On December 17, 1922, André Citroen, founder of the car brand, made the first crossing of the Sahara desert with a motor vehicle. A century later, a group of Argentines try to repeat the expedition but aboard three Citroën 3CVs.

Sara 8 participants aboard the three models of national production which will cross Algeria following the route of the expedition that was traced 100 years ago.

It will be about 3,100 kilometers in one way throughout Algeria starting from the city of Algiers, the Mediterranean city and capital of the country, to the distant Tamanrasset, a city in the Sahara desert.

The route will cross the mythical Touggourt, the gateway to the Algerian desert to return through the slopes of the African Atlas mountains, passing through Oran and ending the journey in the Algerian capital. In total, with the return included, it will be about 5,600 kilometers.

A 7 year plan

The visible faces of this expedition are José Izquierdo and Martin Franzosithat 14 years ago he started traveling with his nationally produced Citroën 3CV, from 1972, 1973 and 1974.

They were encouraged to do so cross salt flats, deserts, mountain ranges and various routes in Latin America. From Puna de Atacama in Jujuy to Ushuaia, along the entire route of the legendary Route 40, they also traveled Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Franzosi believes that “this Citroën model has been an accessible, agile and elegant automotive icon for many generations in Argentina and over the past 14 years it has shown us that we can trust it.”

The path will not be exactly the same, since Mali is in a civil war and they will not be able to enter its territory. Therefore, there will be no way to reach Timbuktu, the final destination of the original crossing.

The cars will travel in containers and with them a large number of spare parts. In total, they will a complete car in parts“but we will strengthen some parts that we know can suffer more, such as the drive shafts,” Franzosi said.

The idea of ​​republishing the Citroën trip came to Franzosi seven years ago, after learning the story. Of course, those adventures had more of an exploration and study purpose.

Although the cars are more modern than those used by the brand founder on his first expedition, it must be recognized that in 1922 they were specially adapted for the mission with special tracks and reinforcements.

The Argentines who will embark on this adventure have thought about making changes to meet the challenges that will arise along the way. “We have studied the modification of the dimensions of the wheels. We also thought about putting caterpillars on it, but it didn’t make sense. As the machines are, they are perfect “, acknowledged Franzosi.

During the crossing they will spend the night in the cities and others in the desert. Although Franzosi explained that “the ones that will decide where to sleep will be the cars”, referring to the answer they have to the question.

The adventure is expected to last exactly one month and stop in each of the cities that the original expedition stopped. “The hardest thing will be going back. Because the day after the end of this trip I’ll do what I normally do.” Francosi commented.

an inspiring tour

The journey that André Citroën began in 1922 inspired books and films and even gave him the roadmap for the most dangerous challenge in the world which later became known as the Dakar Rally.

Until then it was virgin land for motor vehicles. André Citroën hired Adolphe Kegresse, a French military engineer who patented a system that turned vehicles into half-tracks able to cope with extreme terrain conditions without problems.

After months of preparation, a team of 10 men and 5 vehicles Citroën-Kegresse, based on the brand new Citroën B2 10 HP, began the tour of Algeria, heading towards the legendary city of Timbuktu, located in the current territory of Mali. Before them, 3,500 kilometers of hostile and unknown desert.

Just 20 days later, on January 7, 1923, the Citroëns finished their journey when they arrived in Timbuktu.

That was the first of a series of expeditions that followed in the following years. Others through Africa, China, India and even Alaska.