Golden Scarab half-track vehicle reborn for Citroën's centenary event

Unique ONES History records that Citroën Golden Scarab or Scarabee d'Or in French (known also K1 HP Type B2), became the first vehicle to cross the Sahara desert in December 1922. The story begins when Andrë Citroën was convinced that it would be possible and beneficial to cross the Sahara by automobile. After World War I, the prospect of a direct link between mainland France and Equatorial Africa appealed to settlers, the military and the scientific community alike.

1922 Citroën Scarabee d'Or or Golden Scarab half-track vehicle. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

On December 17th, 1922 a team of 10 people (including several army officers and a geographer) and 5 Citroën P2 half-tracked vehicles, led by Georges-Marie Haardt and Louis Audoin-Dubreuil, left Touggourt, Algeria en route to Timbuktu, Mali. After 20 days of strenuous and eventful traveling in one of the most inhospitable regions on the planet the expedition arrived there on January 7, 1923.

Citroën Golden Scarab half-track vehicle while across Sahara desert in its heyday almost 100 years ago. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

The successful design (by utilizing endless rubber treads, allowing the vehicles to drive off-road over various forms of terrain) was the brainchild of a talented engineer named Adolphe Këgresse. The French automaker company produced these types of vehicles from January 1921 onwards and now almost 100 years later, Citroën has managed to present a replica that is identical to the original one.

Replica of Citroën Scarabee d'Or or Golden Scarab half-track vehicle was built involved a team of 160 students as well as 40 teachers in the process. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

By having a complicated design, in the process was ever hampered once and then resumed in 2016. To complete the project, Citroën collaborated with a team of 160 students as well as 40 teachers in making construction and redesigning those antique half-track vehicles. However, the French automotive manufacturer wants to maintain its original looks, with the drive composition of two-wheels in the front and a track behind, as well as space for two people in a medium-sized cabin.

Front left view of replica of Citroën Scarabee d'Or or Golden Scarab half-track vehicle. (Picture from: Carscoops)

"In this year of Citroën’s centenary, the rebuilding of the Golden Scarab takes on a whole new dimension. We are proud to support and take part in this new adventure, an educational project that presents a genuine half-way replica," said Linda Jackson, Citroën CEO as reported by Carscoops on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. The Golden Scarab has very simple, but high-tech specifications in its time. This vehicle has a length of 3.65 meters (143.7 inches), width of 1.4 meters (55.1 inches) and height of 1.68 meters (66.1 inches), and weighs around 800 kg (1,764 lbs).

Rear three quarter of replica of Citroën Scarabee d'Or or Golden Scarab half-track vehicle. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

This vehicle is also supported by a lightly-stressed 1.5-liter four-cylinder inline engine which is capable of producing power of 20 hp at 2,100 rpm. The engine is incorporated into a 3-speed gearbox mounted on the rear axle.

Citroën has displayed this special half-track vehicle replica in Paris in mid-June 2019. Continued, shown off at the Champs-Elysees on July 18, 2019. Then on July 19-21, this half-track vehicle underwent a number of tests to prove its toughness through a series of demonstrations at various events celebrating Citroën’s centenary during the year of 2019. *** [EKA [05062019] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CITROËN | CARSCOOPS | CLASSIC.COM | PETROLICIOUS]

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