Citroën Méhari

2010-05-10T05:20:24Z

Tonycarz: New page with information on this rare vehicle

In the U.S., the Mehari was only offered for 1 year, 1970. The majority were sold in California and Hawaii and were used for a time in rental car fleets. The bodies are comprised of plastic (not fiberglass) and the color was impregneted in the material. Unfortunately, the sun's UV rays would deteriorate the plastic; painting the bodies would preseve them. They were offered in 3 colors in the US. Although they were made for many years and sold overseas, the rarest model is the US version, which had "bumps" in the hood to allow for the American headlights. With a plastic body, and removable doors, it was allowed in the US because the rear seat folded down, and essentially made it a pick up truck, there by circumventing the car safety regualtions as a truck. The chassis was essentally a 2CV, which gave it a soft ride and a weak 2 cylinder engine. The contemporary ads said 40 MPG was possible with a 70 MPH top speed. it is estimated about 1,000 were sold in the US, and that less then 100 have survived.

Plymouth Cricket

2010-05-10T04:58:43Z

Tonycarz: additonal info

{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="float:right; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:250px; background:#fff; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#996; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" | {{{Image}}}
|- style="color:#fff; background:#996; font-size:larger;"
! colspan=2 | '''Plymouth Cricket'''
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal; background:#ddb;" | [[Plymouth]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Production
| 1971-1973
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Class
| Subcompact
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Body Style
| 4-Door Sedan<br>5-Door Wagon
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Length
|
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Width
|
|- style="vertical-align:top;
| Height
|
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Wheelbase
|
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Weight
| 2000-2200 lbs
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Transmission
| 4-Speed Manual<br>3-Speed Automatic
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Engine
| 1.5L (91 cid) I4
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Power
| 69-70 hp
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Similar
| [[Dodge Colt]]
|}

The '''[[Plymouth]] Cricket''' was a "captive import" from England, based on the Hillman Avenger, and was also a fraternal twin to the [[Dodge Colt]] that was made in Japan by [[Mitsubishi]]. The Cricket was the first import that was badged a Plymouth. Oddly, the were never "Cricket" emblems on the car, but rather just decals that identified them as Crickets. The Cricket was short-lived in the U.S. market, only being offered from 1971-1973. It was a rather anonymous-looking car, and unlike the Colt or other subcompacts at the time, was initially only offered as a 4-door sedan (which may partly explain its low popularity). The only engine offered was at first was a 69 hp 1.5L (91 cid) I4 engine, but later a twin carburetor option became available, boosting its hp a little. Transmission choices were a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic. A 5-door wagon was added in 1972, and the sedan carried on with little change. Other than stronger bumpers with larger rubber guards added on 1973 models, they remained unchanged. The Cricket far less popular than the Dodge Colt, selling only 41,000 units over its 3-year lifespan - a very dismal figure, considering [[Chevrolet]] managed to sell over 200,000 [[Chevrolet Vega|Vega]]s in its first year alone. This prompted Plymouth to pull the Cricket from the U.S. market. Plymouth would not have another subcompact entry until the 1976 [[Plymouth Arrow|Arrow]] sport coupe. In 1973 and later, the Cricket name was used on the Japanese (Mitsubishi) built Colts. No parts are interchangable between the Amercian/British Crickets and the Canadian/Japanese ones.

{{Plymouth}}

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Citroën Méhari

Plymouth Cricket