars with up to 380 horsepower. Finding they had the know-how to build front-wheel drive cars with any amount

When Crosley ceased production, the rights to the Crosley engine changed hands several times. During this period, the engine was manufactured and sold as a stationary engine for use by the military and for boat motors. In 1959, Crofton Marine Engine Company purchased the rights to the Crosley engine and the inventory. Crofton used the

The name DKW comes from “Dampf-Kraft-Wagen” which translates to “steam powered vehicle.” It carries this name because the first vehicle its Danish designer, J.S. Rasmussen built was a light steam car. Like many other manufacturers, DKW was also famous for motorcycles–in the 1930s they were the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. In 1931, DKW diversified into

After WWII, the German government sponsored a competition between Borgward, Porsche, and DKW to find a suitable military replacement for the Land Rovers they had used before the war. DKW got the order, having the only factory with the capacity to fulfill it! The Munga was born, although the name did not yet exist until

Presented at the 1966 Turin Motor Show, the Ferves (Ferrari Veicoli Speciali) Ranger is an attractive, compact all-terrain vehicle. The rear-mounted engine is a Fiat 500 unit, the all-independent suspension came from the Fiat 600, and after 1967, all four wheels are driven. The open body work features a folding windscreen and doors that can

The principal derivative of the Fiat Nuevo 500 was the Autobianchi Bianchina. A chic, upmarket product conceived in parallel with the Fiat 500, the Autobianchi firm was part-owned (and later fully-owned) by Pirelli and Fiat. In 1960, Fiat introduced the Giardiniera estate version of the 500. The engine was modified and laid flat to maximize