British-built 1955 2CV road test, in Tasmania, Australia! 425cc!

Hold on tight as I conduct my first ever road test in a really old Citroën 2CV! This Deux Chevaux was built in Slough, England in 1955 and features many differences to the French- and Belgian-built versions, including a Morris Minor bumper. It shares inboard front brakes, speedometer-driven wipers and seats and doors you can remove in seconds with no tools! It has a 425cc aircooled flat twin engine, producing a whopping 12bhp.
Many thanks to Glenn at Octane Collectables (octanecollectab...) for letting me have this dream drive.
HubNut goodies can be purchased at hubnut.org where you'll also find support options. Or, support HubNut at / hubnut
Don't forget to like the video if you like it, and share with your friends if you really like it! Thank you all.

[@MatthewJohnCrittenden]

A marvellously unmolested example and running like a champ. The car is OK too.

[@goldorak3251]

OMG! I am french and I didn't know about British-built 2 CV !! It is so special ! The front badge is incredible ! In France, fans would give a lot of money for this car.

[@brunopitavy4818]

Il y en a une dans la collection Citroën. Et c'est une rareté

[@MrButtonpresser]

Farmers must have loved the ease and simplicity of maintaining these little cars. Nice video.

[@millomweb]

One could imagine the toolkit - simply 3 different sized hammers.

[@HubNut]

12mm and 19mm for most stuff on these I think.

[@millomweb]

@@HubNut That's quite close to half-inch and 3/4" for the French. Found the front wheelnuts on a Case digger were

[@millomweb]

@@HubNut What about the spark plugs ?

[@HubNut]

@@millomweb Piece of cake.

[@markwhitehead1658]

Only HubNut would sit in a 55 2CV and say " feels a bit sporty " lol. Brilliant car brilliant video . 👍

[@andyjones7689]

Fantastic little car and dare I say it's right about it being a bit sporty, 5:30 "This is an evolution of the original engine". So it's actually the 'evo' version with a full 50cc and 3hp more than the originals. How Hubnut is that?

[@tomf3150]

My mom's old peugeot 205 gl has only 54 cv. It does 70 mph, given enough time. But up to 70 km/h she's fine.

[@DUCato-ed3fw]

This makes your average old tin watering can look quite complex 😂

[@titanus49]

That's why they are endearingly called "tin snails " By the way they are incredibly reliable, and the engine is tough as nails

[@millomweb]

@@titanus49 "tin snails" ? Did a Frenchman see it and declare "Es car go !" ?

[@olivierlampire4594]

@@millomweb No, Deuche or Deudeuche (Deux chevaux 2CV in a cuty way of saying), 2 pattes (two legs)

[@andrewstones2921]

I love this car, the absolute simplicity and the fact that it’s totally unrestored adds to the charm.

[@ivorlewis3417]

I had a pickup truck when i was a student at Portsmouth c of a . They were built for the navy wish I had it now! Ivor lewis.

[@Andrew.bergin]

why is it that whenever I watch a 2CV video I cant help smiling. Never driven one and if it brings a smile to your face just watching then it must be a joy to drive. On my bucket list. When I win the lottery, I will buy one!!

[@millomweb]

I rode in the back of one once (Mr teacher & his missus) & she said to him "you'll tip this over one day" as we went round a corner.

[@RichieRouge206]

What an utterly captivating, charismatic car. I’ve always had a soft spot for 2CVs, but this really reinforces why I love them. The most simplistic form of motoring and a wonderful antidote to modernity in my eyes which is becoming far too much. No wonder Chris Harris loves his early car so much. Superb video Ian and really felt like we were joining in.

[@torresalex]

"(...) it could get a bit anorak-y." What do you think we're here for? :D

[@colinjones2505]

Precisely, and we all learn so much too.

[@alisterbaker-lowe]

That is why I love citroën - their cars.are quirky, but often innovative and brilliant.

[@skuula]

I've been told the bonnet ornament is named the Spirit of Lethargy.

[@lordpitnolen2196]

I had a Dyane 4. With 4 adults and towing a Townsend Thoresen trailer tent we toured Normandy, Paris and into Belgium. On our last day on the Continent we had to drive the main coastal route from Belgium to Calais. There was a gale blowing up the Channel and the car just would not go in fourth gear. The ferry crossing was horrendous. Great memories of my posh 2CV though, thank you.

[@HubNut]

Blimey! Just shows what a hammering these things can take.

[@millomweb]

Carlisle to Edinburgh - up the A 74 (>A702) Mk1 Granada 3 litre into a headwind topped 60 mph ! Without the headwind, it'd do 110.

[@millomweb]

@@RussEdgar445y7tlfj When engines start using oil, people tend to use cheap oil - and that makes things much worse. I've had people comment "what have you done to the engine as it's not using any oil". It had had an oil change - with good quality oil going in it. Was it petrol ? Injected or carburetted ? I knew a guy took his Metro for MOT and after that, it wouldn't go faster than 50 mph due to lack of fuel. Needed the carb readjusted back to where it should have been. #emissions test

[@millomweb]

@@RussEdgar445y7tlfj Much is said about 'cold'. Once the oil warning light has gone out, pretty much everything is being lubricated - perhaps not fully but enough. Pistons will be small - that'll allow more oil up to the rings but they'll be doing their job as a gas seal. TBH I think the real sufferer of cold are drive belts - quite possibly more brittle than normal but a cold belt run for a few minutes will soon warm up via its own stiffness. I'd agree that hammering things cold is not a good idea but I'm not convinced it's as bad as people make out. I'm all in favour of a tendency of high gear, low revs but I also believe a good thrash from time to time will have some benefits - like possibly on the exhaust.

[@geneva760]

Have a nice day all. Stay safe - SMILE. CHEERS from AUSTRALIA.

[@graemew7001]

You too from the UK, you guys have had enough to deal with already without this on top of it.

[@geneva760]

CHEERS Graeme.

[@trespire]

A centrifugal clutch on a manual is pure genius.

[@twocvbloke]

Definitely fun to see Elly's British grandma enjoying her time out in Australia, shame they were not that popular at the time, but at least today we have a good appreciation of them, cos quirky cars are the best cars... :D

[@ajpdaniels]

Who needs multi colour ambient lighting in a modern car when you have a swivelling internal / instrument light

[@peka4036]

Very nice, i have to make my 61 belgian example ready, 12 hp too :-)

[@philhealey449]

We`ve had some new highs recently with stupendously noisy wiper motors and now, surely one of motoring's most inferior lights? The anti glare shield must make all the difference to the pilot's night vision. Dare we imagine the nocturnal gloom of the Brummie Pifco headlights, or was there an option for an auxiliary tyre driven Miller cycle lighting dynamo kit?

[@bertiecitroen3535]

A brilliant little car. A few things : The elasticated clips on the hood are to hold the hood in position when it is rolled back, they aren’t a release mechanism (simply pull the hood forward to release). There is no cowling missing on the engine - that’s all you get! The red light on the dash is a fuel low light - there is no gauge - there is a dipstick inside the tank under that elegant fuel cap - otherwise the light comes on when the fuel is low - warning you when it’s probably a bit late! Emergency stopping without dipping the clutch - probably not recommended the centrifugal clutch disengages at low speed - Great video however!

[@millomweb]

Emergency stopping - only difference is that you're emergency slowing down the engine unnecessarily.

[@Velocipedium]

Thank you for that extra knowledge. Today is a good day at school!

[@kenhanna6834]

Bertie, even the later 2CVs never had the sophistication of a 'low fuel' light so I very much doubt that a Slough-built version would have benefitted from such a device. Also, the dipstick you've mentioned was stored in the boot, not 'inside the tank'...

[@chrishowe5206]

@@kenhanna6834 Hi Ken - There is a float and an equivalent of a 'sender' without a variable resistor in the tank which is just a switch that indicates low level - this lights up the dash light when fuel is low. Yes - can keep the dipstick in the boot but it sits nicely out of the way in the tank/filler too

[@timhancock6626]

My slightly ropey maroon Dyane 4 had the later version of the 425cc engine when I bought it in September 1977. After a trip from Leeds to Bedford (not Bradford !) and back I'd had enough and I bought a 602cc engine out of an Ami from a Leeds scrapyard. I did the swap in the street and it made all the difference to driveability. I also had the alternator fail in Stockport on Xmas eve 77 and had to get back home on two candles as it went dark. That was a bit of a frightener. Otherwise it was great and quite a lot of fun to own and drive.

[@julienbee3467]

I like these stories ☺

[@bombakdik]

That bonnet emblem is a true work of art. The opening rear windows are a lovely add to the car I think. It is fascinating that it would have never been a factory mod or option or dealer-added extra. I think it looks very nice, especially when viewed from profile. The fuel cap is a nice addition. I really love the picknick conversion that came at a no-cost (hehe) option there. Oh yes this car is hiding intriguing bits and pieces what makes it so nice. The vintage stickers not to forget of course. Even the brakes aren’t that bad. I have a suggestion: not only test the wipers, also the horns, as you sometimes already do. I prefer the looks under the bonnet, especially when we have a look at it while it is idling! Also a suggestion. Lovely!

[@millomweb]

"Opening rear windows" - silly boy - they just put front doors on the back - left front = right rear and right front = left rear. So if you ever come across a 2CV with the only externally lockable door on the rear, they've mixed the doors up when putting them back on.

[@Candisa]

@@millomweb Even a blind guy can see that's not true at all. The shape of the doors are very obviously different and the windows are different as well. With all parts of a 2CV readily available (except for a few things of the oldest models), don't you think you'd see more 2CVs with opening rear windows if the front ones would fit?

[@nishvar1964]

Fantastic made me want one again 😍 Fantastic made me want to get one again it’s been too long I need one of those in my life not the same without the 2CV

[@volvo480]

Lunch: sandwiches, milk and a road test of a classic 2CV. Happy times. Edit: now I have watched this video with headphones on, it brings back memories of all the 2CVs I've been in as a child in the 1970s, my dad had one in 1974, other family members drove 2CV6s and (Aca)Dyanes. Many Citroën drivers in my family, my dad also drove DS23 Pallas and eventually a C5 Exclusive. Once again, happy times.

[@peterriggall8409]

Just started watching these videos with headphones. It transforms them and gives another dimension. iPads and even laptops have crap sound.

[@lindsaybrown7357]

I'm not sure why I got videos from Hubnut, but I've started watching them and then watching more. His enthusiasm is infectious (can I say that word)!

[@PureRocker20]

That engine sounds healthy, obviously needs to be revved pretty good! I like that 4th gear overdrive. It's all about driving experience, sound, body roll, gear shifts...so much fun. Perfect vehicle for farm use and small rural town roads.

[@niklaswejedal463]

Well, it might be one of the least powerful cars - but it sure is the most powerful piece of modernist furniture you can drive - What an awesome design! Also - Funny how the speedometer starts to move to the motion of the windscreen wipers, when you switch them on :D

[@johncollymore1697]

Stunningly charming car. Patina, complete, original, working, running sweet, life's-history, lovely. Great video and commentary - kudos. Great driving. (Sorry - just wish you wouldn't 'rest' your foot on the clutch!). Best wishes. Many thanks.

[@HubNut]

My foot does not rest on the clutch! It often hovers above, but doesn't rest.

[@luislaborda4347]

My father had a 3CV when I was a child in Buenos Aires... Of course, it had not luxury details at all, not all the equipment we have nowadays, not the new materials the industry uses today, but... as you showed in the video, those cars were fantastic... And yours is a real jewell! To me, is still the better car I've ever seen or drove!

[@bigkeg9173]

Driven those roads many a time, my family was originally from Westbury

[@Ragnar8504]

There's dozens of vintage cars I really, really like but the 2CV somehow manages to hold a very special place in my heart! One of my aunts used to drive one (green and white I think) until I was about five, then she replaced it with a super-boring red MK 2 Golf. An acquaintance of my parents used to drive a black and red Charleston all the way to Italy several times every summer well into the second half of the 90s and that model's been my absolute dream car ever since! Oh and perhaps the weirdest story is from Switzerland in the late 80s. My parents used to attend workshops in a rather luxurious conference centre built in the early 1900s, a stunning example of alpine art nouveau architecture! The place was bloody expensive, this being Switzerland, and quite elegant, but the owners drove a red and black Charleston! Their previous car, also a 2CV, was parked next to the Charleston, no longer registered and road-legal, and only used to haul the garbage down into the village once a week or so! It always had one or two black bin bags in the boot. That always seemed like the quaintest thing to do to me! Perhaps one of the reasons why I love the 2CV so much is my fondness for purring small engines. The Citroen two-cylinder just has a unique ring to it!

[@nygelmiller5293]

To Ragnar. You like the purring of the engine? You can only say that because this engine is a proper 4-Stroke! Like the first Honda's, the 2 - cylinder rival to the Mini, etc. .Honda also had the sense to make all it's pizza delivery bikes 4 - stroke as well. FIFTY years ago now, my school took us on a week's trip to Berlin - when the Berlin wall was still up! The wall had stopped Berliners having contact with friends and family on the other side - and people had risked being shot, trying to get to the other side, to visit them! So regulations were relaxed and even us tourist were allowed to the other side FOR ONE DAY. I remember my eyes smarte d and watered the whole day in East Berlin. (I had hay fever, as it was). But the 2 - Stroke exhausts of East German cars made it much worse! Apparently, they had such engines in ALL Soviet countries, causing the same irritation. Apart from this problem, the 2 - Stroke engines sound uneven, like some kind of joke till they get to about 30 MPH. Citroen wisely never did have have a 2 - Stroke setup! Incidentally, I heard the present Fiat 500, the version with the 2 - Cylinder engine. Modern development improved the 2 - Cylinder engine so much, it sounded quiet, refined, and CHARACTERFUL! If I bought a new car, I would consider one myself!

[@maxeaves]

That 2CV definitely has parts from a Morris Minor on it (rear lights). So charming; my father owned a 425 2CV and loved it dearly...rebuilds of the engine are simple.

[@gruntabro1]

Beetle front guards ?

[@HubNut]

No, very different guards to a Beetle. Rear lights look Minor, but the lenses are unique to Citroen with the company logo on them! I'd never noticed the detail before this video.

[@peterriggall620]

Just shared it with fellow members of the Citroen Car Club of Tasmania. This will make a big hit on your stats. Ian. There are 35 memberships representing 70 members!

[@richardhalliday159]

Cable operated manual starter also used right up to the end of Fiat 126 production, my wife owned 2 in succession, why the bloody hell did I trade one in for a 750 Fiat Panda, and what possessed me to get rid of that also, what a wonderful thing hindsight is.

[@jamesknightreading]

I had two Fiat 126's back in the 80's. Both rusted terribly, so you did not lose out much. My 1976 one was in the scrapyard by 1986, and the 1979 one was in the scrapyard by 92.

[@rolandleusden]

Cable-operated manual starters are very reliable, the later solenoid versions are more prone to failure. It's all part of the design of the 2CV, less is more because what you don't have can't fail. As Ian shows in the video, even if the cable would break you can still start the car.

[@richardhalliday159]

James Knight Absolutely, it’s a shame cars back in the 60s and 70s didn’t benefit from protection and build techniques manufacturers use today, gone are the days of rust buckets and bangers on the road.

[@bogfinken]

Wonderful quirky ride! Gotta love how the speedometer controls the windscreen wipers, and how the light switch wants to control the fuel gauge. Marvelous !!

[@Candisa]

The lights acting on the fuel gauge is typical French electrics: bad mass-connections. This is very pronounced in these early 6V cars, but my 12V 1986 2CV6 does this as well (makes you think you'll run out of fuel in the middle of the night while there's almost half a tank left). You even see this on more modern French cars, like a 2000 Renault Clio I had: lights on + brakes + blinking = christmas tree in the back and the fog light dashboard light faintly glowing. The problem is every warning light, gauge, outside light... has its own plus-feed, but the negatives are tied together and connected to parts that sometimes aren't even part of the main body (the negative wire of the front blinkers of a late 2CV is simply sandwiched between the wing and the valence panel) with a piece of thin wire, a flimsy eyelet, and paint between the eyelet and the bodypart.

[@millomweb]

7:52 I am so loving that gear lever linkage arrangement. They're clever these French - one nearly expects to have to put your hand through a hole in the bulkhead to change gear.

[@redsorgum]

Love it! A few months back when I was cruising on my scooter, I was surprised to see a 2CV in immaculately mint condition cruising around Dana Piont, California.

[@golfman9290]

Ahh, 55, what a great year, wont say why, cos i'll be giving my age away:¬) Luv the patina inside, great stuff Ian!

[@aircrashtupolov7895]

My thoughts exactly!! 😁

[@RWBHere]

Same here, Golfist. 😉

[@garyhardwick8489]

Basic is not the word! Designed with picnics in mind I think. Nice film.

[@richardsmith5249]

One of the early reviews pointed out that the shift pattern was ideal for urban driving, as the 2-3 change was straight-through fore and aft without any twisting of the knob (so to speak).

[@robbyxp1]

Love the speedo reacting to the wipers when they are turned on! Pure french. Love the video.

[@IngramCars]

Now you're talking, I aspire to own and drive a shabby chic one just like this! It's beautiful.

[@williamjames9515]

I own a 1984. Gets a lot of attention from the ladies. Unfortunately I'm 82 so it's a little late but it is great car.

[@adrianellis6902]

Super, the smile on your face when your driving this wonderful little honest car, is fantastic.

[@seancooke4127]

Craziest wiper demonstration you've ever done. I'm sure you're correct about clutchless gear changes. My first Fiat Panda was a 1987 750L. It had the hammock rear seat and ultra thin washable front ones but those lift in lift out jobs are so cool. Loved the Pandas cos they had character like 2CVs. I agree with your summary Ian. Skinny, Tinny cars are very Charming. Slough built too amazing.

[@icascone]

What a most remarkable survivor this was!! I've never seen a Renault 4 here in Australia (I believe they were sold for longer), So these would be literally handful in Australia!

[@graemew7001]

I've added driving a 2CV to my bucket list, after watching you drive this and Elly they actually look great fun little cars.

[@1066gaz]

Great fun little car that is. I bet this car will still be around when our cars will be long gone.

[@obimarine]

THE best 2cv video ever. congrats

[@HakanKoseoglu]

Watching you drive this thing just makes me smile. It's just wonderful.

[@waynetetley584]

Sweet sounding 425 twin on that SAZ ripple. A lovely drive in the sunshine. Thanks for finding this special car. I also think V could stand for veilleuse and R for rayons, sidelights, beams in French. 👍

[@stephenberry8658]

V for Ville... Town lights. Dip beam and side lights... R for Route ... Dip beam and high beam... All Citroens like this

[@melaniezette886]

Today we say feux de croisement, feux de route or pleins phares.

[@nikcrocker6380]

Fantastic! Learnt to drive in UK 1982 after seing many as a child in France, usually 50’s models. 👍

[@DrivingSander1970]

Man, I really love the sound of that boxer twin. Brings back memories.

[@julienbee3467]

Me too

[@neilgoodfellow-horton1285]

One of my favourite of your videos. I adore that car :)

[@asdeaff]

Classic HubNut, I needed cheering up, stay safe young man

[@richardcallison1637]

I can’t think of any words to express quite how wonderful that car is! I could imagine myself bumbling around the country lanes in that quite well (if it is capable of propelling my 19st frame!!). Nailing it across that paddock may as well have been a main road! Thoroughly enjoyed this video! It’s the highlight of my day! Thank you👍

[@billleigh615]

Just started work on my parents 1988 model, many similarities but the suicide doors, hamock seats, no rear quarter glass make these so much cooler. Don't think the video came over anoraky, but your enthusiasm and enjoyment was clear!

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

Dolly Wobbler IS happy! I never thought I'd ever like these cars quite as much as I do. When I was younger I was picked up from school sometimes by a friend of my Mum's who had a Dyane in a similar shade of hearing-aid-beige and it used to embarrass me. NOW however, I would dearly love to drive one. So charming and it's so interesting learning these nuggets of history about the more obscure parts of 2CV history. Whilst I knew about British built ones, I wasn't aware of the specifications (or lack of) of these early ones. Great video!

[@dhy5342]

What a fun little car. I had a giant grin on my face during the entire ride.

[@jocornish8797]

I grinned all the way through this... thanks Ian! one of my fave reviews, along with the steam engine ride in Wales, and the tractors.. my husband and I (who has already commented) had a Dyane for many years when first married circa 1986 and we went everywhere including our honeymoon, she felt like our "pet" more than just a car! Such fun! and up the Brummies! (ex Silhillian's living in Espana!)

[@caileanshields4545]

A utterly delightful little car. Less is indeed more, espeically when it comes to the interior! Note to self: when one obtains a driving license, get oneself a shot of a 2CV irrespective of the decade in which it was built.

[@bigears4426]

What a car you wouldn't want to crash it , this makes my old beetle a super car especially as i have 36hp. Looks like a fun car for short trips

[@keithmatthews1673]

they are stronger that you think as they have a substantial ladder chassis. I had a hefty shunt in a Dyane and it got repaired OK.

[@cme2cau]

Wonderful patina!

[@joedoe114]

Yes... Indeed less is more. So very interesting to understand as I'm getting older the meaning of it. This is not a "crude" machine as some characterized it here. It is a machine built with a specific purpose in mind by a company that at that time also produced the DS. Enough said. Cool video Ian...stay safe back home dude.

[@buddy8225]

The 2CV is one of those unique 🚗s that are instant classics.😀

[@jbrooks4282]

This car is insane. I love how all the engineering looks like an afterthought. The body roll looks dangerous. I love it.

[@rogerhudson9732]

No afterthoughts, the engineers were very good.

[@jbrooks4282]

@@rogerhudson9732 Notice i said "look" like afterthoughts. When compared to almost every car ever made, having the gear lever in the engine compartment and operated by a rod. Also the cable to actuate the starter. Very cheap to produce, no unnecessary wiring and relays.No waste of materials. Its beautiful.

[@millomweb]

Sorry sir, option extra wipers is not available without optional extra speedo.

[@lesgriffiths8523]

My 2 CV based Mehari in France rolls around roundabouts at speed , no problem and .no requirement to slow down...the suspension keeps the wheels glued to the road. Only the French could have desgined it. Les Griffiths

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

jbrooks4282 By any standards it’s not a proper car is it... more of a motorised pram really. Cute though...

[@rollingtroll]

All of the cars you drive yet this one is one of my favourites. 2cv's are just hard to beat for pretty much anything.

[@qrm8772]

Being a lover of all things quirky,I really love this car.Very appreciative of the unrestored condition and this video.

[@RWBHere]

Don't worry, Ian; you'r my favourite style of anorak! Was hoping to time a 0 to 50 run, but you thwarted me. Thanks for the fun review. Stay well.

[@alanlansdell7533]

Never seen the controls of such an early 2cv. It's bloody brilliant.

[@split_pin]

I think this has to be my favourite HubNut video!

[@Velocipedium]

What an absolute treat! Ive never taken much notice of Slough cars - i felt they diluted the Frenchness - but this is SO charming and interesting that I now want one! The Trafficlutch suits the car really well, and the little quirks all over it are amazing. I would like to know which quirks are purely Slough, and which are universal on early models. I need to expand my 2CV enthusiasm back in time!

[@kim007250]

...and here we see the ever entertaining Mr Hubnut in his natural enviroment disecting a car as only he knows how to. Good Job Sir

[@tonysargent1699]

Magic! I am trying to imagine feeling you had that went with the grin that was on your face! Love it. Thankyou for sharing.

[@donnageorge-henderson5419]

Very cool engineering 😍 Ozzy Elly is great 😎 we have clutch less gear changes in our Saab 95 V4 (except 1st). Our Allegro Estate 1.3HL Automatic is a floaty little wafter. Happy days indeed

[@micheltebraake7915]

A wonderful car that has already seen much of the world.

[@nicksss1843]

Lovely to see your true heartfelt passion for these cars coming through in this video😊

[@williamfence566]

Excluding safety (?) think we've gone backwards in the reason for a car. Simple, easy to fix, practical A-B transport . Love it.

[@julienbee3467]

So true

[@stephenberry1205]

Superb. Truly an agricultural implement that thinks it is a car... Love them. All three of mine have been powerhouse 2CV6s developing a blistering 29 hp. Less is more, more or less! Sooooo much fun... and your enthusiasm in your videos is addictive... thank you heaps

[@robertkelly3313]

You are right, the engines were designed originally for aircraft use, the con rod has a hole drilled through it to allow oil to be sprayed directly onto the underside of the pistons for cooling, that’s why the car can be driven hard all day on full throttle. I would give a fortune for that car, I’d dearly love another 2cv it would make me very happy indeed, the best car I ever owned and I’m nearly 70! Nice video indeed. Keep up the lovely videos.

[@Bicyclehub]

It's a beautiful car in perfect patinated (not neglected) condition. I love the British touches and the fab bonnet badge. At a time when most other cars required decoking every 25k miles and an engine rebuild at 50k, Citroen's 2cv engine was unbelievably durable. And what a soundtrack! First time I have seen one on KZbin with a trafficlutch.

[@benjaminmarriott1746]

Hugely charming as you said, love that it's in a tired beige (perfect) and hath all the wear in the right places, plus later bits here and there. Rudimentary and beautiful with it! In your element with this one!

[@PurityVendetta]

How could they not have caught on at the time? I'd wager, not meaning to be disparaging but realistic, that the 2CV was nicer to drive, more reliable and more economical than British cars of the time. I'd absolutely love that little beauty... that bonnet badge, gorgeous! 😍

[@alisterbaker-lowe]

The shirt even shows the immense body roll. Brilliant.

[@robc5955]

Charming and amazing piece of design the 2cv.

[@kenhanson4015]

Very much enjoyed the operation of the wind screen wipers, always my favorite part. I have never seen any that operate like that. My Cushman Truckster also has a centrifugal clutch along with manual over ride for gear changes. Very nice in heavy traffic. I also find myself without a basket of eggs from time to time when motoring about in a field. Love your channel, keep up the good work.

[@danieleregoli812]

Love a nice 1950s Deuche...so delightful!

[@johnboy384]

Internal patina is gorgeous.

[@PurityVendetta]

I so wish I could have that car!!! I've owned two 2CVs. One I drove all the way to Greece in. Took the back seat out and slept in the back. I used to be able to change a clutch I. 2 hours as the release bearing used to chew it's way through the fingers of the pressure plate. The manually adjusted rest drum brakes made live exciting on occasion if you ignored the warning signs lol.

[@macgvrs]

That is hysterical. I have a lawn tractor with a Briggs and Stratton v-twin producing 18 HP. Early four passenger cars only had 7 or 8 HP! They had to be geared very low, I would imagine. That is really basic transportation. A very quirky little car. My '53 Desoto has a semi-automatic transmission. It has a manual transmission with a regular clutch and a fluid coupling. It also has a couple of solenoids that shift it on the fly. You start off in second gear, if you aren't climbing a steep hill, get up to around 25 mph and let off the gas. You hear a clunk and now you are in third. It also downshifts when you come to a stop. You don't need to use the clutch when you stop. They do recommend using the clutch if you are stopped for an extended period of time though.

[@wollaminfaetter]

I'm lusting for this one! Best HubNut review ever.

[@Lo_natilo_massages]

Oh boy, I hated those 2Cv when I was young. My dad had a (Renault) 4L and I learned to drive on a Renault 6 (Citroën VS Renault was like Holden vs Ford down under). But now I look at my neighbour's "2cv Special" with much interest. I live in south of France in a very rural area near Spain border and we have a fairly wide collection of air cooled Citroën (Ami/Dyane/2cv) and Renault 4 (and Citroën C15 diesel) as daily cars. To see an Australian early model is sooo strange °°, but it's make me proud : no other nation on earth had the audacity to engineer such oddity that makes total sens to us (and only us ^^). Thanks Ian.

[@GuyChapman]

Mars was one of my customers, years ago - I have been to that factory!

[@bryjan51]

Simply gorgeus, could quite easy live with one as an only car if I was living on my own in my retirement life. Another excellent vid Ian. What a place that meuseum is as well. Keep well, thank you for all these vids!

[@eeclass20]

My first Dyane, a '73 model also had a centrifugal clutch. It was the first of 6 Dyane and one Accadiane and only 1 2CV . Somewhere buried in my loft I still have the owners manual from that first Dyane. I've always liked the early 4 window body , my memory is vague but I'm sure the centrifugal clutch allowed the car to pull away from a standing start without the need to use the clutch.

[@HubNut]

Correct.

[@jaggass]

Early 2CV's were way ahead of it's time in it's own right by having speedo cable operated windscreen wipers, a centrifugal clutch, cable operated starting under the bonnet, and having a dip stick to check how much fuel you've got left.

[@maxrobespierre9176]

You are perhaps the best reviewer I have ever seen on these quirky French voitures! I watched your DS this morning and just found this on the deux chavaux! Brilliant!

[@markfortin421]

Greetings from U.S.A.! Thanks for the FANTASTIC walk around and test drive in that 2CV...I have never seen a 2CV here in the states (Michigan) but I have always wanted one! I don't know why...but they have always fascinated me, and now, thanks to you, I have moved it to #1 on my bucket list. I guess my wants are simple but time's running out (I'm 73) and I guess tea with the Queen is out of the question😂 Thanks for the excellent review...cheers! ✌😁

[@HubNut]

Ha! As it happens, I have a friend in Michigan with a 2CV and Dyane.

[@markfortin421]

@@HubNut Thanks! I live in the Metro Detroit suburbs, home of the Woodward Dream Cruise© (10k cars and 1 mil people. Every imaginable car ( never seen a 2cv though) I admit I can't be everywhere at once, but a 2cv is NOT a car that blends in...4 sale? Although, after owning a '66 Lotus Cortina and a Mini 1275, parts can be a problem, but, life's short...no guts no glory! ✌😄

[@elonmask50]

What a beautiful little car, interesting how many differences there are between the countries.

[@Eunos]

I just hope Elley doesnt get jealous when she finds out you been driving other 2CV's on the other side of the Planet ;D

[@xavierviaene5022]

I drove one of these in the 90 ties with rectangular lights in front, also 2CV4 which meant 400 cc cub motor. The first ones had 200 cc engines , the last 653 cc, all air cooled, very simple and easy to maintain/service, no water, just air cooled. They could be started also by means of a wrench in front, in case the start motor wasn't working or the battery flat. This car gave me such a pleasure and joy, open air convertible in the summertime, low consumption, an iconic car. It never let me down in winter too, funny they cross all snowed roads as they are light weight and front wheel traction which was very innovative these days. Citroen invented front wheel drive btw. . Pretty detail : all spare parts are still available, because there were so many made and who knows running from time to time !

[@HubNut]

Close. First were 375cc, last were 602cc. 9bhp up to 29.

[@rydermike33]

A perfect stablemate for your own 2CV Mr. HubNut. Makes my 37bhp motor sound like a monster! Lovely car, Many thanks

[@andrewhofler]

Wow! Centrifugal clutch (Great idea for traffic!), crazy deckchair seats! Speedo cable driven wipers! (WTF!) This is really brilliant, in a quirky way!

[@Adam_T]

Been hoping for a ripple to show up .... excellent work of making the most of it