The rugged workhorse designed around the legendary Citroen 2CV could be the most pared-back car ever.

Naming conventions for cars can be an interesting and sometimes confusing topic, the themes and adjectives not always matching perfectly with the model to which it is applied. Sure, you could argue that the Ford Fiesta is worthy of its model name, the short wheelbase, small hatchback, and enticingly low price point suggestive of Spanish parties and enthusiastic celebration but sometimes, model names can be at best anodyne.

The Volkswagen Touareg conjures romantic images of desert, dunes, and tribes dressed in indigo-colored robes, a hardy tribe of people and camels living harmoniously under an unforgiving sun. Interestingly, the dromedary or Arabian camel has long been used as transport in harsh environments of this variety for its toughness and lack of reliance on an internal combustion engine.

This is where Citroen also got the idea for the Mehari, referencing the camels used in the desert and surrounding territories and suggesting durability, mobility, and simplicity.

Here we will see if those themes can be applied to potentially one of the simplest, yet capable cars ever made.

Before we get to the powertrain - of which power was unfortunately not a key player - it’s worth mentioning the body and chassis of the Mehari, which is noteworthy for its lack of sophistication and use of plastic. Body panels are reminiscent of both cheap corrugated roofing and the H-Van which we covered recently too. Through modern spectacles, it lends the car both a retro and at the same time almost timeless look.

In any case, you weren’t at any risk of luxury in the spartan Mehari, or indeed staying dry if you hit a rainstorm. The standard car has two seats, a fabric roof will keep out a small bit of the wind and doors could be optioned-in if you wanted even more comfort. Based on the Citroen Dyane which itself is related to the 2CV, the Mehari also steals a lot more from the Citroen parts box including from other models like the aforementioned H Van.

This camel-wannabe automobile was designed by the French firm with two aims. Utilitarianism was its aim but lifestyle and recreation were more its game. You see, it was marketed at home back in Europe as a fashionable little kart to trundle about in on a low frequency for example to the beach and to take the family on day trips. It could also double as a (very small) truck for farm use, moving items, and general work although you wouldn’t want to share the optional back bench seat with the pigs. It followed a series of prototypes and ideas, including the idea of a 2CV ‘jeep’. Citroen wasn’t alone in its quest for an off-road and pared-back version of a normal car – you will probably be aware already of the eyebrow-raising Mini Moke.

Hoped to be the secret off-roading weapon the British Army required, it didn’t manage to steal the Land Rover Defender's crown due to its low clearance due to the tiny proportions and small dinner-plate wheels.

Volkswagen had the Type 181, sharing the retro roofing-panel philosophy but differing in its option of a comparatively monstrous 1.6-liter motor.

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Powering our Mehari was a 29hp, 0.6-liter twin cylinder and air-cooled engine from the 2CV. In this form and with a near-1200lb mass, you could twist the 4-speed manual (no CVT here) through the gears to reach 60mph in 45 seconds, which was also its top speed.

In an effort to make the automobile more capable, alluring, and more interesting for other markets an interesting 4x4 version was conceived. After the previous effort in the twin-engined 2CV (the Citroen 2CV Safari) the proper off-roading Mehari was born. This version used just one engine, but with all four wheels sporting both independent suspension and disc brakes it was capable. Impressively, Wikipedia cites the ability of the Mehari to negotiate gradients and inclines of up to 60% with this model.

The 4x4 model didn’t last for the whole 19-year span of the Mehari’s life, between the debut in 1968 and the end in 1987 it was only on sale for around 14 years and was a little expensive at twice the price of the 2-wheeler version.

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In the United States, the Mehari was sold for around a year in 1970, in under 400 examples. It was classified as a truck to allow it to be registered on the road due to its non-conformity with the standard car road-safety requirements.

You were unlikely to be distracted by any creature comforts in the car like airbags and crumple zones.

Also absent were stereos, air conditioning, cup holders, and seat belts.

In 2016, the E-Mehari was introduced. As an electric re-imagining of the classic workhorse from the last century, it includes a minimalist all-weather interior, plastic body, and quirky style. There, the similarities end, unfortunately, as the execution missed the mark in terms of capability. Weighing 3000lbs and with 2-wheel drive, it runs via batteries, and apart from an impressive-sounding 6-second-to-60mph time it is not likely to be much better off-road than a standard hatchback. Top-speed is around 60mph too.

The main problem in bringing back cars like the Mini Moke and Mehari is that the capability and appeal were created by dialing-out safety and equipment. With modern crash-resistance requirements and comfort needs, it's unlikely we will ever see a completely pared-back car in the same tradition. It might be for our best ultimately, but that doesn’t stop this curio from looking even more appealing in this age of heavy, comfortable, and safe autos.

Hailing from Britain, the home of both MG and Aston Martin, Dave is no stranger to sports cars. Or a little rain. When he's not busy working his day-job or writing songs and pretending to be a musician; Dave indulges his obsession with cars by writing and researching diligently, so that he can inform and convert other people to the dark side.