- [Man] Imagine you're driving through the hot,
Moroccan desert.
Your car breaks down (metal crunches)
and the nearest village is 20 miles away.
Would you panic?
Would you give up?
Or would you convert your car into a motorbike
in a lengthy process that might get you killed?
Meet Emile Leray, the mechanical magician who did just that.
Close to a small town in France, there is a man that
loves cars.
- Bonjour.
- [Man] Specifically, the French Citroën 2CV.
Like those.
("Can-Can Music" by Offenbach)
(tires screech)
(whimsical music)
And he's got this funny-looking motorbike with an
extraordinary story behind it.
- (speaking foreign language)
- [Man] Obviously, like any other stranded desert traveler,
Emile decided to turn the still-working parts of that car
into this motorbike.
First, he removed the car's frame.
- (speaking foreign language)
- [Man] Then, he shortened it to make a better chassis,
fixed the axles, and put the wheels on the bike.
Simple, right?
- No.
- [Man] Oh, yeah, he also added suspension, and, well,
an engine, an ignition, and a comfortable seat.
After 12 days and 11 nights in the desert, he was ready
to go back to civilization.
- (speaking foreign language)
- [Man] Finally, to his delight, he came upon the police
who greeted him with a hefty fine.
- (speaking foreign language)
- [Man] Back in France, the motorcycle ended up alongside
Emile's other Citroën creations.
Like this boat,
this rugby ball,
a table saw, and even glasses made out of rubber
from the seat.
This guy really loves his Citroëns.
Makes you wonder what's next.
- (speaking foreign language)
(big band music)