Back in 1922, the Citroen Golden Scarab, or Scarabee
d’Or in French, became the first vehicle to have crossed the Sahara Desert.
Almost 100 years later, the automaker has built a replica that’s identical to
the original car.
Construction began in mid-2016 and involved 160
engineering students and pupils, along with 40 teachers. The project stays true
to the old timer, with two wheels at the front and tracks at the rear, space
for two in the modestly-sized cabin and all the necessary gear either inside or
strapped to it that could, in theory, help it conquer the sand dunes.
The original Golden Scarab had very modest specs,
yet quite high-tech for those times. At 3.65 meters long, 1.4 meters wide and 1.68 meters tall, weighing about 800 kg, the vehicle was powered by a 1,452 cc inline-four engine that produced 20
horsepower at 2,100 rpm and was coupled to a 3-speed gearbox that was mounted
on the rear axle.
Those who would like to check out in detail need to
pay a visit to France for one of the company’s centenary celebrations that will
take place this summer. The carmaker will display it in mid-June in Paris,
during a special event. Subsequently, on July 18, it will be going up the
Champs-Elysees, and from July 19 to 21, it will prove its prowess in a series
of demonstrations.
