The Citroen 2CV is a car you either get or don’t. A marmite classic, as polarising to opinion as eating the escargots (snails) is on which their styling appears to have been modeled.
Introduction
In a world of everyday electric vehicles and SUVs that do 0-60 quicker than you can say ‘croissant’ and ridiculous amounts of power in even small hatchbacks now required to push the weight of all the on-board tech down the road – the powerless 2CV seems like a motoring alien on today’s roads – but that is exactly why you should drive one.
Few motor cars ooze the same amount of personality as the Citroen Deux Chevaux (2CV). Only the Mini, VW Beetle, Morris Minor, or Fiat 500 come close. However, those models all have something in common. They were designed as ‘cars for the people’, simple, reliable, practical, and affordable motor transport for the everyday family.
Early Production
The Citroen 2CV arrived in 1948, immediately after France was liberated from occupation and the Second World War was declared over. Though the ancestry of the ‘tin snail’ can be traced back to a decade earlier.
By the end of the war, though, the need for the 2CV was even greater. The French nation was on its knees financially, and a workforce and public that needed to be mobilised for low-cost to get them back out to work and contributing some much-needed GDP.
Famously boasting the ability to carry a basket of eggs across a ploughed field without breaking them, thanks to its amazing ride quality, this was a true car of the people. Cheap, practical, and long-lasting—so much so that the same basic shape and construction lasted right up until the 1990s and over 3.8 million were made during that time!
1980s onwards
There are those 2CV devotees we all admire deeply here at Peter James Insurance who own the early models and have dedicated themselves to their preservation. Good on them, we salute you, but they are basic in the extreme. These days the most plentiful on the classic car market are the slightly later cars from the 1970s and 1980s. By then, they were equipped with a 602cc engine with around 29bhp and called the 2CV6, which made it more usable even in modern-day traffic than the original 375cc engine, which managed just 9bhp.
In 1981, they were also to be gifted front disc brakes! Spot the later cars with rectangular headlights, and you’ll have found the generation of 2CV to feature more convenient modern 12 V electrics, making it useful for sat navs, phone chargers, and other trappings of modern life. Though you could leave all that stuff at home, take a few spanners with you, and just enjoy the incredible smile-generating driving experience.
Regarding the ride and handling, though, it had body roll—lots of it. Plus, there are comedy levels of bounce, and it’s all due to the springs-in-tubes arrangement of the very simple but effective suspension. Once you get over the sensation of being just about to topple over the first time you take a bend too fast, you’ll be well used to it.
Parts
A word about parts at this point: they are all available! Just about every panel can be bought easily, and the engine, suspension, and gearbox are all relatively easy to overhaul. You can even buy full new bodyshells. All the support, know-how, and even parts are available via our club partners, 2CVGB—The Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain.
Buying a 2CV
If you fancy buying a 2CV, do check for the dreaded tin worm as they, like all cars of their period, like to rust. The good news is that if you are willing to get stuck in, the doors, hood, and wings can all be removed in minutes.
Simple flip-up windows mean no need for constantly breaking window winders. A single lever controls the heater, and another opens a fresh-air vent under the windscreen. You’ll notice as well that all the glass is perfectly flat – that’s to make it cheaper to produce. Also, there is a roll-back roof, which, rather than being an expensive option, was the only way to go because a flap of fabric above your head was much cheaper than a sheet of steel.
The bullet-proof little engine has no belts to snap, no distributor to be temperamental, and no hoses to go pop or split. The steering is nice and light for parking. The weird gearstick takes some getting used to; it’s a walking stick-type knob on the end of a rod that has a ‘unique’ pattern for the four gears on offer – but it’s all part of the charm.
As for the type of people that own a 2CV, they are as unique, friendly, eccentric, and charming as the cars themselves. Citroen 2CV fans come from all over the world, from all walks of life and various backgrounds. It’s a car that forces you to fall in love with it, despite its apparent foibles. Sure, it won’t be for everyone, but it wouldn’t do to all be the same – that would be boring, and we don’t do boring – we are 2CV fans!
Interesting fact
The last of the 2CVs was actually built in Mangualde, Portugal, for the last year of production, 1990. The final French-built cars included the ‘Dolly’ special editions.
Movie appearances
In 1981, a 2CV appeared in a James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only. A 007 special edition then went on sale, complete with a stick-on bullet hole!
Join the club
Formed in 1978, 2CVGB is the club for owners and enthusiasts of Citroen’s A-series vehicles, including the 2CV, Dyane, Ami, Mehari, Bijou and kit cars based on 2CV running gear. They publish a monthly magazine and each year hold two national events. In between times, they have a network of around 60 local groups who organise local meetings and events.
