Pardon Monsieur? Un 2CV?

 

1989 Citroen 2CV

In 1934 when Michelin took over the bankrupt Citroen Car Company, they commissioned a market survey.  What vehicles should the company look to develop?  Away from the bright lights of Paris and the cities, France had a mainly rural population.  Cars were expensive and somewhat fragile.  These country folk used the horse and cart as their preferred mode of transport.  If Citroen could tap into this market, they could make a killing.  To do so they would need something new and radical.

A design brief was prepared.  The new car should be low cost, rugged, able to transport four people and 50kg of farm goods at 30 mph on poor rural roads.  It should be cheap to run with a fuel economy of 95 mpg and should be able to transport eggs across a freshly ploughed field without breakage.

By 1939 the Toute Petit Voiture (Very Small Car) was ready for launch and preparations were made for the unveiling at that years Paris Motor Show in October.  However, with the outbreak of war in September, the project was put on hold.  Fearing that the Germans would adapt the TPV for military use, as had happened with the Volkswagen Beetle, the prototypes were hidden across France.  Three of these were only rediscovered in a rural barn in 1994.

1937 TPV Prototype

It took until the 1948 Paris Motor Show for the 2CV to arrive on the world stage.   In the intervening years Citroen had refined the design by improving the engine and developing a four-speed gearbox.

The motoring press were not complementary about the very basic car.  The 9hp engine could only propel the car to a maximum speed of 40 mph.  An American journalist asked if it came with its own can opener.  Despite these criticisms Citroen were flooded with orders, so much so that there was soon a five-year waiting list with second hand examples more expensive than new due to their scarcity.  Even so by 1952 Citroen were producing 21,000 cars a year.

Through the 1960's the car was continuously improved, so that by 1970 the new 602cc engine was capable of 22hp.  The windscreen wipers were now electric instead of relying on the speed the car.  The speedometer received a backlight so a driver could monitor their speed at night and the bench front seat was changed for two separate seats.  Seat belts were even fitted as standard from 1974 onwards.

The last 2CV was built in 1990, a remarkable run for a car that was designed in the 1930's and remained mostly the same until the end of production.  In total almost four million were built.

So why this automotive history lesson?  I shall enlighten you.  Mrs P loves them.

My wife is a huge fan of the Art Deco style.  The 2CV with its curves is unlike anything else.  A cheap to run classic car that evokes the style of the 1930's but is modern enough to remain useful even today.

So what? I hear you ask.  Well dear reader it's like this.

Whilst falling down one of her evening internet 'rabbit holes' she spotted a 1984 example, running and driving with a long MOT for less than a grand.  It sparked a bit of discussion between us.  We could keep it in the garage, it'd be ideal for the youngest to learn to drive in, parts are plentiful and cheap etc.  By the time we'd given consideration to going and having a look, it had sold.  As the saying goes "He who hesitates is lost."  So now I'm spending my spare time scouring the internet for a reasonable and cheap, (emphasis on cheap), 2CV.

Should we get something that we can restore, without too much expense over the winter? Should I try and film the restoration for YouTube to help finance it?  Are we completely bonkers?

2CV or not 2CV? That is the question.

Answers in the comments below please.