Cars with History: Mega Tjaffer

If any of you know which car I’m talking about from this name, you deserve a prize, because our subject is not very well known in Spain, and even less so for its outlandish, hand-built look. Outside our borders, however, the Mega Tjaffer is slightly better known, and it is undoubtedly a model worth discussing, either for its exclusivity or for its underpinnings: none other than a Citroën model.

The first time I saw this car was while walking around Portugal. One of the many Swiss holidaymakers in Portugal had brought this Mega Tjaffer over on a trip from Switzerland that was probably anything but boring (I would have loved to see this little car on a motorway). If you want to know more about this French car, stay with us and we’ll tell you everything about the model.

French manufacture on a PSA base Peugeot Citroën

The Mega Tjaffer is built in France, and the brand is an old acquaintance in our country thanks to its cars that don’t require a licence. In France, however, it also makes the occasional car “that requires a licence”, and within that small production is the Tjaffer, which was built in Isère.

Initially, it was based on the Citroën AX, with practically everything except the bodywork coming from the French car. In the second generation, however, it was based on the Peugeot 106/Citroën Saxo, and in fact it even used the same engines as the French cars. Available were the 1.1 petrol with 60 CV and the 1.4i with 75 CV, as well as the indestructible 1.5D diesel with 57 CV (and previously a 1.4D with 50 CV). Curiously, there were two 4×4 variants always associated with the two diesel engines of 50 and 57 CV, making it an interesting car for mountain driving.

The 4×4 variant was ideal for snow thanks to its traction capability and its low weight: it only added 80 kg over the standard Tjaffer (which weighed around 750 kg), since much of the exterior components were made of plastic.

Its construction recalls the Mehari in the materials used for the bodywork, and it could be turned into a convertible quickly and easily whenever you wanted, simply by removing the canvas or plastic roof of the Tjaffer.

Production ran from 1991 to 2003, at least in the form we know it. During that period there are two clearly differentiated generations: the first in production until 1999, and a second, more modern one with an interior inherited from the Citroën Saxo.

The price was not exactly cheap, since the last units started at 12,000 euros and went up to 18,600 euros for the diesel model with four-wheel drive. In other words, a full-blown indulgence. That said, very few units were built, so it is a truly unique car.

Source | tjaffer.nl
Photos | AXClub