This Tiny French Car Has A Truly INCREDIBLE Feature You Have Never Seen Before!

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The shifter in a 2cv is one of the weirdest, wackiest, and most wonderful feature on the car. In this video we go in-depth and learn exactly how it works!
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#citroen #2cv #France

[@Justindouglaspeterso]

Always love the unique and educational content put out on tflclassics. Personally my favorite channel on KZbin. Keep putting out the great Content Tommy!

[@TFLclassics]

Thanks for the kind words! -Tommy

[@BullittKid08]

@@TFLclassics I did a deep dive on Pierre - Jules Boulanger because of your 2CV videos and have shared them with my mother. Her mother lived in the Nazi occupied French countryside during that time and the stories are quite sad. Its great to hear a story like Pierres resistance of the nazi's or that mans escape from the desert. Thanks for bringing them to my attention

[@TFLclassics]

@@BullittKid08 Pretty interesting guy!

[@vanceblosser2155]

Love your car, wish I could afford one. A few notes: The shift pattern on the Peugeot 404 you showed with a column shifter is the same one as the 2CV up until 1966 or 1967 when they switched to a standard H pattern. The Renault 16 had a very positive shifter, the column shift went down to the transmission and was connected at the base with 2 short linkages. And the Renault R4, R5, and R6 had the same type of dash shifter as the 2CV. When the R5 was shipped here they switched it to a floor shifter for the US market - not as direct IMHO.

[@d2factotum]

I had a 1979 Renault 5 here in the UK and it had a regular floor-mounted gearlever as well--not sure if they were always like that but I can definitely say the later models did it that way.

[@kirbycairo]

Your classic channel is by far my favorite one. Please keep them coming.

[@xxxyz721]

Drove a 2cv for a few years, the gearshift becomes intuitive very quickly. Such a fun car to drive :).

[@cabaneencac5168]

There something really charming & fun about French engineering for the masses.

[@FrankySilverFace]

If you look really really closely you can see how the Chiron pulled inspiration from this car.

[@sergehorion7155]

On a previous video, you struggled to climb your icy track to your ranch. Just try it in reverse. All the weight will transfer on your front wheels and this will ease keeping the efficiency of your driving wheels. As your are fond of little nicknames for your 2CV, it was also called « deux pattes » (two paws instead of two horses). « Pattes » is to be pronounced like « pat » in chess.

[@peteralthoff6920]

The 2CV was quite a success for Citroen in Germany. We still call it affectionately "Ente" (Duck in German) 🦆🦆😁

[@graemelliott3942]

Hi Tommy Great video! I rebuilt numerous manual transmissions over the years. You’re correct in it’s simple design. Reverse and first on on one cluster, 2nd & 3rd on another and 4th is by it’s self. If they made a 5th gear it would be on the 4th cluster. Just like a Porsche 901 gearbox in in simplicity and very direct linkage too! Well done!

[@derfacecrafter1869]

Is there enough space to put a 5th gear in? I dont want a (not Sure if higher or lower) gear ratio, I love the 1st gear how it is. Less speed and high torque.

[@graemelliott3942]

@@derfacecrafter1869 it may be possible. On an older Porsche gearbox yo can convert 4 speed boxes to five speed ones. You need a fifth gear and lay shaft. I used the internals from a 5 speed 914 box and put them in a 913 4 speed box. Made for a nicer driving 912!

[@michielberghuis7295]

Cool vid! But when you shifted gears under the hood, you missed fourth gear twice. You pushed the rod to the cabin of the car instead of towards the front. 😜

[@finnianfitzsimons623]

Rural roads test would be cool to see

[@mikec6947]

Fascinating. Thanks for that detailed look.

[@GMCJay_lly]

Love tfl classics!

[@1guyin10]

It would be interesting to see what engineers would come up with today if you told them to design a very inexpensive, reliable car. Of course the first problem these days is that safety requirements put a fairly high floor on the cost of a vehicle.

[@flight2k5]

Cars are reliable today. Just because you think it’s difficult to work on, doesn’t mean it’s difficult. You just refuse to learn how to work on it

[@1guyin10]

@@flight2k5 I never claimed that modern cars are not reliable. To the contrary, they are very reliable. They are also very complex. Learning how to work on them doesn't reduce that complexity. I do most of my own repairs, but it can be a real pain to get to things. All one has to do is change the plugs in a Ford V8 to really understand the word frustration. It would be interesting to see what could be done if the goal the engineers were given was to build a very simplified car as opposed to telling them to cram as many systems as possible into the car.

[@jourwalis-8875]

Nice video and good explanation!

[@romainducournau3050]

Ma mère avait la même en Bordeaux, la charlestone. Les fenêtres ont les appeler "guillotine", à chaque trous, elles tombée sur notre bras. Super video

[@leneanderthalien]

ça ne concernait que les anciennes 2cv dont les fenêtres étaient maintenues par un embout caoutchouc, ensuite il y a eu un petit verrou à ressort très efficace et la fenêtre ne tombait jamais..

[@thomash2806]

I do love your enthusiasm! ;o)

[@pisomark]

A little note beside the nazi occupation of the Citroën factory during ww2.... The german commander who was in charge of ruling Citroën, was not a typical nazi and was not a fan of Hitler, he was helping or closing an eye or two on the Boulanger's sabotaging... After the war he opened a Citroën's dealer!!!!... Initially he bringed a new Volkswagen prototype (the beetle) to impress the french.... Boulanger was strongly unimpressed and he made cover the vw with a blanket, the germans took it away....

[@Scarecrowking]

Great video. Much appreciated

[@jeffrey88888]

Time to do the suspension test on the ranch

[@cnp602]

Instead of pushing forward to neutral and then twisting right and continuing forward you can just twist right while still in 3rd and then push straight to 4th.

[@millomweb]

9:00 You got 4th gear in the wrong place - it's a push forwards, not back.

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

La Deuch, a great car.

[@cnoshoes7049]

A few Renaults had same gear change, Renault 4

[@cnoshoes7049]

I'm sure there was a three engined six wheel 2cv built for Sahara crossing,orange ! And the unique rail type gear change enabled easy connection between all engine's, if any engine failed could be easily disconnected, maybe brilliant simple light vehicles,go anywhere.xx

[@vsalvato53]

At 8:55 you missed the 4th gear and got back to 3rd. 4th is knob right-up, not down!

[@diondrepowder5370]

Same

[@macdeath69]

the 2CV also known affectuously as the "dedeuche" ou "deuche"... To experience a "2CV raid" in France is something...

[@Captain_DeSync]

Thank you, now I genuinely want one lol.

[@valentine2818]

I want one like this!! What is the cost!!

[@mariomarques4247]

RENAULT 4 it´s basically the same principle

[@iangrice329]

Don't think there were many parking lots in the 30s 🤔

[@deck614]

One most unknown fun trick of the 2CV ( I discovered it in the 2CV of a student friend) is that you can drive hidden under the glass level. Just open the air vents (those above the dashbord) with the screwbutton. Then bend over to hide and drive looking through the events (it's not that safe for lateral checks, attention). Then, suddenly appear all together to look at the faces of passers-by. Garanteed laughs :D

[@klausbrinck2137]

People back then must have thought, that this "4th gear" must be an inexcusable effort in useless Luxury... Power to them, they had hard lives, but were focused on dealing with that, and wouldn´t give up !!! 2CV is also a remainder of the french revolutionary spirit of 1789, that the companies and state have to serve the people... America was on the same level shortly after (with french help), but the revolutionary momentum lasted just for milliseconds instead, and not for centuries... After those few milliseconds, they went over on practising the sole new right they´ve gained back from the British, and was trully important for Americans: Genociding american natives... (the British have forbidden that in the past, even canceling America´s independence for that reason, a century before... Yeah, America has already been independent a century before the independence war, but lost its independence, cause the British wouldn´t bear any further genocide-efforts on the native americans...)

[@SamCordery]

Only a yank would find this amazing. Didn’t you already go through all this in a previous? The story has been told time and time and time again.

[@TheEulerID]

A gear box is really engaging? Well, I hope so; you don't want a lot of false neutrals.

[@ruiatalmeida]

It has been used in more than one car, please see Renault 4 as just one example.

[@jasonmorris9066]

Tommy, please hold on to this car and not sell it. That car will give you and your family years of enjoyment

[@LekoOffRoad]

It is not unique shifter - Renault 4 had same shifter :)

[@leneanderthalien]

yes but the 2cv had it first

[@edward002gaming]

Its funny how the citroen made horrible trucks to ruin the germans

[@patricklinkous]

"He was not very fond of the Germans at the time." LOL you should probably stick to a script when talking about the Nazis.

[@glenandrusyk5269]

This is not a classic Especially in North American Market Its gutless and ugly Why is he wasting time and energy on this junk

[@leneanderthalien]

You understand nothing...and like many americans you did not understand cars concept without monster V8 engines and 4000lbs empty weight... In the USA you did not known modern war (1914-1918 and 1939-1945) on your territory and the USA was very rich after each war... Europe after the wars, was the people very poor and many cities (inclusive in France) and the most industries destroyed, the gas prices was always very high (60% tax on gas in France!) and the tax on big engines (more than 2,8liters) extremly high= different phylosophy...

[@claudemontezin911]

Great review! Thank you so much. You make the French car industry proud. Your passion is intoxicating - in a good way. The Citroen DS had hydraulic suspension back in the 70's and could run on 3 wheels, with one of the best coefficient drag in the world. Unfortunately, the country that gave birth to the "automobile" along with many splendid engineering feats, did not always come on par with brilliance in its marketing, sales and production. My dad was a trained mechanic and machinist in the French Army, and joined the resistance. As a kid I kept asking "how many nazi did you kill?" One day he finally answered "I don't know son. But if I were paid a nickel for every rounds I fired directly at the enemy, I'd be multi, multi millionaire!" His life was spared by the nazi when finally captured, and made to work on U-boats. He managed to skew the sophisticated aim of the 88mm deck gun (used most of the time on troops and cargo ships. instead of torpedoes) on quite a few subs, until they caught up with him, beat him up really good, and finally put him back to work - then watched by a dedicated armed guard. At the end of the war, he took a patent on a clever hydraulic transmission for cars "see son, oil into hydraulic pipes is almost un-compressible - unlike air - so you can move or turn anything with it!". There were too few of these magical moments with dad, but right after his passing, I enrolled in a physics curriculum in college. I currently do R&D in renewable energy. You at TFLclassics also convey the pride and passion of Research and Development through your viewers and their children. Thank you for keeping that flame alive! Merci beaucoup mon ami !

[@gregferris9378]

I wish we could go back to the times when car and trucks were simple machines. I used to do a lot of work on them in my driveway.

[@jendrarambharos4379]

Not sure what your plans are Tommy, but these classic vehicle walkthroughs and history episodes are amazing! As high quality as any leading car history show. I hope you get sponsors and people bring their historical cars to you to feature! Honestly, my favorite of the TFL channels!

[@TFLclassics]

Thanks!

[@sarahtonin8144]

The financial market has been a really tough one this past months, but I watched an interview on CNBC where the anchor kept mentioning "...Lynne Ellen Rule...". This prompted me to get in touch with her, and from October 2021 till now we have been working together, and I can now boast of $540k in my trading portfolio

[@chrisjohn7823]

@Hoshi Fuyo I earned more last year because I have been investing while working at the same time. I invested through Lynne Ellen Rule, same woman that the anchor kept mentioning on CNBC, and made multiple of my start up capital within three months . She lives here in the USA and she is licensed.

[@alexmontrey5372]

@@chrisjohn7823 Wow I'm just shocked someone mentioned and recommended expert Lynne Ellen Rule I thought people don't know her

[@mav3420]

@@alexmontrey5372 I also trade with Mrs Lynne Ellen, her trade strategies helped me earn $18,500 after a successful investment of $2,500

[@steceymorgan814]

@Ibrahim faizan look her up on the Internet and leave her a message she's quite popular for her service she was recently featured on Bloomberg

[@cryptocasey1083]

I love her insights and innovative approach to how her ETF’s are run. So different from the stale methods of managers I’ve worked with in the past. She will continue to do well and I will continue to listen to her more. You can just put her name on google and you will be directed to her website and drop her your messages.

[@2cvstan995]

Did you spot the knurled section on the shifter lever that is *just* visible when in neutral?! You can tell at a glance whether you’re in neutral or not (if you get confused!!). Love these classic videos!!

[@titanus49]

Back in 1977, my 2CV started life as a Belgian made 1964 2CV, with the sam,e dash mounted gear lever. However, mine had another clever feature, it also had a centrifugal clutch, which allowed the car to idle with engine running at the lights, first gear engaged , the car would move forward only giving it gas on the accelerator pedal. Very handy in traffic, because there was no need to press the clutch pedal to move the car forward. Only Citroen would dare to include this feature on their 2CV .

[@souheib9343]

I have one like that! I bought it from a gentleman who had a disability that made him unable to drive manuals. Back then automatics weren't very much available so he got a centrifugal clutch swapped into his 2CV. The clutch however does tend to smell and is rather noisy so when it's time to replace it (soon I think) I may swap a regular one back in

[@HenriBourjade]

The centrifugal clutch was useful only with a very small motor.

[@Candisa]

@@souheib9343 The ones from the factory are just made to start from standstill in first or reverse, ideal for stop and go traffic, but you still have to press the clutch to shift (both ways). That probably explains why it slips and smells (either from wear or from modification to use differently as intended).

[@ottonormalverbrauch3794]

@@HenriBourjade Daf 66 with 1300 cc engine had centrifugal clutch and cvt, I wouldn't consider that 'very small'.

[@HenriBourjade]

@@ottonormalverbrauch3794 Small power.

[@Minione16]

Renault had the same shifter in their R4 , R5 (first 2 years only) and R6.

[@Simple_mechanic_guy]

Hello from 🇫🇷 😊 What a pleasure to watch this video to see an American enthusiastic about "our" simple engineering. 2 CV's were the exact opposite to... everything. Especially DS for example, and survived exactly because of that : simple and clever. I can't wait to see your review of the motor/brakes/transmission. And mabe a trip in the mountains "top down" . Peace.

[@freddyandreasen2585]

Fun fact, you can take the crown gear and place it on the other side inside the gearbox, then you have 1 forward gear and 4 reverse 😂😂

[@unconventionalideas5683]

I must point out that Citroen first did a similar shifter to this on the Traction Avant many years prior, and Renault did something similar, albeit with a more conventional pattern, on the Renault R4, a direct competitor and third best-selling automobile in history. Yes, it drove pretty similarly (worse braking, but much faster because its engine was quite a bit bigger and with a tighter turning radius). The two cars were remarkably similar as they had similar (though not identical) design briefs.

[@andrepost7571]

Traction avant shifter system was different, a dual bar push/pull system but it was operated from the dashboard.

[@PedroConejo1939]

I've owned R4s and 2CVs (+ Dyanes). Both designs are different and both brilliant. I think the R4 would just edge it over a 2CV for me, but my favourite was the Dyane - same 2CV characteristics in a very slightly more modern design. In truth, I'd have any of them again, just for the fun I had.

[@franciscodiaz7557]

And the Renault 6

[@souheib9343]

The Renault is also a lot smaller. The 2CV is not actually as small as it seems

[@PedroConejo1939]

@@souheib9343 The Renault 4 isn't 'a lot smaller' than the 2CV. It looks it but there about 20cm difference in length and the same in height. Inside, it feels a wee bit smaller, but there's really not a lot in it.

[@tim2015]

I have been told the 2CV was originally designed to carry four French peasants (farm workers) a dozen eggs and two bottles of wine across a ploughed field.

[@altergreenhorn]

Renault 4 had the same gear lever

[@aviestrela]

The Renault 4 has a similar transmission setup as well. Your Citroen looks to be from the 1980s maybe assembled in the city of Mangualde Portugal

[@richardnottelmann58]

Great job Tommy. 👏

[@peterfinnigan507]

the Renault 4 had a similar way of changing gears

[@Nickwillfixit]

Beat me to it I was going to bring up the Renault 4 my father had one and I also had the Renault 4 for the wife cheap economical and bullet proof.

[@peterfinnigan507]

Also some of the early versions of the Renault 5 and Renault 6 and Citroen Dyane and citroen Ami8 had the same type of gear changing

[@RichieRouge206]

Brilliant video Tommy, these are just the coolest little cars ever, very clever yet never brag about and they do exactly what it says on the tin.

[@ericbouv4070]

Perdu un jour la goupille qui reliait la commande de vitesse au levier. 10cm de fil de fer, et hop, on repart. Cette voiture est à peine plus compliquée à entretenir qu'un vélo. And to drive one of them gives the same difference between cooking or eating fast food.

[@bradarmstrong7467]

Actually Honda had a similar set up in their 1970-72 600 (pre civic)

[@steveeomaster]

Great video tommy. I'm from Colombia and here there's thousands of Renault 4, with pretty similar gear shift. You should buy one because are still cheap to buy and easy to keep running.

[@VinDieselS70]

Even early Renault 5 had the same gears solution as the R4. The story goes it was somewhere women could hang their handbags in, so a handbag holder and a gearstick. French engineering in a nutshell. Hahaha

[@devinbyrnes8058]

Buddy ain't lying about how fun it is to shift. It works really well, smooth but not slow either, with satisfying clicks. I drove my dad's to a car show where they interviewed the driver on entry on the loud speaker. "3 on the tree or 4 on the floor? FOUR IN THE DASH!!!". Most people ask you to open your hood to look at the engine of your muscle car. With a 2CV people just want to see the transmission move.

[@juanmj93]

My Renault 4 has a very similar shifter but not dogleg, and the rod goes all the way over the engine as it is a transaxle gearbox

[@xsiner]

I like that they put a diagram behind the steering wheel so you know where the gears are.

[@jeffs2809]

I believe mythbusters did an episode featuring the conversion of the car into a motorcycle.

[@BullittKid08]

Perhaps honda was inspired by this in the ep3 civic si and other products with the dash mount shifter

[@EngineersHomestead]

Like the Honda Element, Honda uses push/pull set of cables.

[@martinrandall5836]

Back in the day I used to work with a guy that drove a 2cv every day, he even went to the Paris plant. He used to tell us stories about the production of these cars, like men employed to wear a special boot to kick the bonnet so it closed correctly at the end of the line.

[@ottonormalverbrauch3794]

If you like that kind of 'adjusting' you might want to look into a Trabant factory documentary.

[@icare7151]

Tommy, let’s build a modern version on the Ranch. We will call it Tumble Weed Speedy 1.

[@RobbieHerrera]

Always loved the 2CV, only wish I had the space for it. The content and your enthusiasm for the subjects of your classic reviews make them really enjoyable to watch.

[@icare7151]

“Simplicity is the mark of a genius” Plato

[@jourwalis-8875]

An incredible little car! I have owned one myself, once. Now I long for another.......

[@DuaneCaldwell]

Love your passion for unusual cars Tommy! Kind of fitting that the original French farm car is now living on the ranch.

[@ThePruts0r]

Hi Tommy, I know it is a bit off topic, but I really recommend you to find a DAF passenger car. DAF is the inventor of the CVT. They called it the 'Variomatic'. That's the most clever drive train EVER designed! I enjoy my 2cv every summer here in Canada, and unfortunately we did not ship our DAF 66....

[@xjeeper]

If you want to do you a favor remove the carpet and herculine the floor. There will a l w a y s be moisture under the carpet and will couse the chassis rotting fast. We've restored some 2CVs and every single one had that problem.

[@Prestone44]

In 1974 a friend told me: my 2CV is dead. I'm fed up. The gearbox is stuck and I have no more brakes. I left her on the curb. I give you the keys of the wreck for 100 usd (it happened in Brussels). In reality ? The shifter control rod slides in two rubber seals. Due to lack of silicone lubrication, one of the dry seals had sunk into the control tube and was blocking the movement of the control rod. One bolt and a small locking pin later, the shifter was replaced. Of course, the gearbox was intact... I topped up the dot 4 brake fluid level in the master cylinder. After 10 minutes of work I left with a pretty 2CV AZAM6 at the cost of 100 usd which kept running in a very decent way for 2 more years. The same (lubricated) historical shifter control is still alive and well on my 1984 2CV6.

[@axelk4921]

Did you know that ....? The Citroën 2CV 4×4 Sahara The Citroën 2CV 4×4 Sahara was developed for use in hard to reach regions of France and in the French colonies of Africa as a sort of French answer to the Land Rover or Jeep.

[@petercrosland5502]

I used to sell them new in the UK, not hard work you couldn't get enough of them. On test drives with people new to the car biggest problem was trying to stop trying too hard, they would try and over twist and end up all over the place, the secret is that it self centres and 1st to 2nd is just push forward it will jump across itself. Add twist action and you end up in 4th.

[@mjl8115]

Is gear lever pattern wired in 2CV? Not at all. It is pretty standard those days. Renault 4 had much more modern one with first to the left and forward. But if you are looking something wired try to guess how to change gears in DDR's Trabant 601. Good luck.

[@m3photo726]

“ … completely out of the way … “ Yes, in fact that’s the reason it’s a “dog leg”. Fourth is out of the way for a clutterless dash when up to speed on the open road . By the way it’s also sprung so that from first to second you simply push it forward and the lever goes straight to the next gear. You only have to pull it off centre for first, reverse and fourth. The Renault 4 had a similarly placed gear lever but as first was forward so fourth would remain sticking out into the cabin.

[@sietse9920]

I think it’s so funny to hear some sort of surprise in you describing something that here in Europe is só common. Manual transmission!! shift pattern!! Woo woo, how special is thát (not!) 😁😁

[@lucianomi22]

Hi im from Argentina, i own a 2cv6 1978, very different versión it's even called a 3cv if youn need second hand parts here you can find a lot for cheap, the exchange favors your currency

[@rey_mrt]

Absolutely new, we can't find any more. But there are two companies in France that sell reconditioned ones that are like brand new.

[@florjanbrudar692]

11:01 I wouldn't say "anymore", rather "not a lot". in my country there's still a lot of them left. When I was very young, there used to be a 2CV on my street.

[@mry82]

I haven't caught the recent videos. Enjoyed it, and... you look as weird as me without your glasses, haha. :)

[@jquill6]

I looked up the price for one of these secondhand and was shocked at the price they’re fetching . €11,000+, madness

[@peterashdown5499]

inside the car 4th gear you pushed the lever forward & under the hood you pushed the rod back for 4th gear

[@biffaozzie2373]

What is truely incredible is taking 11 minutes to explain two rods connected together with a bolt. FFS

[@toobalicious]

Inspector Cluseau was spectacularly unscucessful with that partucular shifter. Just sayin…

[@ramjipatel2306]

2CV Is one of the engineering master piece of a car. So far unbeatable!!

[@edwinetienne]

I live in europe, I just don't get it why this shifter is strange. It is just another shifter.....

[@stefhocde]

the other car with a similar kind of shifter that I know of is the renault 4 L also a piece of revolutionarry french design

[@sugansugan56]

Educational and interesting. I like you enthusiasm- luv the way it shifts- it is fun.

[@ACL9000]

The story of the man in the desert is like the real-life version of Flight of the Phoenix.

[@alejandrounda4362]

Top speed? Hold on to your hat, mom!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 love the tin snails 🐌

[@brentscott5359]

The Renault 4cv/ van had the same shift idea. Seemed odd at first but it worked.

[@xxxyz721]

You can rebuild a 2cv with a single spanner and a screwdriver….

[@duncanmacpherson2013]

It is a really positive and slick gearchange that would put many other cars to shame

[@jamesengland7461]

I could consider using this shifter on any fwd car. Very ingenious!

[@fredv7487]

It's know as the "ugly duckling" in Europe.

[@leneanderthalien]

in UK, not in europe ...

[@raphaelhoarau]

CV means buff horses like donut media will say 🤣

[@aviniddam1074]

Genial car. Like the DS a few years later...

[@peteralthoff6920]

The one and only James Bond Car I have driven too 😂😂