Vehicle Description
Not long before the outbreak of war in Europe, a tiny, plucky
little Citroen that would go on to greatness as an icon of French
culture began its gestation. In 1935 Citroen faced bankruptcy from
the costly development of the Traction Avant, and to make matters
worse, patriarch Andre Citroen suddenly died that same year. The
receivers appointed control over the firm to its largest creditor,
Michelin. Given Citroen's fragile financial state, a cheap, small,
mass-market car was the ideal solution to shore up the bottom line.
Citroen's tiny, two-cylinder machine was initially called the TPV
or Toute Petite Voiture (Very Small Car). The purpose of the TPV
was very much the same as Henry's Model T: To bring cheap,
essential, reliable motorized transport to even the most rural
areas of France. The new Vice President and Chief of Engineering
Pierre-Jules Boulanger assembled the brilliant duo of Andre
Lefebvre and Flaminio Bertoni to design the TPV. Boulanger's vision
was that of an "umbrella on wheels" with at least two seats, the
ability to haul 50 kilograms of potatoes or a small cask of wine
(naturally), all while being supple enough to carry a basket of
eggs safely across a plowed field. Development began in earnest,
but the war and subsequent occupation meant engineers had to
continue their work in secrecy. Finally, at the 1948 Paris Auto
Salon, the new 2CV made its debut. Named for its taxable horsepower
rating (with a nod to the two horses it could replace on a farm)
the Deux Chevaux gained a few luxuries over the TPV, such as a
second headlight, padded seats, glass, and a heater. The makeup
consisted of a ladder chassis, horizontally opposed air-cooled
two-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, and an ingenious
long-travel suspension system with passive self-leveling. The body
was simple and practical in purpose, but with a whimsical charm and
typically French wink-and-a-nod sense of humor. The Tin Snail
(nicknamed for the looks as much as the performance) is a serious
car that didn't take itself too seriously. The buying public adored
it, and Citroen sold nearly nine million examples of the 2CV and
its variants over an incredible 42-year production run. This humble
little car stands as a proud symbol of French innovation and
creativity. Throughout the 2CV's four decades in production,
Citroen worked to keep it fresh and attractive to new buyers. A
wide array of unique versions appeared, with distinct paint and
graphics. These included the Cocorico, celebrating France's 1986
football World Cup effort, and the downright silly Sauss-Ente
finished in bright green with a lurid cartoon duck on the flanks.
Best known among the specials is the Charleston, with its two-tone
colors inspired by the Traction Avant of the 1930s. Closely
following the Charleston in terms of popularity is the Dolly,
marketed to female buyers, who made up over 40% of 2CV buyers. The
Dolly offered several two-tone color schemes with unique graphics
and interior trim. Buyers responded with delight, and the Dolly
soon became one of the best-selling 2CV variants, topping sales
charts in both the UK and in Germany. Presented in a cheerful
two-tone blue livery, this 1979 2CV benefits from a complete
restoration by marque expert Axel Kaliske of 2CVs R Us in Seattle,
Washington. Mr. Kaliske is a respected authority on 2CVs, and he
has lovingly restored many examples through the years. This 1979
2CV originated in Germany, and the sale includes German
registration documents. It was there where the body and
underpinnings were professionally restored, updating it to Dolly
specification in the process. An accompanying photo album shows the
car stripped down to a bare chassis and painstakingly restored from
the ground up. The comprehensive restoration included a new
interior and a rebuilt, detailed 2-cylinder engine done by Kaliske
in his Seattle workshop. According to the history file, 2CVs R Us
sold the Dolly in 2006, shortly after its restoration. The new
owners have regularly enjoyed and maintained it in superb order
over the past thirteen years. Today, this 2CV presents in excellent
condition, showing some signs of light use and enjoyment through
its gently mellowed restoration. The distinctive two-tone blue
paintwork is beautiful and finished to a standard rarely seen on
restored 2CVs. Body fit and finish are up to factory standards,
with period-correct bumpers and trim. Details include the original
jack, an accessory grille cover for cold-weather driving, and the
signature roll-up full-length sunroof. The splendid interior
features plaid fabric upholstery, with period-correct switchgear
and controls. The cockpit is refreshingly minimalist, with flip-up
side windows, and only the bare necessities of driving. Interior
plastics are in excellent condition, with no signs of cracking or
excessive wear. Driving a 2CV is a pure delight, with the push-pull
action shift lever sprouting from the center of the dash, single
spoke wheel, and the distinct putter from the air-cooled twin. The
little 602 cc engine fires to life readily, feeling eager and
sprightly despite the decidedly modest output. The brilliant
suspension design is quite unlike any other car on the planet,
delivering a supple ride and respectable handling despite the
alarming roll angles. The 2CV served a fundamental purpose of
getting motorized transport to all people of France. The great
motoring journalist L.J.K. Setright put it best when he described
the 2CV as "the most intelligent application of minimalism ever to
succeed as a car." It did so with a typically French joie de vivre
and a sense of humor that endeared the 2CV into the hearts of
millions. This delightful and wonderfully restored example is sure
to provide its next keeper with years of happy motoring. Offers
welcome and trades considered
