The Citroën 2CV Story

French author Guy de Maupassant regularly ate on the first level of the Eiffel Tower even though he hated the sight of the thing. When asked why he said it was not for the quality of the food, but it was the only place in Paris where he couldn’t see the Eiffel Tower! Some were also put off by the look of the Citroën 2CV, but like the Eiffel Tower it’s grown to become a beloved symbol of French engineering success, and about as French as a croissant. It’s no accident this French biscuit tin has a picture of a 2CV on it. In development for 13 years, and in production for over 40, Citroën’s “upturned pram” produced two offspring, but outlasted both of them. Why did it take 13 years to develop, and why did it last more than 40 years in production with almost no changes?
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: / bigcar
Support me using PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: / bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: / littlecar
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_50...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mo...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mica
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
www.citroenet.org.uk
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_hor...
dovepublishing.co.uk/blog/vep...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ta...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Po...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby-Br...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAIPA
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_4
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
www.carsguide.com.au/overstee...
en.typeh.eu/fourgonnette.php
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_de_...
#bigcar

[@Brera011]

My aunt had one. She used the gearstick for hanging her umbrella and handbag. Never got further than second gear. She had never a problem with traffic jams, she was always in front.

[@joezanella8949]

Love it.

[@ccooper8785]

😆😅😂🤣🥰

[@toyotaprius79]

LMAOO

[@wimweender1306]

🤣😍

[@MrGaryGG48]

Now that's funny!! 🤣

[@andygriffiths9916]

I bought one off a farm in the midlands in the 1990s. Never went wrong. Used less than £10 per week fuel. It was a car you could connect with it was so simple to work on and live with. It was kinda genius.

[@426baron]

French farmers used to stockpile and use them around the farm when they were worth nothing. Now of course they've all been sold for their weight in gold.

[@DrLoverLover]

per week?

[@Grulaz]

do you still have it?

[@kimvibk9242]

Judging from your profile pic you have a Tesla today...? 😆😆

[@hermask815]

With respect to climate, 2cv would be better than SUVs.

[@gaborcsuzdi7006]

Instead of China, the tooling finally ended up at the 2CV-Méhari Owners' Club in Cassis, in the south of France. Thus they have every imaginable part available, so much so, that even building a brand-new 2CV from scratch is possible. They also work on improving the parts (such as rustproofing) using modern materials. Recently they even introduced and homologated the electric versions: 2CV R-Fit and Méhari Eden. So the 2CV platform is still far away from saying its last word...

[@marc9080]

Oui tu peux visiter Paris en 2cv électrique!

[@Lesterandsons]

Crazy

[@tomhermens7698]

@Gabor Csuzdi. Why, since it is possible, don't they produce this car again. I want one!!!!!! My brother wants one, my daughter wants one. So ???????????????

[@patrickbotti2357]

@@marc9080 J'habite aux USA depuis longtemps, et je vois des 2CVs de temps en temps. En général ce sont des 2CV 4 ou 6, pas des Spéciales. On trouve même des garages pour les réparer.

[@puebespuebes8589]

Electric 2cv ? Combien sa pèse ?

[@TTTzzzz]

From experience I can say that the 2CV was one of the best cars ever made. As an off-road adventure car it was fantastic. It could cross fast flowing French streams and deep pools (it floats), it could cross the Pyrenees via goat paths (causing me to pray a lot), transverse beaches, sand dunes and the Sahara desert with ease even with 4 passengers plus luggage. And it never ever gave up! All it's quirks just made it more lovable. My respect for the little bugger and it's designers is infinite. I have owned, amongst others, a Saab Turbo, Lotus Elite, Mercedes S- and E-class and even a WW2 US army Jeep. The 2CV is my favourite.

[@288gto7]

How does it move in deep water without a propeller or something if it can float in deep water

[@wilhelmtaylor9863]

If you think that the 2CV was "one of the best cars ever made" then I have a Yugo you might be interested in.

[@matto9734]

@@288gto7 Wait ´til it washes you on the other side ;-)

[@sanramondublin]

@@wilhelmtaylor9863 , no way, no comparison. this was a lovely toy.

[@wilhelmtaylor9863]

@@sanramondublin → This is a comment I made earlier which is more my real thought on the 2CV: "In 2016 we took 3 months in Cruet, Holland. At the middle of the village I spotter a 2CV in perfect shape, yellow. As I admired it and took a few pictures of it the owner came over and we chatted. Turns out he was restoring them and claimed to have a dozen of them - was I interested? Yeah, I was interested but not at the usurious price he was asking. I've seen them on the roads all over Europe and took pictures of them whenever my wife was driving us. We had one come up behind us while we were driving on the Autobahn in my inlaw's Benz S class, passing us. A brute in sheeps clothing. I have pictures of that as well. Probably had a Porsche engine - oh perish the thought!!"

[@Deepthought-42]

I had a 3 week holiday to the south of France with a girlfriend in the 1980s. We had the choice of travelling in my Ford or in her 2CV. We chose the 2CV and travelled along the D roads and staying wherever we could get each day. Always well received with a smile - best holiday I ever had 👍❤️

[@pablopicaro7649]

Luck to still be alive

[@davidmatthews3093]

Pablo Picaro Really? What a bizarre comment.

[@marchellochiovelli7259]

@@davidmatthews3093 Maybe he was referring to the fact it was a death trap on any level.

[@matto9734]

@@marchellochiovelli7259 I once saw a 2CV on the side of a road in France, it had a frontal accident and the front was flat up until the cabin... scary.

[@marc9080]

@@matto9734 Oui pareil avec une Austin ou une Fiat 500 pire avec la Beetle propulsion dons pas de moteur devant pour atténuer le choc! mais c'est une autre époque qu'aujourd'hui!

[@Kyoto_Ed]

In 1994 I drove around Europe in one of these with my Dad during the summer for 2.5 months. We drove thru France (Strasbourg), Germany, Hungary (Budapest and Lake Balaton) , Croatia (to the island of Cress), Italy (Venice), Switzerland and Stopped off in Paris before we went back to the UK. We took out the passenger seat for extra storage and used to take out the back seat for a little sofa when camping. One night we camped in a deserted camp site overlooking a huge reservoir a few ks from Zagred. In the morning we tried to start the car but the battery was dead and we didn't have a mobile phone. Any other car and we would have been in trouble. But my Dad just lifted the hood and hand cranked the car and we were back in business. When we got up to 60/70km/h the thing would be vibrating like the Star Ship Enterprise under attack, when it was raining a fine spray would come in thru the window whenever a vehicle passed the other way and once the soft top got ripped off when a big truck passed us, but apart from that the little thing was awesome. It was great off road going down little dirt tracks to hard to reach camping spots. Not bad for a few hundred quid!

[@BigCar2]

Errata: It's not a three cylinder engine, it was only two! The Sahara had two transmissions, not one. The French Wikipedia site said the noise level in the cabin was unbearable! Also, the 2002 Citroën C3 was also intended to harken back to those 2CV looks.

[@Mnkskanal]

Boxer, not just flat.

[@KristianK9755]

@@Mnkskanal true.

[@JFW5358]

I was just about to question that.

[@BigCar2]

@@Mnkskanal Shows how little I know! I can't even get a correction right.

[@loufadoros20]

Also there was a greek variant of mehari called the pony!!

[@jugostran]

You mentioned that the 2CV was produced in Yugoslavia, but I think there is more to add. Produced by CIMOS in Koper, Slovenia (a collaboration between Citroën and Tomos), the quirky Frenchman was beloved by the nation, earning it the nickname (and model name) "Spaček". However, the Yugoslavs weren't done there. With the Dyane (badged as Diana) coming out, they decided to make their own pickup/van version. It was deemed the "Geri" and was similar to the Acadiane, but used a standard Dyane chassis. Citroën saw this and forbade the Yugoslavs to export the model. The relationship soon soured, and the two parted ways. However, some partnership was still in place, as later Citroën models (such as the phase 2 BX and XM) were sold by CIMOS and were known as such in brochures/car registers. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading through this interesting bit of trivia, and thanks again for making this video!

[@kizamen]

I buy one of the last Dyane made in Slovenia and they didn't bother to clean rust from metal sheets before they make the car, it totally rusted for about 5 years but I built a brick house with that car (full of brick and bags of cement each 50 kg ). Use to play hide and seek with cars (me in Dyane and my friend in a fiat 750 FICA ). That is childhood

[@oliverpetroski4205]

I still have my Spachek. Love the look, the sound and the smell of the engine. What I dont like is the loss of what the 2cv was made to be.

[@thomasfranklin4114]

@@kizamen ķ the ⁸⁷

[@vumba1331]

We lived on the French Ivory Coast in 1959 and they were there in numbers along with the Panhard, both with 2 cylinderengines, very distinctive beat. When the rains came the 2CV was the only vehicle that could make it through the muddy, unsealed roads, and if it got stuck in the mud, you just got out, lifted it out onto firmer ground, and drove on! The other big cars all got bogged down including the 4 wheel drive Jeep. Loved them.

[@claudiopereyra5480]

En Argentina a finales de la década del 60 el 2CV evolucionó al 3CV... Yo tengo un 3CV modelo 1967 en perfecto estado de conservación que lo uso actualmente y lo disfruto. (Aún posee la capota de su techo original). Cuando nos cruzamos en las carreteras con otro Citroën nos saludamos como si fuésemos amigos de toda la vida. 🙂 Conducir un 3CV ¡¡Es una experiencia mística!! Siempre digo que nadie quien conduzca debe privarse en esta vida, del placer de manejar un Citroën 2CV o 3CV aunque sea una única vez... 🙂

[@josearos]

Saludos desde Santiago de Chile

[@christiand4630]

22:58 The 2CV was infact so popular it got in Germany it´s own nickname, "Ente" which is the german word for duck and even today everyone knows what car you´re driving if you saying that it´s a Ente. Edit: It wouldn´t be the last popular french car with quirky looks that sold well since every fifth original Twingo would be sold to Germany and are still a very common site there today.

[@torstenscholz6243]

True. We Germans even had some special editions that ironically paid tribute to the Ente and its legacy, like the Sauss Ente and the I Fly Bleifrei editions that featured cartoon ducks on their body.

[@eriktempelman2097]

Same in Dutch: we call it "eend". Or even "lelijk eendje" i.e ugly duckling.

[@Mike_Connor]

The original Twingos weren't sold in the UK, but there's a guy I work with who's got one he imported from Belgium and it has the reg T31 NGO

[@MirkoC407]

Also the original Renault Kangoo sold very well in Germany. Fair to say it was a nearly competitonless car with only Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner being somewhat comparable. By the looks the Kangoo was the most complete family car, with Peugeot and Citroen being still the front end of a car with the rear end of a shipping container. At least with rear doors. The other designs around like Seat Inca or Ford Courier were even lacking these and if used in the version with rear seats and windows, the rear passengers would have to climb in like in a 3 door car. After the Kangoo's success suddenly every company would start building such a vehicle: VW Caddy, Opel / Vauxhall Combo, Fiat Doblo - even Mercedes would jump on the bandwagon building the Vaneo. Ford would replace the Fiesta based and very craftsmanly Courier by the Focus based first generation Connect, that looked more integrated and offered access to the rear, etc.

[@Mnkskanal]

@@MirkoC407 Kangoo came first but Citroen added the second sliding door. Only with 5 doors these cars became populär family cars.

[@flemmingsorensen5470]

Absolutely love Citroens from this era - they were so bonkers, yet so cool. Great video 👍👍👍

[@torstenscholz6243]

1950s to 70s Citroen and Renault was really French automotive engineering at its peak - so quirky yet so charming and clever.

[@rudolphbondefangerer5513]

perfect solutions to non existing problems.

[@knockingvalves2539]

@@rudolphbondefangerer5513 you can't seriously be this dumb. Did you even see the video? It was the perfect answer to France's post war poverty.

[@CaSuMog]

Boulanger had other devilish ideas as well. They re-designed the dip stick on the lorrys they produced for the germans, and the fill mark was set on the stick too low. So, the lorrys drove at first, but quickly developed a knocking noise… oil starvation. Very clever ! It also was Boulanger who did not like the 4 gear scheme of the planned DS, he died on a french route nationale piloting a prototype 15CV in his way to southern france, about 2 weeks and 72 years ago from today.

[@TheChill001]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the fact that the actual commander in charge of the citroen factory actually had such a good relation with Boulanger that he was aware of it all and simply didn't mention anything to his superiors. Later on this commander would actually end up being a citroen dealer.

[@BigCar2]

I wasn't aware of that story. Do you have a link to it?

[@robertdragoff6909]

Are you talking about a German commander?

[@TheChill001]

@@BigCar2 It's from a belgian historical and factual comic strip series that goes on about the history of several carbrands. Sadly I'm not sure if this is available in other languages then dutch and french. The autors are J.C. de la Royère | René Follet and the dutch title of both parts detailing from the birth of andre citroen to 2000 are Passie voor uitdagingen and Vruchten van de Passie.

[@Conservator.]

@@TheChill001 That’s a fascinating story.

[@Conservator.]

@@BigCar2 Hi, I enjoy all you videos but particularly liked this one because of its historical details and some of the characteristic unique technical solutions by Citroën. Thank you for the pleasure you’re giving me and so many others that watch your videos! Regarding the rear lights around 18:42 in the video, based on the photos shown, I think that the rear lights were turned 180 degrees and switched left to right and vise versa. Just a minor and unimportant detail though.

[@all2031]

One of the most amazingly engineered cars and sorry to have been put away. It was far better than most cars today!

[@magnatarbeing8749]

French automotive design , engineering and technology has always been ( and probably will continue to be ) superb, incredibly innovative and unique.

[@JUSTENization]

I was born in Vietnam in the 60s and love watching those fancy black Citroen driving down the streets. This video is very enjoyable and your narrative is excellent. Now that i am an aerospace engineer, and while watching this I find myself still learning into the unknown. The spring connect front/rear suspension was very interesting, even modern day engineers wouldn’t have thought of it. Beautiful cars. Lots of memories.

[@HappyDaysNI]

I had a 2CV, a 1989 variant. I’d have another in a heartbeat. Brilliant wee cars, but the kids were seriously embarrassed by it! My first convertible as I described it.

[@Lensman864]

I knew a recently qualified driver back in 1992 and he often borrowed his mother's 2CV Dolly (yeah ... lovely). One evening he drove us to the Philharmonic pub in central Liverpool and tried repeatedly to parallel park outside to no avail. Eventually we got out and lifted the car into its parking space. Try THAT with a BMW X7 ... 😉

[@michaelduke4500]

I'm in the US and though we didn't get the Citron models, I find these cars amazing to look at and to know how long they lasted in sales. I miss the small cars on our roads today; nothing but big SUVs mostly cheaply made. I suppose you could say Citrons and Vespa scooters paved the way for Europe transport after WWII.

[@MrDuncl]

I watched Doug DeMuro review the Hyundai Kona N. He seemed to spend most of the video questioning why anyone would buy such a small car when they could get a bigger one for the same money. p.s. Interesting that Big Car mentioned the Ford Popular. There was one at a classic car show. The information card explained that while it was the cheapest car on the U,K. market when released, even the passenger side windscreen wiper was an optional extra !

[@McLarenMercedes]

@@MrDuncl Doug DeMuro is an ignoramus and obnoxious to boot.

[@lordbungle6235]

If you watch American Graffiti Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss) pulls up at the Diner in a 2CV. I think it may have been a DeLorean Version as it was a 1968 model and the film was set in 1962 🤣🤣

[@gwyneddboom2579]

I absolutely love the Dyane! A friend of mine, who as since passed away, had one. He volunteered at the same windmill where I do, and we had to bring some flour to the bakery. However, there was an event with classic cars going on, so all the roads were blocked. The Dyane was small enough to squeeze past the fences over the sidewalk, so we could get into the town. We definitely blended in quite well, even though we weren’t supposed to be there! Hopefully I’ll be able to afford one if I eventually get a drivers license, because I absolutely love these little cars (despite not really fitting in them). And yes, the Dyane can be hand-cranked. Also funny: the hand crank does double duty as the wrench for the wheel nuts.

[@CitroenDS23]

Much the same as the DS although a long hex shaped rod is employed to reach the nut on the gearbox.

[@tommyfred6180]

i had two 2cv's in the 80s. i loved them. i used them off road as i worked on farms at the time. i even drove a sick ram to the vets in one. a fantastic car in the snow too.

[@SquareoftheyearFM]

Love mine. The engine is suspiciously like war-era BMW motorbike engines too. In fact that’s one of the relatively simple upgrades, dropping a modern BMW GS motorbike engine in.

[@philippemerlin7758]

The original engine was designed in 1937 as a liquid-cooled flat-twin. Nothing to do with BMW.

[@SquareoftheyearFM]

@@philippemerlin7758 other than being a flat twin the TPV water cooled flat twin isn’t like the engine they used for production.

[@mr.sr7171]

Ever since I saw the documentary as a kid on Citroen, I've always wanted a 2CV.

[@TheByard]

I was lucky enough to be on the Spy Who Loved Me team headed up by my elder brother, we were given five new CVs four were going to be stunt cars and the fifth the "Pretty Car". The cars were stripped down to bare chassis which took about 35 mins per car. Four-cylinder GS engines fitted VW clutch, rear wheel hand brake, Koni Shocks, one had a hydraulic hook similar to those fitted to aircraft landing on a carrier. This was used on the steep slope in the olive orchard. We also worked on the dune buggies, and I fitted in a Land Rover add for the V8 engined 110 body. It was supposed to tow a car recovery trailer with an elephant dress in scuba gear at a circus in Scotland But the Land Rover didn't turn up???? Prior to film work my brother built the last 37 Elva Couriers for Trojan Motors, all exported to the US. He also did most of the GS Citroen blown front tyre adds. All great fun.

[@hg2.]

Awesome! We all love the 2CV. The 2CV is to cars what bread is to food -- it's a baseline. Wouldn't it be great if it could go back into production, giving millions of people this transportation option? The usual response to that wish is that it's impossible because the 2CV can't pass safety regulations. But here's a loophole for that: Citroen itself is selling a car called the Ami, which is legally a "quadracycle" -- I guess that's a motorcycle with 4 wheels. The Ami itself uses the 2CV logo on its grill (see this article called "The Electrek review: This tiny Citroën Ami microcar is just weird enough to work". ) Here's a quote about it's being designated as a quadracycle, "It’s technically considered to be a quadricycle, a type of vehicle classification in Europe that falls somewhere between a motorcycle and a standard car. That helps it thread the needle of low cost and low regulations while still offering much the feeling of an actual car. It may not have a dozen airbags like some cars (or even one airbag), but you weren’t planning on hitting anything anyway, right?" Here's an article about when the 2CV was produced in Iran: "Citroën Saipac 2CV, Jiane Sedan, Jiane Pickup and Mehari". It describes the manufacturing as "largely an artisanal procedure", i.e., they are hand assembled. ... That means a high school kid can put one together in their back yard (!). How many millions of high school kids wouldn't consider that as an option for their first car??? This place in The Netherlands -- Burton 2CV parts -- has several videos about putting together a whole 2CV with purchased parts. They don't come out and say it -- but it's hard not to make that conclusion: "You can build your own 2CV!" Can the 2CV hold its own on a highway? This video makes it look like it can: Modded 2CV: 720cc - speed machine! (channel is Hub Nut). It talks about some minor-looking improvements to the spark-advance, giving it highway-capable speeds. Rust is a problem? Here is a video about hot-dipping the whole body in zinc: Fully Zink coated body!! The daily driver citroën 2cv6 real solution against rust restoration. 2cv ^^ a hot-dipped zinc-coated 2CV will last a lifetime or more, in terms of rust. Argentina: 2CVs used to be made in Argentina, and now it has an extremely free-market president and administration. I bet Argentina would embrace re-introduction of the 2CV with open arms. (And its mostly a flat, mild-weather country -- it should do well there.) Let's figure out a way to get this back into production and make it a transportation option for millions.

[@CaSuMog]

The team Lefebvre, Mages, Bertoni created a few amazing cars, in fact 3 which are seen as centurial cars- the Traction, the DS, and the 2CV, plus they created the HY van which was an absolute milestone. Name another company to have such a track record…3 centurial cars… whow

[@catjudo1]

I had read about the 2CV in a Road & Track editorial in which the author and a friend took a 2CV Truckette camper on a long road trip. When I saw one in the teacher's lot at my university, I left a note on the windshield asking him if he might like to talk about the car with me. Not only did he reply, but he offered to meet at a coffee shop and talk for a while. He had seen the car in Europe and was blown away at how different it was, then found out that street legal versions existed in America. He bought one and loved it. The special bonus was that he took me for a ride in the beast, and it was a real treat. Now that I'm a bit older, I live near a large retirement community in Florida that has a car show each month. Sometimes a lovely restored/customized 2CV appears, and I have been known to pass the muscle cars and hot rods to get a look at it first. I love these cars, so thank you for this video!

[@SilentShadovv]

My dad had 5-7 2CVs over the years. I hated them, with a passion! Freezing here in Norway. Anyway, one of the stories he never got tired of telling was that the 2CV was the only car to have gotten over the Himalayas. A group of people had carried all the parts of a 2CV over the Himalayas, and then put the car together again when they GOT over the Himalayas. That didnt help me beeing cold as F in the backseat though! 🤦‍♂️😅

[@flovanhoorn5444]

The car is not to hate, your dad choose the wrong country to live. Driving a 2cv in France or Greece etc is nicer than driving in Norway.

[@robertbennett9949]

The 2CV was underpowered like it's Renault 4 cousin From new, there was a rain leak that landed on the drivers foot and I used to drive with a plastic bag over my legs. The heater was far too weak Good riddance to both clumps of rubbish.

[@grumpyoldman3458]

Fun fact: the starting handle was also the wheelbrace and could be used to unbolt the front wings.

[@MirkoC407]

I think you can disassemble half the car with it...

[@Mnkskanal]

Ingenious design. On the other hand you did not need any tools for removing doors, seats or the trunk lid.

[@trespire]

Same on a DS, same handle for removing the front and rear wings, and for removing wheel bolts.

[@stevenlagoe7808]

The wheelbrace came in handy on my Dyane one very cold morning when I discovered the battery was flat. After a couple of cranks the engine fired! I held the wheelbrace to the sky in triumph and shouted "Vive La France!". My wife thought I was crazy, but she already thought I was crazy for buying the car in the first place... 😁

[@grumpyoldman3458]

@@stevenlagoe7808 The good kind of crazy!

[@claudiobizama5603]

The 2cv suspension is unique. It has an absurd amount of body roll, yet it will not roll over under normal circumstances. It's a myth it has gained over the years. I think the only way it could, would be a fast turn, but going in reverse.

[@loeffelm]

Aaah! Monsieur est connaisseur!

[@claudiobizama5603]

La Citroneta! My grampa had one! The gear level was really weird, and it was a dogleg pattern. I did many miss shifts with it. Also, another variant that was briefly made in Chile was the Yagan, which it looked very similar to the Mahari but it was totally unrelated to it.

[@Romiman1]

In Germany we call this kind of gear-shifting-lever "Revolverschaltung" (yes, "revolver" according to the gun).

[@marcelosandoval2130]

Yes! we call it "citroneta" or "citrola". There was still a surviving Yagán in Villa Alemana in the early 2000s.

[@MrDuncl]

Here in the U.K. a colleague bought a brand new one in 1979 and was really proud of it. A couple of years later I was in a Tyre Fitters and a 2CV drove in. As the driver got out the tyre fitter said Michelin 125 R15. I think that was the only choice for a 2CV.

[@ArtiRua]

Colani designed a 2cv which held the record for the most fuel efficient car in the world for a good while. Not much of the original car was left visually as the whole body got replaced, but underneath it was all 2cv. Truly magnificent car the 2cv.

[@christopherconard2831]

In 1987 a company in America imported around 300 of them to be sold here. They had plans to also build them locally, unfortunately that never happened. There's one knocking about town here in Gainesville Florida. It's an odd site, but always gets noticed.

[@minapipita7917]

Wow...talk about traveling down memory lane. Thanks for this treat. Rekindled some fond memories I have from my youth, in Argentina. I had a 1977 3CV

[@welshskies]

Every 2CV or Diane I can remember from my university days in the 1970s had a smiley "Nuclear Power No Thanks" or a CND sticker on the back. I loved the fabric roof , roll it back on a (rare) hot summer day and you could believe The Gower Peninsular had been magically transported to the Cote d'azure. 😎

[@Bicyclehub]

I have a Citroen Pony which is the same as the Baby Brousse but made in Thessaloniki, Greece. Even though production stopped in 1983, the factory was mothballed with all the parts left on the shelves and incomplete Ponies lined up. As the Pony is a cultural icon in Greece, moves are afoot to make new ones from the parts available and even manufacture it again as the machines are still in place.

[@nutsnproud6932]

I remember the first time I drove my second hand 2CV aged 17. Reverse gear was where 1st should be and nearly hit the wall behind. Great car to thrash around town. I learned to drive and I passed my driving test in it. My parents named it Brian. (Magic Roundabout snail character). I miss it. It was cheap to run and repair. I replaced it with a Renault 4.

[@hunchanchoc8418]

And how did you like the Renault 4 in comparison?

[@olisipocity]

On July 27, 1990, at 4.30 pm, in Mangualde, Portugal, the last of the 2CVs, one of the most iconic models of the brand and also one of the most iconic cars ever, left the assembly line. Its production would end exclusively in Portugal - it started in 1988 -, Portugal being the 11th where the 2CV was produced.

[@timm.e.n.]

My favourite car since very early childhood, can’t wait to watch this tonight when I have a moment for wonder I was thinking the whole day which peculiar car you would have in store for this video and what a wonderful surprise to start the weekend - thank you ever so much!

[@rob1tnt]

Wonderful as always Andy!

[@stephenberry1205]

Such a great history of this French Icon. My 3rd new 2CV6 is an 1989/90 RHD Charleston which I ordered for Paris delivery and imported to Australia after the minimum of 3 months use and possession to get an import license. Now in the 75th anniversary year of the 2CV and my 45th year of 2CV ownership, my current Charleston has covered 285,000 kms. Time for an upgrade, so I imported a Burton 652 cc Big Bore engine from Holland along with a Power Tube, rebuilt kit for carbie, larger jets, stainless exhaust, ss heater boxes, ss suspension tubes, LED tail lights, new clutch, new front & rear brakes, new steering wheel and other new goodies... With a throaty roar I now charge around Sydney and the country side, unable to use the old excuse... "But officer, I have a credit for all the uphills I cannot reach the speed limit." Huge fun. Makes friends everywhere you go. More smiles per Mile...

[@alejandrinoalvarezcastro1173]

papi had 2 of them... incredible cars... so many histories to tell and a lot of smiles.... miss the the both (papi and the car) =(

[@XxJay71xX]

Peugeot's story during the war is quite epic too, they clearly went above and beyond what was expected of them to disrupt the nazis. Renault... not so much :/

[@johnbee7729]

Love the 2CV. One of my dream cars. Its story is so wonderful that am glad it is being shared.

[@UltimoGames]

Those old cars makes me happy, when one rides around in my town, it makes me smile.

[@AxeGaijin]

Together with the VW Beetle, Fiat 500 and Mini, this is part of my 10 car dream garage (yes I'm weird).

[@martijn9568]

No, you aren't weird. I would have these on my list as well. Along with a 1st generation Renault Twingo.

[@valentinexristov8915]

Thank You for the 2CV video mr.Big Car! Could you possibly make a video about the Xantia or the C6 in the future? I think these are also interesting cars for their periods! Keep up the good work! 👏

[@patrickbotti2357]

I bought my first 2CV in 1973 when I graduated from HS in Marseille, France. It was a 1965 grey AZAM model. I had to quickly learn how to tune the springs so that the car would ride higher on the road. I had to quickly learn how to fix the dynamo on the road. The car did not have an alternator then but a dynamo, charging a 6V battery and providing power for the engine. To access the dynamo, one had to take off the front grill and fan using a 14mm wrench. Then with some soft sandpaper, we could scrape the dirt on top of the magnets, cleaning up the contacts and allowing the dynamo to charge again. One had to learn the old trick of fixing the "aeration bar" on the front from leakage with duct tape. it worked famously well. Then I had three other 2CVs. One, a 1963 model, was donated to me by my local catholic pastor. I gave it to a friend. The other one was older than me. it was a 1953 model. That one did not have any light on the minimal dashboard, had the famous engine cranked wipers with manual activation when idled. If I remember correctly, I had to check the fuel level with a stick. And it was as slow as molasses but a lot of fun.The trunk had been modified by the former owners, local farmers, to make it a full hashback. Then, my final 2CV was a 1968 model. it still had the old style dashboard but had the third side window (the "custode"). It still had the small side mounted blinkers. I did switch engines from one car to the other, managing to pull the entire engine myself without the use of a crane. it was not very heavy. I learned how to basically do all the mechanical work on it myself from cleaning up the carburetor to tuning the car. I missed my 2CVs. They were very comfortable on long trips and were amazing on ice and snow. People to this day can't believe how comfortable those seats mounted on bangee cords were .But all my 2CVs were under-powered (until later model years) which was at the same time frustrating and humiliating when on a steep climb on the highway. Now, surprise, the 2CVs are still manufactured today but in very limited quantities. Enthusiasts in the town of Cassis near Marseille, created a club www.mehariclub.com/en/ and got from Citroen all of the factory tools from the last 2CV assembly line in Spain. You can still order a brand new 2CV from them but the cost is rather high (around the price of today's SUVs). You can also buy used or remanufactured, 2CVs, Dyanes, and Meharis. So, the tiny little thing still lives on. One quick note: When Peugeot bought Citroen then in bankruptcy, they created a new model based on the 2CV and the Peugeot 104 the LNA. It was a cool car but it was short lived from the early 80s to 1985.

[@rimshot6444]

My father had one in the 70's, it provided funny memories for decades after, efficiency, simplicity & reliability at its best!

[@BOABModels]

You know BMC built dual engine 4WD Minis nicknamed 'The Twini' too! One of the concept cars is at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. Top video as always!

[@jonbrawn4301]

A great video as always, in the early 90's a friend bought a "for your eyes only" limited edition, needed a bit of work but very iconic, I've worked on dolly's too, very easy to work on, main issue being rot on the ladder type chassis. I would love to see a video on the Renault 4, in the early 70's I learnt mechanics as a child working with my father., keep up the good work !

[@dieterdopfner9900]

Did you know, that the 2cylinder boxer engine was a reparation payment of BMW. After the original engine got overheated, there was an urgent need for a replacement, so they took the engine of the BMW R12. The 2cv was made to keep kost low and to be reliable, so they used a double ignition coil, that ignite in the upper and bottom dead center of the piston. I think there so many interesting facts about this genious construction, you should do an Extra on this. But anyway, thanx for this video and all the videos you did, got addicted to them.

[@duartesimoes508]

When I was in the Portuguese Army in 1987 we had a large number of FAF vehicles, in almost every unit. I must admit, they endured everything. Every Army driver did his best to destroy the poor thing or blow its engine, but the FAF endured everything. They even tried hard to lift two wheels from the same side when turning, and a few were successful. You just cannot imagine the ordeal the poor Army FAFs had to endure... they were very much indestructible.

[@gabrielmalta1962]

Well-designed cars last long. The 2CV and Beetle show that wonderfully

[@1969Risky]

Being an Aussie, I've never seen any 2CV's ever sold here. The ones I've seen have been privately imported. If you're running out of content to present, look at Australian made cars. It'll give insight to those who aren't aware that us Aussies used to built & even export cars.

[@edwardtrickett6064]

Thank you so much for your efforts and hard work It is truly appreciated and admired

[@stephenberry8658]

The most thorough 2CV story ever. The only thing missing was the last 3 years of production were in Portugal. Those cars were not as well made as the French cars, especially for rust. More Smiles Per Mile than any other form on transport. The limit of the road holding was when the door handles dig in. You can tell a 2CV Driver by gravel rash on their elbows.

[@e28forever30]

Brilliant!

[@BigCar2]

True. I did see that, but missed it out.

[@mpinheiro]

Tha last 2CV was produced in July the 27th 1990 in Citroen's plant at Mangualde, Portugal, pictured on this documentary with a brass band to celebrate the sad (?) moment ! Great film, keep up the good work

[@carlgeorgtsigakis498]

I bought a new Charleston in 1986. One of the "cars" I miss. :)

[@johng5474]

I bought a late edition of this car from new. It was great fun to drive, very practical and when there was snow on the ground easy to start - I loved it when others had to wait for jump starts and AA when all I had to do was get the starting handle out.

[@93455Driver]

Such a cool and fun car! Harris and Frankel racing their 2CVs across a field was hilarious and awesome. Thanks for this great fact filled and interesting video.

[@worldtraveler930]

Well you have convinced me, if I stumble across one at the right price I'll probably buy it!!! 🤠👍

[@wnklee6878]

If it was still made I would buy one.

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

Wonderful! Perhaps the most ingenious car ever designed and built while at the same time being the most endearing and fun. Been a fan since '62 and an owner of an '87 since 2015. Just a marvelous car.

[@niklaswejedal463]

Yet another of my all time favorites! Great video!

[@robertngreen6]

What a great video to tell the 2CV story! I love my own "Dolly the 2CV" - such an interesting, fun and different car.

[@robbiestruys9127]

Congratulations for your 'Big Car' series. Haven't come across anythi g quite as good. Well researched, professionally edited, smoothly presented. First class job !

[@flybyairplane3528]

Big Car;; the ONLY CITREON, I had rides in,was in JAMAICA BWI,Do NOT know what model,it was,BLACK,4 doors,sparetyre,,in the boot,with a bulge,shaped like the tyre,,the gear shift was IN THE DASHBOARD,’H’ PATERN, on the shifter,was A MOPED STYLE CLUTCH HANDLE, FWD,quite low slung car, this was mid 1940s, there was a car repair,in our yard 4 mechanics. That car was intresting , 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@shyguy4570]

🌼🌸🌺I just can't get enough of your video keep up the good work 🌺🌸🌼

[@ern48]

👍👍👍 I look forward to and love watching every one of your videos.....thank you!

[@olavstrand2491]

Great video... thanks from a proud owner of two 2CV's

[@XmarkedSpot]

omg that lego model on the bottom left shelf, what an unexpectedly heavy dose of nostalgia! Thanks for the videos you make, they lighten my mood every time.

[@BigCar2]

Glad you like them!

[@deansolomon7878]

I love your channel - always informative, straight forward, well researched and lots to learn and see ….well done and look forward to many more shows …..thank you

[@Massimilianop]

I was raised on one of those and years later became my fisrt car, my grand father bought it literally in pieces, and we put it back together, I still miss it 20 years later. It was just fun, so much fun I love this little things. Thanks for the video!

[@spinnetti]

Can never get too much Citroen content :)

[@jrr3558]

Bravo Monsieur, très émouvant.

[@uncinarynin]

I remember a neighbour who had one and sometimes took me along when I was a child. He said he didn't even need a speedometer because he could easily tell the speed from the wind sounds. The 2CV was produced and bought until it really didn't comply to any of the new regulations. It was designed long before crashworthiness became an important issue. And even though there was an update to the engine at some point to allow it to operate with lead-free fuel, I don't think it ever got a catalytic converter, and as such it couldn't comply with new exhaust standards either. Remarkably, even though a lot of manufacturers saved some money by producing 2-door cars, the 2CV was only ever offered as a 4-door. I guess that didn't increase cost much because those doors were quite thin and simple, not much of a cost factor. There were also a lot of aftermarket components to customize your 2CV. For example if you needed to put in more luggage, you could just buy an extension that fit between the body and the lid to give the car a "duck tail". Not as practical as a Renault 4, but a cheap and easy solution.

[@MrDuncl]

Two door cars often weren't just to save money. Look at the Ford Sierra XR4i or countless sports cars. Until I had to start transporting elderly relatives around I didn't consider ever buying a four door car.

[@uncinarynin]

@@MrDuncl yes, many of the 'sporty' 2-door cars are just 2+2 seaters too, without much space on the rear seats. Larger 2-door 'luxury coupés' have become rare I guess.

[@loeffelm]

Many thanks for sharing this video! Being a delighted owner of a 2CV, I find it to be the ideal car to relish a scenic drive through the breathtaking French countryside. It is neither too fast nor too slow, allowing you to savor the quaintness of smaller roads and providing a quick escape from the city. Driving it is an absolute delight, and it has a unique ability to attract people who greet you with smiles along the way.

[@josephbingham1255]

A comprehensive study of a fascinating little car and glad Citroen was able to cover its tracks re WW2. 23:59 similarly 3 Japanese fighters were discovered behind a false wall during renovations. One restored to flight status and used in a Japanese made movie. The other two I think where props in the same film. Great Video on the 2CV.

[@christophetardivat234]

Great video! my parents had various 2 cv and dyane with DS and GS inbetween. Today a good one cost about 20.000 euros which seems a crazy price! keep up the good work

[@ravinperera4255]

Did anyone notice the clever windscreen wiper, it had an arm that compressed like a shock absorber which was drawn in by the little cable in front, this over came the windscreen width to height ratio which allowed the use of a single wiper

[@nilofido411]

What a legendary car..... My very first car was a Diane 6, 30 odd years ago, still nowadays when I think about it, it brings a smile to my face, it was so much fun to drive with all its quirks. The perfect car for a broke student, at one stage the alternator failed, I was hand cranking it to started for a full semester before being able to afford to fix it.

[@bigblue6917]

While watching the film 'Where Eagles Dare' I realised that the German Kubelwagen were in fact remodeled 2CVs. Ironic as the Kubelwagen was based on the 2CV's rival the Volkswagen Beetle.

[@pablopicaro7649]

NO, it was a combination of a Tatra Designer, and Erwin Komenda, and F.Porsche

[@bobmirdiff2043]

I watched a couple of 'Mechanical Videos' recently. Ian Seabrook (Hubnut) swapped an overhauled 2CV Engine in a morning. Meanwhile over at Salvage Rebuilds, replacing Timing Chains on a Range Rover took several days, requiring an Expert Mechanic and Specialist Tools! - And do not even ask about Car Wizard's replacement of an A/C Evaporator in a Range Rover - Again, it took days!

[@MrDuncl]

I just found a video of a Royal Air Force team changing a classic Mini Engine in less than a minute ! I'm sure a few quick release fittings were involved though.

[@rusirious]

Wonderful as always! keep up the good work!

[@beju9219]

Sitting on my aunt's laps at the age of 6, my grand mother's 2CV was the first car I ever drove and it was love at first sight. 55 years later I was finally able to purchase my first 2cv, a 1975 Fourgonnette but that was not enough, so a year later I bought a second one, and I doubt I'll ever part from either one of them. 🥰 Thank you for your accurate video telling the story of French ingenuity, which i like to call "feigned simplicity".

[@MrMoelbach]

Wonderful.... At last.. I have waited and waited for you to make this one. I LOVE the 2CV; I had one and I AM going to get another one.. I had 8 Citroën CX, an XM and a load of other cars, 59 actually, but the most fun and the var that I have been most relaxed in whilst driving was the 2CV.. I LOOOOOOVE that car. Now I am waiting on your episode of the Mazda 616... Kindest regards Jesper of Denmark 🇩🇰😎🇩🇰

[@olisipocity]

I'm a Citroen FAN too. My father owned 3 GS/GSA ( 1015 CC, 1220 CC and the 1300 CC Break) and a BX 1.6. And I'm on my 2nd Citroen. The AX 1.1 Furio (GT trimmings) and the C3 Pluriel. I hope I can have the money to buy a C6 3.0.

[@MrSebfrench76]

French here Former owner of an Ami 8. Congrats. This vid is brilliantly made, just like are your others. You're showing respect to this car . Clarkson should learn from you 👍

[@idkgintijd]

Just got back from the 2cv world meeting in Switzerland. My dad brought me to these events for years and I hope to be able to own a 2cv myself one day!

[@kbtred51]

This one was a long time coming. Brave knowledge attempt with so many viewers invested in the type over 80 years.

[@torstenscholz6243]

Grat summary of a French icon that is every bit as French as the Eiffel Tower, the croissant, French wine, Asterix and Louis de Funés. A great topic for a future episode which you have already tapped here would be the FAF and Mehari as they had many derivatives in emerging countries around the world. In Greece it was built as the Namco Pony, and in Uruguay there is a company that even still builds a modified Mehari with a fiberglass body today. And I would also love a video on the AX as my mum had one in my childhood.

[@thibaudduhamel2581]

The Mehari plastic skin was designed by Roland de la Poype, who, amongst other interesting things, was a fighter ace during the second world war, earning 18 victories... in the soviet union, fighting with the Free french "normandie" squadron. He earned the french Legion d'honneur and Croix de Guerre, the "hero of the soviet union" and "order of the red banner". I met him a few years before his death. He came to my school to talk about his postwar career as a plastic pioneer in France. I was the only one who knew about his war stuff, and had brought my commemorative album of the Normandie aviation regiment with me for him to sign. One of my most treasured possessions.

[@Ricketik65]

My first car was a 1976 Dyane. I would swap my current XM for one in a heartbeat. Or a "normal" 2CV for that matter. I owned three of them in total and although 29 horsepower isn't much, it is all you will ever need.

[@CitroenDS23]

Are you saying that domestic residential drivers don't really need 240hp twin staged turbo's? How can one beat "The Jones's" and feel superficially good about oneself without that?😁

[@davidrussell8689]

I appreciate the hard work you put into your videos . Very interesting and entertaining. Thank you .

[@rotax636nut5]

I had one back in 1979, it was quite a late type one I think it might have been a 1975 model. It was surprisingly fast, handled pretty well although with a lot of body lean, brakes were good, lights ok, comfortable interior and so on but it was not particularly good on fuel, I used to get a maximum of 45 mpg and usually less, it was a good car though which I bought for my wife with her new baby, when I came to sell it I had so many people after it it made my head spin, I could have sold it 50 times over and I got more for it than I paid for it after 3 years or so of ownership. Fond memories of the 2CV but the next car I bought for my wife was a lot better, a Ford Granada 2.8i Estate in a wonderful metallic green and with a roof rack, my goodness that Granada was a beautiful car and such a peach to drive! When you do a Granada write up I'll have some good comments remembering some great times I had with mine

[@titiparisien5915]

That was my dad's first car in the fifties. I was too young to remember it. For the summer vacations he used it to drive his small family of three in two days from Paris to the French Riviera (and back). I have a picture of it !

[@darrenwilson8042]

I had a 2CV and a Dyane - great cars both - in all honesty I did prefer the Dyane though. More modern and more refined - both relevant terms you understand.

[@personaldiscovery2124]

Citroen 2cv is a super car, it made life go around in a simple fun way! Love it.

[@alexthomson8329]

Thanks for this great video on the 2CV. I was missing more on all the overseas production such as the " La Dalat " build in Vietnam. Cheers Alex Thomson

[@cisium1184]

I love them. Another of the small European cars I would gladly buy tomorrow if they were made again.

[@sebastienreichel3214]

Why not buy one that's already been made??

[@cisium1184]

@@sebastienreichel3214 They are very scarce this side of the pond, and even less often in good condition.

[@fuckinantipope5511]

@@cisium1184 don't forget that they are expensive now. Looked for a 2CV here in germany and the prices for them Start at 15.000€! I could get a very nice CX or XM for that price! I like the 2CV and if they'd be cheap I would get one, but I will leave them to the collectors and 2CV fanatics :D

[@phaslow4393]

My masseur drives one here in Budapest on a regular basis. She inherited it from her dad who took loving care of it. The car has a personality like no other car. It has clear opininons on how to be driven in wet, windy, hot, cold weather conditions and you better respect her!!....or else!!