Citroen 2CV

[nm+]

What's a driver quality one of these go for anyhow?

Also, what is the parts situation in the US?

[RennbahnPolizei]

What's a driver quality one of these go for anyhow?

Also, what is the parts situation in the US?

eBay or try contact a classic Citroën specialist in Europe.

[atomicalex]

When I met the project Isetta, my first comment was "holy ****, it's less car than a Deux Chevaux! Damnnnnnnnnn!"

[leaftye]

Early in the thread someone question why this car isn't desirable. To me it looks like a craptastic kit car and doesn't make up for it with performance. Sure, maybe this car has an important place in history, but that's in the past. That doesn't make me want one in the present, not unless I open a museum.

[Daedalus]

I love how compact the suspension is!

[Egz]

The 2CV is a cool car. But I wouldn't cut my teeth on it. If your mechanical skills are very minimal, I would stick to something easier and with more available parts, like an old Mustang or simlar.

[Air and water do mix]

Early in the thread someone question why this car isn't desirable. To me it looks like a craptastic kit car and doesn't make up for it with performance. Sure, maybe this car has an important place in history, but that's in the past. That doesn't make me want one in the present, not unless I open a museum.

Translation: "I just don't get it."

[Crimping Is Easy]

The 2CV is a cool car. But I wouldn't cut my teeth on it. If your mechanical skills are very minimal, I would stick to something easier and with more available parts, like an old Mustang or simlar.

I did a little bit of searching, and it turns out that you can get basically anything you need for these cars. Parts seem to be a non-issue. Also, I'm not sure why you think a Mustang would be easier to work on?

[Egz]

I did a little bit of searching, and it turns out that you can get basically anything you need for these cars. Parts seem to be a non-issue. Also, I'm not sure why you think a Mustang would be easier to work on?

I was going on experience on 60s Mustangs, and lack of 2CV. I know you can buy just about every part reproduction for a Mustang, no unusual tools, engines readily available. I just figured the sourcing of parts for a 2CV might be a little harder, and since its a 40s era car, might have some unique engineering/construction techniques that wouldn't translate well to other cars.

Not to mention the knowledge base for the Mustang is huge. It might take me a while to find anyone near me who knows anything on a 2CV.

If he is up for the challage, the 2CV would be fine. I'm just approaching it from the angle of "when I get stuck, what do I do?"

*Mustang can be interchanged with most popular 60s-70s American classic

[strapontin]

The name is a pun in French.

It is?

[gambit420s]

If you buy a 2cv, do yourself a favor, buy one of these

Electronic ignition / Points replacement

and parts availability is pretty good

I use French Parts Service http://www.2cvsource.com/

[OOOO-A3]

It is?

2 = Deux = two
Cv = Chevaux = horses

Two horses. (It's a two-cylinder engine).

[Gepi]

2 = Deux = two
Cv = Chevaux = horses

Two horses. (It's a two-cylinder engine).

The 2 horsepower part means "2 fiscal horsepower". It has nothing to do with the number of cylinders.

[Lupo TDI]

I was going on experience on 60s Mustangs, and lack of 2CV. I know you can buy just about every part reproduction for a Mustang, no unusual tools, engines readily available. I just figured the sourcing of parts for a 2CV might be a little harder, and since its a 40s era car, might have some unique engineering/construction techniques that wouldn't translate well to other cars.

Not to mention the knowledge base for the Mustang is huge. It might take me a while to find anyone near me who knows anything on a 2CV.

If he is up for the challage, the 2CV would be fine. I'm just approaching it from the angle of "when I get stuck, what do I do?"

*Mustang can be interchanged with most popular 60s-70s American classic

I see what you mean, but finding a 2CV forum with menbers that speak english should be no problem at all. Parts are plenty, you can actually build one from scratch with new spare parts (except the engines maybe) and it's so simple any mechanic should be able to elp you out if you get stuck. Just get yourself a decent workshop manual.

If you buy a 2cv, do yourself a favor, buy one of these

Electronic ignition / Points replacement

and parts availability is pretty good

I use French Parts Service http://www.2cvsource.com/

Are the 123's good in 2CVs? In Fiat 500/126 they are teh suck apparently.

[r_fostoria]

Early in the thread someone question why this car isn't desirable. To me it looks like a craptastic kit car and doesn't make up for it with performance. Sure, maybe this car has an important place in history, but that's in the past. That doesn't make me want one in the present, not unless I open a museum.

F*** history. I like simple, mechanical machinery. The 2CV fits snugly into that category.

[Maggiolone]

I've seen a lot of 2CVs this summer in Chicago (but never that Charleston on the 1st page).

I even saw one merging off of I-90 onto Washington street downtown. The owner must have modified its engine.

2CVs were considered "artsy" by Europeans and Europhiles back in the 70's and 80's, but I wouldn't own one in 2012. You're relegated to driving on Sunday evenings (mornings are now too hectic) with the Model A crowd.

I did want one as a kid, mainly because Snoopy drove one:

[gti_matt]

I did want one as a kid, mainly because Snoopy drove one:

How are we on page 3 and nobody has posted up this yet? (Not too different from that nuns thing on the first page though...just a drive in the country!)

[Maggiolone]

How are we on page 3 and nobody has posted up this yet? (Not too different from that nuns thing on the first page though...just a drive in the country!)

I used to imitate the sounds of the gearbox when Snoopy shifted gears the 2CV in my own pedal car...."errrr rrrr...er errrrrrrrrr."

Sounds I recognize 20 years-later as an unsynchronized gearbox with grinding gears

[Crimping Is Easy]

I've seen a lot of 2CVs this summer in Chicago (but never that Charleston on the 1st page).

I even saw one merging off of I-90 onto Washington street downtown. The owner must have modified its engine.

2CVs were considered "artsy" by Europeans and Europhiles back in the 70's and 80's, but I wouldn't own one in 2012. You're relegated to driving on Sunday evenings (mornings are now too hectic) with the Model A crowd.

I did want one as a kid, mainly because Snoopy drove one:

That Peanuts movie is pretty much the reason I want one.

I first saw it when I was 8 or 9 and I remember watching that movie just to see the 2CV. I didn't know what it was called then, so I just referred to it as a "Beetle".

[Mtl-Marc]

The 2 horsepower part means "2 fiscal horsepower". It has nothing to do with the number of cylinders.

This.

[usafstud]

Do it. As far as DD'ing it, why not. I do it with fiat 500 since i get up to 50 mph. It has almost twice the hp as my 500 (18hp when new).

[ValveCoverGasket]

i think these are really neat cars, and from what ive been led to beleive are fairly straightforward mechanically as theyre early enough in the citroen years to not have many of the hydraulic doo-dads that the later cars did... even with the hydraulic parts id love to have one of these just for its weirdness factor



too expensive over here though...

[garageless]

i think these are really neat cars, and from what ive been led to beleive are fairly straightforward mechanically as theyre early enough in the citroen years to not have many of the hydraulic doo-dads that the later cars did... even with the hydraulic parts id love to have one of these just for its weirdness factor



too expensive over here though...

DSes are getting expensive everywhere. That blue example looks perfect to me. Plenty of decent project DSes are on fleabay and don't seem to go for much. They are very complicated, kinda like an old Rolls....

[Maggiolone]

too expensive over here though...

These will get terminal rust in weird places. Poor drainage all over.

And Romney crashed on in '68 and blamed it on a "drunk priest."

[Maggiolone]

I haven't watched this in nearly 20 years. I love it even more. Charles Schultz was a genius (and fyi, the chateau they go to actually exists)

[leaftye]

Translation: "I just don't get it."

How many people in this thread got one?

[audifans]

These will get terminal rust in weird places. Poor drainage all over.

And Romney crashed on in '68 and blamed it on a "drunk priest."

heh... well, for good reason:

"We were all talking about how dangerous how the French highways were,’' Romney was to tell the Boston Globe almost 20 years later. .

“Literally as we were having that conversation, boom, we were hit. It happened so quickly ... there was no braking and no honking.’’

The other car - driven by a Catholic priest - had missed a curve and crashed into theirs , knocking Romney unconscious

[AB11]

How many people in this thread got one?

But to be fair, I've been lurking and haven't posted yet as I don't have enough time to write. OP, PM me if you have any questions.

[Air and water do mix]

Early in the thread someone question why this car isn't desirable. To me it looks like a craptastic kit car and doesn't make up for it with performance. Sure, maybe this car has an important place in history, but that's in the past. That doesn't make me want one in the present, not unless I open a museum.

Translation: "I just don't get it."

How many people in this thread got one?

I should have elaborated in my initial post. To say that you "don't get it" isn't a knock on you and I hope it didn't come across as insulting. It's a weird low-horsepower car and it's a simple fact that not everyone is going to "get it". I happen to like weird low-hp cars and though I've never driven a 2CV, I'd have no problems with having one. Some folks like muscle, some open-top sports cars and some like things that are simply "different". Different strokes for different folks.

This is not to say that I don't like muscle or open-top sports cars!

[Bakounine]

The name is a pun in French.

That would be the DS -> déesse (goddess).

[Maggiolone]

heh... well, for good reason:

That's what Romney said at the time. Also, his dad was running for president and he would have had the death of his boss' wife on his his hands, too. Good Mormons don't speed.

So Romney blamed it on a "drunk priest" who actually was soberly driving with his mother and was stopped in a left turn lane that Romney plowed into with 6 people in a 5-passenger DS.

[K.Lagan]

It's funny to me that the 2CV (or "deuch" as we call it here) seems so outlandish to many TClers. This car was the "staple" on french roads during the 60s/70s, it was used in TONS of movies, appeared all the time on TV and basically was just everywhere. I remember that it was also used for cross continental adventures because of its symplicity, strange looks and availability of parts all over the world (well, .... maybe except Northern America ). I remember seing them still quite often on the roads in the early 90s, remember that they were produced without interruption from 1949 until 1990! I distincly remember the typical sound of the classic Citroen flat twin:

Citroen Visa cold start with a view of its lovely dash:


With a production of over 4 000 000 (counting the popular delivery van version), led to the creation of several rebodied or special editions. See below example of a 2CV Dagonet from the 50s, keeping the same 2 cylinder engine goes from a top speed of 60 kph (!) to a staggering 110 kph. With also mandatory stiffened suspensions.


And here's a 2CV van (widened body) with a Ferrari 355 engine:


Needless to say also, there were tons of different versions and bodies available during the production run (including the dual engined 2CV 4x4), the early one were the most rudimentary (with their 300 ccm engin) until the Charleston which came out in the early 80s (with its 602 ccm engine).

2CV Charleston from the 80s:


At the end of its career, the 2CV appealed much more to what we call today "hipsters" and usually ecologists. Today they still have a GIGANTIC fan base all across Europe and parts are readily available. This car is just not another car, it is really a symbol over here.

[Crimping Is Easy]

But to be fair, I've been lurking and haven't posted yet as I don't have enough time to write. OP, PM me if you have any questions.

I'll do that, thanks!

[Air and water do mix]

It's funny to me that the 2CV (or "deuch" as we call it here) seems so outlandish to many TClers...

It was never sold here and it's probably safe to say that most people have never seen one in the metal or even know what it is!

2CV Charleston from the 80s:

I don't think I've ever thought of a 2CV as beautiful, but wow, that looks fantastic!

At the end of its career, the 2CV appealed much more to what we call today "hipsters" and usually ecologists. Today they still have a GIGANTIC fan base all across Europe and parts are readily available. This car is just not another car, it is really a symbol over here.

That's much like the original Beetle is here now. They were everywhere in the '60s, '70s and '80s, but in the 2 years I've had my latest one, I think I have only seen a couple of others on the road while driving mine. They're not yet "rare", but they're getting to be "unusual".

[K.Lagan]

It was never sold here and it's probably safe to say that most people have never seen one in the metal or even know what it is!

Oh yes for sure, but it is still strange to me that such a iconic car over here can be completely unheard of to some enthusiasts even if they are in the US. I remember when I was doing a summer job 5-6 years ago at a package sorting plant for the french Postal services, I keep seing part being sent to all over the world from a 2CV club.

I don't think I've ever thought of a 2CV as beautiful, but wow, that looks fantastic!

The Charleston was a very popular series to help boost the sales of the badly aging 2CV in the 80s. Mind you that Citroën tried countless time to replace the 2CV but they never managed to get the models right. There was the Dyane in the 60s-70s which was basically a "squared" modernised 2CV and then there was the Ami, the Visa, the LN, ...

That's much like the original Beetle is here now. They were everywhere in the '60s, '70s and '80s, but in the 2 years I've had my latest one, I think I have only seen a couple of others on the road while driving mine. They're not yet "rare", but they're getting to be "unusual".

That pretty much sums it up about the 2CV here.