“More than a vehicle, a lifestyle,” read an article on the 2 CV in the French press at the end of the 1940s. Some may dismiss it as nothing more than an old tin can. But the Citroen 2CV, One of France's most iconic cars, also called “The Duck” is definitely my favorite car.
In 1936, Pierre-Jules Boulanger launched a project to develop a “TPV” (for “Très Petite Voiture”). The first prototype came out of the workshops in 1937, fitted with a 500 cm3 motorbike engine.
The war put the development of the 2 CV on hold.
The 2CV was finally unveiled at the Paris Motor Show on 7 October 1948. It was hard for motoring enthusiasts to get excited about this odd-looking little car. The design was considered shocking. It had one headlight, no starter motor and even its own designer, Pierre Jules Boulanger, admitted it looked like an umbrella on wheels.
But the level of technology in the 1948 2CV was remarkable for a car of any price in that era, let alone one of the cheapest cars on the planet.
The 2 CV was first and foremost an ingenious design. All of its body parts could be taken off and put back on thanks to sliding hinges and a few judiciously placed nuts and bolts.
The 2 CV weighed in at just 500 kg, reached a modest top speed of 65 km/h, and consumed a mere 4.5 litres of fuel per 100 km.
The 2CV was designed to be able to carry four people (or sheep) and a basket of eggs across a ploughed field without breaking any shells.
The car became very popular among the French population, even so popular that within months of it going on sale, there was a three-year waiting list. The waiting list was soon increased to five years. At that time a second-hand 2CV was more expensive than a new one because the buyer did not have to wait.
The 2CV was updated in 1954, when Citroën increased the 2CV’s engine capacity to 425 cm3. And in December 1956, Citroën launched the type AZL version of the 2 CV. With its large, rectangular rear window and fabric hood, this was Citroën’s luxury version of the 2 CV.
At the 1961 Paris Motor Show, Citroën presented the 2 CV AZLP, a new version of the 2CV. This more powerful vehicle reached a top speed of 85 km/h and required 5.5 litres to travel 100 km. The 1960s were the heyday of the 2CV, when production finally caught up with demand.
With the introduction of the 2 CV 4 and 2 CV 6 in 1970, Citroën now had several versions with top speeds of over 100 km/h.
Citroën launched a “special” 2 CV in 1976 for fans of the traditional, old-style 2CV. With round headlamps, minimalist interior and an overall rustic look, this model looked almost exactly like the very first 2 CVs.
The “Charleston” opened the special series dance in 1981. With its 30s look featuring round headlamps and bordeaux and black body paint, the model was an immediate success.
In 1986, the 2 CV was still the symbol of the “people’s car” in France. But the 2 CV production line in France was finally closed in February 1989.
The Deux Chevaux is often unfairly accused, however, of earning its name because it only had a two-horse power capacity - in fact it had an eight-chevaux capacity and its name refers to the very low tax category into which it fell.
Perhaps, its indestructibility, as the car was so tough that it rarely needed repairs, was its downfall - a car which never needed spare parts was not going to make big profits for manufacturers.
Between 1948 and 1990 3,872,583 2CVs were produced.
The 2CV is "not just as a car, but a way of life".
