AFRICAR (GB) 1984

AFRICAR was a a reasonably serious attempt but it lacked funding to produce a wooden based vehicle for the third world (Developing Countries) the vehicle was designed and built in Britain made of Plywood and it was designed by Tony Howarth. As part of its development testing 3 prototypes were sent on 30000km long distance tour

References:
Preview Feature CAR (GB) 1984 April

An africar goes home CAR (GB) 1984 OCT page 7 prototypes arrived in Kenya after 30000km proving run from the Artic Circle

From the Internet
I found the following further information:
"The car was the idea of Tony Howarth, an English journalist/photographer who spent most of the 1970's in Africa taking pictures. He did not like the roads, the cars and their inability to manage the roads, or the first-world's arrogance---sending lousy vehicles and billing the third-world countries for the cars and interest, while the vehicles disintegrated long before the bills were paid.


Africar was designed to handle rough roads, to be constructed of native materials, and to be made with low-skill labor---all with a minimal imported content. Using Citroën 2CV suspension and drivetrains, Howarth constructed three cars: a station wagon, a pickup and a 6-wheeler. They were built in England and driven to the Arctic Circle. From there they headed south and reached the equator in about four months. A five-hour UK Channel 4 TV special was produced, which raised interest, funds and hopes. A lovely book was printed along with many brochures.

There were promises made about global sales, third-world manufacturing rights, and so on. But the company squandered their funds on a new engine and gearbox, then floundered. Bankruptcy court sold off all the assets, put Tony Howarth in jail for a short time, and the Africars themselves have disappeared.

Tony Howarth, the former owner of Lancaster-based Africar International Limited, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, having pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading and obtaining property by deception." qv from
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africar

and further information can be found on:
www.oldwoodies.com/feature-africar.htm

and www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/africar/africar.html