The Africar was constructed almost entirely from plywood, thus earning it the nickname ‘Woodie’. This is also an Americanised slang term for the male erection – and frankly you’d have to be a complete one to even think about driving the thing.
How and, For God’s Sake, Why?:
Tony Howarth was a British journalist who had spent a large portion of the 1970’s working in Africa. He is the one we must blame for the Africar.
Howarth was not a bad man as such, just unbelievably stupid. His desire was to be build an off-road vehicle comprised as far as possible of wood. The idea being that this Afri-car would be both cheap to build and strong enough to survive the harsh safari environment. Unlike the cheap international imports Africans were normally forced to buy that fell to pieces before they’d even finished paying for them.
Howarth wanted to build his dream car cost effectively and using only
local labour. Which is presumably why it was constructed in Lancaster, UK, then shipped out to Africa via the Arctic Circle. Those cars that were lucky enough to ever make the journey that is.
In 1986 Howarth constructed a factory and a big sign with an acme-sounding company name, AIS (Africar International Limited), where he set to work on building three Woodie car prototypes to dazzle potential investors. So far so Ian Beale. But then Channel Four stepped in.
Dispatches at Nine O’Clock?:
Funny. No, A five-hour Channel Four documentary was just what Howarth needed to get buyers interested in the Africar. And it worked too, because lots of monied cash cows – probably the same types of people who considered Harry Ramsden’s to be the pinnacle of fine dining – put pen to paper and coughed up a deposit. Result.
Howarth was over the moon at such a display of stupidity and immediately set to work on building the cars, his factory suddenly alive with sound of sneezing workers and hearty Thatcherite resolve. Soon though cracks appeared. Unfortunately Tony Howarth was about as organised as a Dave Pearce mix tape.
Low skilled labour and cutting costs are one thing, but finally unveiling the finished article in 1988 over a year after orders were taken (this is wooden car with a Citroen 2CV engine, all right? Not an Aston Martin DB9), that’s something altogether more taking the piss.
This Howarth Chap’s Worse Than John De Lorean!:
Damn straight, and get this – when the so called ‘finished article’ Africar was unveiled in all its glory, this glory consisted of nothing more than a dummy shell no engine and no hope of being driven anywhere. Understandably customers didn’t want a barely mobile rabbit hutch for their money. They wanted a car.
Howarth tried every trick in the book to get some capital together. He borrowed money left, right and centre and even attempted to form a public limited company – anything to get the project complete. All attempts failed and Howarth was promptly marched off to prison for defrauding his customers. He left behind just a scattering of semi-complete Africars, which we can’t even confirm had reached the varnishing stage.
Where are the Woodies Now?:
Dunno, is the honest answer. Only one Africar was actually collected from the factory and that’s only because a disgruntled customer drove it away without asking.
Some of the Woodies apparently made it to Africa. Plus you might find the odd example floating around car shows for those who drive with goggles on their head. But you’d have to study the specialist websites with clinical precision and that’s just something we’re not prepared to do.
What About That Clever Media Hook hecklerspray Normally Has?:
Apart from the Channel Four thing we’re afraid you’ve caught us with our pants down. By rights a Woodie should the new James Bond car when Timothy Spall or whoever takes over next year. The producers are rumoured to be using a Fiat Panda anyway, so why not go for broke and have a nitro-powered Woodie carrying 007 round the Caribbean?
And with the aforementioned balsa-Bugatti strongly rumoured to be undergoing a revival sometime soon this would make the perfect launch opportunity.
You’re Telling Us There’s Nothing Woodie Related On EBay Whatsoever?:
That’s pretty much what we’re saying, yes. Live with it.
The Africar-Woodie was a completely dense idea dreamt up by a well-meaning man with not a lot going on upstairs. If you’re currently out there designing an electric car we’re talking about you too.
And if any jobless greenie fancies chucking a custard pie in our face for that one, please go ahead. Just make sure it’s low-fat.
[story by Chris Laverty]
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
THE AFRICAR, a great article, a wierd car, i can see it in a few years turning up on the antiques roadshow with some presenting stroking the bonnet,and admiring the grain, STING i am sure, would agree to the manufacture of this car, can you imagine a car manufacturer tearing up acres of trees the area of the united kindom. and then maybe sell it in ikea or b.q. in flat pack,then you could build yourself a car on sunday afternoon,ready for work on monday morning. a great but weird idea, stick to metal ,i say.
Great article pal – really, what a crap car. Surely this must be the crapest one yet!? Wonder if you can smoke in this car….
Re the AFRICAR. It’s sad that you guys don’t do more research! If you’d read the book about the AFRICAR you’d know it was actually pretty successful and despite Howarth’s failure as a businessman, the concept had merit. (The first trip via the Arctic was a test and also to promote publicity – which it affectively did!). When you actually SEE the so-called ‘roads’ in Africa that this vehicle was able to pass thro, you’d have a whole new appreciation for what it takes. As Africa will take a millennium to get roads like in Europe or North America, it took someone like Howarth to realise that a vehicle was needed that could navigate almost ANYthing … and the AFRICAR could! The photo you show was of the very first prototype – later ones were more attractive, looking better than the army Jeep for sure. Even today, a few of these vehicles are still in use and the plywood chassis has proven super resistant, so don’t laugh in your ignorance. And for the record, I might soon be working on a team creating a new hybrid – and I hope it has a long-lasting woodie frame! Wood is a renewable, naturally degradable product after all. And in composite form, one of the strongest and most durable products on earth. (Certain race cars and many fine racing yachts have used it for years). Shame on you ….
kindly edit ‘affectively’ to ‘effectively’ in recent comment
Hi u the carol that was tony,s partner? yes the concept was good but with the best will in the world tony was not the man to do it…walking around the factory in Coalville leicestershire where the originals were built. swigging from a bottle of whiskey. and waisting materials like money grew on trees. and making false promises. I was there..rbs
Whatever Tony Howarth’s shortcomings as a businessman the concept was (and still is) a good one. The article? Transparently ill-informed nonsense. Have a look at some of the engineering data for wood and compare things like elasticity and strength/weight to that of steel. (Unliek wood, steel also doesn’t grow on trees in Africa) Wood is a great structural material. So good that they make trees out of it. What’s wrong with a utility vehicle looking like an old Land rover anyway?
I have no knowledge of the character of Anthony Howarth, but I agree with the stuff about plywood – I always understood that the concept was epoxy-saturated ply as used for yachts, which is a durable rot-proof composite, lighter than steel yet easier to replace or repair in low-tech environments.
There was nothing kookie about the Africar concept, but then motoring commentators nowadays don’t even ‘get’ cars like the 2cv or Renault 4, having been brainwashed by decades of ‘sophistication’ in car design. The idea of producing something cheap and durable that can be kept in working order indefinitely with a simple tool-kit in the middle of nowhere just does not compute – even with military vehicles.
The Africar was a worthy 2cv successor and ought to have been successful. I could easily see it becoming a cult car in the first world too – which might wipe the grins off a few scornful faces. All it would need today would be a ‘super’green’ engine that was also mechanically simple, like the 2cv.
Unless you were a shareholder, I don’t understand the venom of the article.
If you were a shareholder I understand completely. I met Anthony Howarth in the 80′s and my feeling is that he was not a huckster but an idealist, a dreamer and a bit naive and his dream got the better of him.
The africar was not a bad concept – I actually had a good look at it and drove one and I have to say it was hardly crap. In fact I think it was a good concept – If it had a decent drivetrain better than a landrover.
Anthony’s problem was that his vision outstripped his capabilities. He wanted to design, develop and make the drivetrain and that is hardly a practical proposition for a startup.
Colin Chapman on the other hand was a huckster but he was immensely capable and knew his limitations.
Well said, the later commentators! This article is poorly researched and wrongly critical.
The Africar was a tremendous concept and worthy of success. The fact that three cars were actually produced and driven from the Arctic Circle to the Equator is testament to the significance of the design.
There is still someone working on the design and it may be that something comes of that. Here’s hoping…