Just doing some research and was wondering if anyone has a detailed route plan of this raid or any idea where I could locate one..? Maybe Citroen has an archive for this kind of stuff? Eventually, if possible, I want to know the exact roads/tracks they took to Iran...

Any info would be great, thanks.

I'm surprised there isn't a book written by Citroen, or one of the participants, telling the story of the Raid and showing the route on a map. Maybe there was a book published in France, in the early '70s?

You're probably right. I'll look into it.

Thanks

If you find one, info please I´m interested of it allso, really. I´ve been looking for it too, no luck so far, but i´m from Finland, hah!

I'm searching all things French on the web so will let you know if anything turns up. At the moment I have the countries only:

France
Italy (via Mont Blanc Tunnel)
'Yugoslavia'
Greece
Turkey
Iran

They left on the 31st July 1971 arriving Persepolis on the 15th August and back to Paris for the 31st August.

There has to be a detailed account somewhere...

On the 31st July 1971, I was exactly 1 week & 1 day old.

Ru,

Have you already got this route map of Raid Paris - Persepolis - Paris?
Very overview but at least it gives the towns along the way. From the 'ugly duckling' book by Ernst van Altena.



Chris

ps. Raid Afrique route map also attached for the record.

You got there before me, I was just posting the same image. I've also done a Google Earth file of the route, HERE.

Are you thinking of recreating it? All looks do-able, as long as no-one declares war on Iran, although the Turkish border areas might be a bit iffy. The rest should be easier now as all the other countries are part of the EU.

And on the 30th of August 1971, I was exactly 2 years old.

I'm such an idiot for not looking at my own books! Completely forgot about the Ugly Duckling book.. thanks for pointing it out. Its a perfect start for the research. I have emailed a few French archives for a detailed itinerary as well.. an original road book or seventies account would be superb.



Well the thing is myself and co-pilot from the failed Africa Rally expedition have been thinking of other trips. We think this route is perfectly doable and would probably only need one visa. The cars from the Mongol Rally sometimes take the Turkey - Iran - Turkmenistan option on the way to Mongolia, so if they can, we can (barring any wars etc)

Secondly next year will be the 40th Anniversary of this famous Citroen raid and in 2011, as we all know, is a French world meeting that finishes on 31st July 2011 at Salbris just an hour or so from Paris. What better time than to start a recreation of this raid than 31st July 2011?

There must be a difference in road condition 40 years after the original event but this is as far as the research/ideas have gone so far...



I love this, thank you!

Hmm, if you did, I would be very tempted to tag along behind. Mind you have to struggle with the Frenchies about registering a 4x4 first.