Man's car breaks down while crossing the desert so he turns it into a motorcycle
Published on Dec 12, 2025 at 11:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Dec 12, 2025 at 5:47 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Henry Kelsall
There is a truly wild story from 1993 that details a man whose car broke down while crossing the desert, so he decided to turn his Citroen 2CV into a motorcycle.
In 1993, Frenchman Émile Leray was attempting to drive across the Moroccan desert in his small Citroen 2CV when the car suffered a breakdown and an accident.
As he was stuck far away from civilization, Leray knew that he could not just sit around in the car and wait to be rescued.
So rather than be stuck, he turned the remains of his car into a motorcycle to escape the desert.
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What happened to Leray and his Citroen 2CV?
Leray was crossing the desert in 1993, looking for a bit of adventure while doing it.
But the car then suffered a severe breakdown, and it was enough to flip the car and wreck it.
That left the Frenchman stranded in the middle of the desert, with rescue a long distance and time away.
It left Leray with a decision to make.
He could either wait for an attempted rescue or engineer his way out of the situation.
Leray chose the latter, so he set about reengineering the Citroen into an all-new vehicle.
Over 12 days, Leray was able to create a makeshift vehicle that would enable him to get home.
Leray built his own desert motorcycle
Leray took the working components and parts from the car to create his new vehicle.
The finished product was a motorcycle made for rambling.
The chassis was cut in half, with the real axle used as well as two wheels and the engine.
It was an incredibly rugged but basic vehicle, and it meant he could ride his way to safety.
The rest of the Citroen 2CV was left behind.
It was just as well that Leray was able to transform his car into this desert motorcycle.
Had he been stuck in his perilous position, who knows when rescuers would have found the Frenchman?
Thankfully, his engineering prowess ensured he got out of the desert alive.
It is certainly one way to get home if your car breaks down.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
