In 1993, Frenchman Emile Leray found himself stranded in one of the most unforgiving landscapes on Earth—the Moroccan Sahara Desert. What followed is one of the most legendary and ingenious survival stories in automotive history. And today, you can see the very vehicle he built with his own hands, right here at the Midwest Dream Car Collection.
A Road Trip Gone Off-Road
Emile, then 43 years old, set out on a solo road trip in his trusty Citroën 2CV, aiming to travel from Tan-Tan to Zagora, Morocco. But when he reached the border checkpoint at Tilemsen, his journey hit a roadblock—literally. Due to civil unrest ahead, Moroccan authorities ordered him to return to Tan-Tan and even asked him to take a soldier along for the ride. Emile, wanting to continue alone, pretended to comply and then veered off-road to cut through the desert.
Unfortunately, the rugged terrain was too much for the small Citroën. Emile struck a large rock, destroying the car’s front axle, damaging the suspension, and rendering the vehicle undriveable. Stranded miles from civilization, with only a few days’ worth of food and water, he had to make a choice: wait and hope for rescue, or do something drastic.
Building a Motorcycle from a Broken Car
Emile chose the latter—and what he accomplished was nothing short of miraculous. With only hand tools, no welding equipment, and sheer determination, he began dismantling his car to create a motorcycle.
He first removed the car’s body to use as shelter from the sun. Then, using the car’s frame, two wheels, engine, fuel tank, and countless nuts and bolts, Emile engineered a functioning motorbike. The rear bumper became the seat, padded with orange duct tape. Ingeniously, he reconfigured the transmission so the bike would drive forward—in reverse gear.
Twelve days of desert sun and cold desert nights later, Emile’s creation was ready. He even fashioned goggles out of rubber and used a makeshift selfie stick to document the unbelievable contraption.
Back to Civilization… and Into the History Books
Emile finally rode his homemade bike back to Tan-Tan, only to be greeted by local police—who promptly fined him 450 Euros for having a license plate that didn’t conform to the original vehicle. Still, his remarkable story made headlines worldwide and has since become a testament to human ingenuity and survival.
Now on Display at Midwest Dream Car Collection
From the Moroccan Sahara to Manhattan, Kansas, Emile Leray’s one-of-a-kind desert motorbike has made an incredible journey. We are proud to display this remarkable piece of history at the Midwest Dream Car Collection, where visitors can see up close what one man built in the face of impossible odds.
Whether you’re a gearhead, an adventurer, or just love a great story, Emile Leray’s desert bike is a must-see.
Come visit us and witness one of the most incredible DIY survival machines ever created—only at MDCC.
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You’ve found it! Emile Leray Citroën 2CV desert bike, desert survival motorcycle, DIY car-to-bike conversion, and more—come see this miracle machine for yourself at Midwest Dream Car Collection.
