Citroen 2CV

[Crimping Is Easy]

I've wanted one for forever (don't ask why). I plan on getting myself a new car after college, and I'll probably end up with a 2CV. I have very little technical experience, but want to learn more. An old French beast like this is probably going to require a lot of upkeep/maintenance which doesn't really put me off, so I'm thinking this will be a good car to develop my mechanical skills on.

What do you guys think? Is this a good first classic to own?

[emmettlodge]

Hahahaahahaha.

[1985Jetta]

I'd own one, but not one with those headlights

[delrio]

god that thing is ugly

[ATL_Av8r]

I'd rather BE French.

And there no way in hell I'd ever be French

[Benjamin.]

I actually want one quite a lot, but you have to realize just how slow they are - max of 33hp. If this is going to be an only car, don't plan on any freeway driving, ever.

[Inspector Detector]

How can you not love it? In fact last month I spotted a 2CV in downtown Evanston, IL and shot these pics of it

[QWKDTSN]

I have never driven one, but I imagine they are very similar to driving/owning a Beetle.

Except without the crazy cheap purchase and maintenance costs.

[urbanrocketeer]

I rode in one, oh, almost two decades ago in Germany. I don't recall much about it except the push/pull shifter. And since we were driving strictly in a small town I could hardly comment on the performance.

That being said, they are supposed to be exceedingly simple in every possible way and, IIRC, could be bought as a kit to assemble at home. Also, since they were sold in some of the most challenging places in the world, I would imagine they are exceedingly easy to repair should they break.

Heck, if nothing else, getting one would be a memorable adventure.

[Mtl-Marc]

[Jesarray]

I could be bought as a kit to assemble at home.

Ga ha ha ha. Well from the looks of that video they'll run just fine disassembled as well.

Doubles as a drift car without the backend attached...

[cougar]

How can you not love it? In fact last month I spotted a 2CV in downtown Evanston, IL and shot these pics of it

I'm pretty sure that particular 2CV (or one identically painted) is owned by this guy who has posted here on rare occasion.

[windycityvdub]

I'm pretty sure that particular 2CV (or one identically painted) is owned by this guy who has posted here on rare occasion.

Hmm...I grew up in that area and have seen that particular car in the Wilmette area a few times. So likely not your Canadian...

[Iroczgirl]

I see a few of them driving around in Seattle.

I'd say they make a great first classic car. Parts availability is great and they are about as simple as a car can get.

One of the downsides? They are really underpowered. They also rust really easy, are hardly ever water proof and unlike the video, don't handle that well.

[McBanagon]

I'd own one, but not one with that parking brake

Fixed

[Lwize]

2CVs are sweet. Good luck finding one.

[OOOO-A3]

I REALLY want one, or preferably a Renault 4 TL. However, my fantasy involves swapping in a motorcycle engine/transmission of some sort.... I firmly believe a V-twin in a 2CV or a Honda Goldwing powertrain in a R4 would be

[mk2marine]

most likely one of the ugliest cars i have seen but id DD it

[cougar]

Hmm...I grew up in that area and have seen that particular car in the Wilmette area a few times. So likely not your Canadian...

I'm not sure if it's the same one, but I do know he purchased it from a U.S. owner and drove it back. Either way, that's a gorgeous color combination... and if I were looking for a quirky old French car, I certainly would consider one.

[garageless]

2CV are sweet! Of the odd variants the Mehari and Sahara are best but a Sahara isn't a good first classic, way to expensive. They are prone to rust and were treated as disposable for most of their production run. The earliest ones are the prettiest and slowest. I want one but they've become quite expensive for what they are. At their current price I'd save up for a DS or traction...

[zaYG]

I LOVE old Citroens. I want to own one some day...but it sure as hell won't be a 2CV.

A nice DS or SM would be a perfect project IMO.

[badb5]

I've wanted to pick one of these up for years



A 2CV is too primative to be viable.

[leaftye]

I'd rather have a car built by the cast of Top Gear.

[NewFlesh]

[RennbahnPolizei]

You can take a hard left and your mirror will hit the road.

[atomicalex]

I love them. See if you can do a full-on Ducky or Dolly.

The name is a pun in French.

[PJA]

All the hate for the Deux Chevaux by supposed "enthusiasts" is beyond me. The 2CV carries the same historical significance as the Beetle, the Mini, and the Fiat 500.

I've driven a few, and they're a hoot. I wouldn't expect anything remotely close to a modern driving experience, but that's half the fun. They're very simple, easy to work on, and parts are cheap and plentiful. (Almost four million of them were made)

[atomicalex]

The 2CV carries the same historical significance as the Beetle, the Mini, and the Fiat 500.

It put at least two million French farmers on wheels!

Kidding aside, it is quite the engineering feat. Tiny little engine, disc (!) brakes, and seated four. The best part of the thing is that the engine bay is quite large, if not cavernous. How sad that we ignore Mr Citroen's advances (he invented almost everything we think is cool) simply because he is French. And weird.

[urbanrocketeer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhTw0zGbkwI

Ga ha ha ha. Well from the looks of that video they'll run just fine disassembled as well.

Doubles as a drift car without the backend attached...

Now that is the stuff! Even though some of the film looks sped up, that's still some hairy, scary stunt driving. And it does a fine job of showing the kit nature of the vehicle (although I think the chassis was delivered in one piece ).

Thanks for posting. I haven't thought of Louis de Funès in ages . . .

[1985Jetta]

They put big engines and tires on these and use them as tractor pullers in the Netherlands.

[RennbahnPolizei]

They put big engines and tires on these and use them as tractor pullers in the Netherlands.

Oh hell yeah we do!

[Air and water do mix]

Those are neat cars. Being air-cooled they're pretty much automatically near-and-dear to my heart.

If I remember correctly they have leading arms in the front and trailing arms in the back, so I'd imagine their handling is, errrrrmmmm, "unusual". Since I've not driven one I can't say how it compares to the Beetle in that regard. I'm pretty sure my 50 horse Beetle would blow one out of the water as far as acceleration goes, even with the weight penalty. (Mine has done 80 and it miiiiiight have had a bit more.)

I'd agree with Benjamin, you don't drive it on the freeway at all. I will give one caveat. If you know the highway, traffic is light, it's daytime and you know the car, then I may drive one on the freeway to get it somewhere, but I certainly wouldn't make a habit of it nor would I drive it during rush hour!

Now go out and get one so I can live vicariously through your car adventures, too!

[Air and water do mix]

Oh hell yeah we do!

I don't know if that still counts as actually being a 2C-V, though!

[third_attempt]

http://m.bonhams.com/auctions/20498/...0&m1=1&b1=list

Here you go, a 2CV Safari (2 engine 4x4) at the "barn find" auction today I think at the Simeone Museum in Philly. Estimated sale price 40-60k. A lot of other interesting cars to see there as well.

[chrismkay3]

for a main driver wouldn't you want to consider safety, even slightly. a 2CV will probably use your torso for a crumple zone in a crash. maybe have one for sunday morning drives when traffic is light, but not for an every day driver...