'86 FAAL Ochlosia Camper facelift
Looking for a versatile, bulletproof vehicle?
…
Okay not literally “bulletproof”, just incredibly reliable. Yeah, bad choice of words for a light unarmoured vehicle, especially in that context. Erm. ANYWAY.
The FAAL Ochlosia and Ochlosia Camper have both been on sale for ten years now. At the time, the top of the line engine was a 2.2L carburated 236S engine making 101hp. Over the years, the versatile van thingy went through a facelit and several engine changes, notably gaining fuel injection in the process, and many new options, like:
-a 4x4 system, that had nothing to do with FAAL’s famous TETRA™ AWD system (spoiler alert) but rather, was manufactured by a third party
-an optional roof rack
-thicker bumpers on the Gasmean version to satisfy some weird pedestrian safety rule or something
In a decade, the van gained a reputation of being the best use of 4.71m ever manufactured. It being capable of both carrying AND towing more than its own dry weight using only a 1.8L engine in the base version was proof enough. Not to mention, SO MUCH ROOM.
This, however, is the civilian version. Just to drive the point of the FAAL Ochlosia being the most versatile vehicle out there, allow me to present you that project we presented to the French army a few years back… before they scrapped it because they wanted to keep using those ancient Peugeot badged Mercedes G wagens “for another century or two” (sic)
The FAAL C1900
The FAAL C1900 is a toughened up version of the long lasting Gasmean spec Camper. All the important lights are protected, either by mesh like the headlights or small bullbars for the taillights or front blinkers/foglight combo
All the factory options for extra transportation capabilities are included, like the custom roof rack and the trunk mounted spare wheel. Not to mention, of course, the mechanically engageable 4WD system with lockable diffs all around
You will also notice fatter tires all around, especially on the rear where the width has been increased compared to the front tires, which allows the C1900 to carry, as the name suggests, a little less than 1900kg, while towing 1600kg. The van itself weighs about 1400kg, pretty light for a car that can haul that much.
The front cabin comes with two seats, the engine being in the middle. The cargo area?
… I mean, technically, you could do whatever you want with it, bench seats, medical cabinet, kitchen, whatever, in a decade, you name it, it’s been done. But this demonstration version comes with a bench seat with space for three, the rest of the cargo area remaining open for equipment.
NOW, the main advantage of this vehicle is its engine. The even longer lasting 236S23. A 2.3L direct acting SOHC inline 6 that had been in production since 1965 and has seen numerous FAAL models, from cars to vans. It had even been turbocharged in two different versions and has seen everything from leaded fuel and carbuators to mechanical fuel injection to multipoint EFI. Not to mention, do you know what twenty one years of production does to reliability? That’s right fellas.
The variant in this particular model is naturally aspirated and produces 100hp which are delivered to the 4WD system with a 4 speed gearbox with a very short first gear that almost acts as a crawler… And it can run on virtually anything, including:
- 80RON fuel
- ethanol
- remaining booze from last night
- your breath after said booze from last night
You get the point. Of course, that and the gearing makes it drink about as much fuel as the early carburated version despite the improvements in fuel feeding: 16.5l/100 (14.3 MPG US). Compromises, I guess.
As for the price? Anything is negociable from 10500$ w/o markups, and you get to free Dalluha with the best use of 4.71m ever manufactured, that still looks like the jovial multi-purpose vehicle that it is!
