Citroen 2CV - 1961

The   

Citroën   

2CV   

(French:   

"deux   

chevaux"   

i.e.   

"deux

chevaux-vapeur"   

(lit.   

'two   

steam   

horses'),   

"two   

tax

horsepower")  

is  

a  

front-engine,  

front  

wheel  

drive,  

air-

cooled  

economy  

car  

introduced  

at  

the  

1948  

Paris  

Mondial

de  

l'Automobile  

and  

manufactured  

by  

Citroën  

for  

model

years 1948-1990.

Conceived   by   Citroën   Vice-President   Paul   Boulanger   to   help   motorize   the   large   number   of farmers    still    using    horses    and    carts    in    1930s    France,    the    2CV    is    noted    for    its    minimalist combination    of    innovative    engineering    and    utilitarian,    straightforward    metal    bodywork    — initially   corrugated   for   added   strength   without   added   weight.   The   2CV   featured   a   low   purchase cost;   simplicity   of   overall   maintenance;   an   easily   serviced   air-cooled   engine   (originally   offering 9hp);   low   fuel   consumption;   and   an   extremely   long   travel   suspension   offering   a   soft   ride,   light off-road   capability,   high   ground   clearance   and   height   adjustability   via   lengthening/shortening   of tie    rods.    Often    called    "an    umbrella    on    wheels,"    the    bodywork    featured    a    distinctive    and prominent   full-width,   canvas,   roll-back   sunroof,   which   accommodated   oversized   loads   and   until 1955 reached almost to the car's rear bumper, covering its trunk. Manufactured   in   France   between   1948   and   1989   (and   its   final   two   years   in   Portugal   1989-1990), over   3.8   million   2CVs   were   produced,   along   with   over   1.2   million   small   2CV-based   delivery   vans known   as   Fourgonnettes.   Citroën   ultimately   offered   a   number   of   mechanically   identical   variants including   the   Ami:   (over   1.8   million)   the   Dyane   (over   1.4   million);   the   Acadiane   (over   250,000); and   the   Mehari   (over   140,000).   In   total,   Citroën   manufactured   over   8.8   million   "A   Series"   cars,   as 2CV variants are known. A   1953   technical   review   in Autocar   described   "the   extraordinary   ingenuity   of   this   design,   which   is undoubtedly   the   most   original   since   the   Model   T   Ford".   In   2011,   The   Globe   and   Mail   called   it   a "car   like   no   other."   Noted   automotive   author   L.   J.   K.   Setright   described   the   2CV   as   "the   most intelligent   application   of   minimalism   ever   to   succeed   as   a   car,"calling   it   a   car   of   "remorseless rationality."

Features of the 1948 2CV

• unusual   four-wheel   independent   suspension,   front   and   rear   wheels   which   connected   the front and rear suspension on each side • leading arm front suspension • trailing arm rear suspension • rear   fender   skirts,   but   the   suspension   design   allowed   wheel   change   without   removing   the skirts / rear wings • front-wheel drive • inboard front brakes, in order to help lower unsprung weight thus making ride even softer • Four-wheel   hydraulic   brakes,   (British Austin   economy   cars   of   the   time   only   had   hydraulic front brakes, the rears were by mechanical linkage) • small,   lightweight,   9HP   air-cooled   flat   twin   engine,   (with   overhead   valves   when   side valves were still common), mounted very low in front of the front wheels for stability • 4-speed    manual    transmission,    (when    three    speeds    were    common)    with    an    unusual dashboard push/pull/twist linkage • bolt-on detachable front and rear wings/fenders • detachable   doors,   bonnet   (and   boot   lid   after   1960),   by   "slide   out"   P   profile   sheet   metal hinges • front rear-hinged "suicide doors" • flap-up windows, as roll up windows were considered too heavy and expensive • detachable   full   length   fabric   sunroof   and   boot   lid,   for   almost   pickup-truck-like   load carrying versatility • ventilation   in   addition   to   the   sunroof   and   front   flap   windows   was   provided   by   an   opening flap situated underneath the windscreen. • rack   and   pinion   steering   mounted   inside   the   front   suspension   cross-tube,   well   behind   the front wheels, away from a frontal impact • load adjustable headlights. • a heater (heaters were standardised on British economy cars in the 1960s)

1961

Engine 425 cc / 7 hp Transmission 4-speed manual Lenght/width 3,86 m / 1,48 m Weight 600 kg In 1962 the collector run an auto rental business BK AUTO which had five of these 2CV´s for rent. Click to open one original rental contract.