You can NEVER be sad when driving this car. It is so beloved, and will be even more loved in the future. The fun, the simplicity, the reliability are outstanding in this car.
I am on my third 2CV6 from new. 1978, 1982, 1990. Travelled a total of 550,000 km over 40 years. More 'Smiles per Mile' than any car on the planet. Like having a cute puppy dog, makes friends everywhere you go. I drove my 1982 car new from Paris. for 15 months across Europe, England, Ireland, Canada & USA, before shipping it back to Sydney from San Francisco. So French, different, wonderful and practical. Seats flip out for picnics!!
Hi, I'm in Israel. I had a 2CV years ago, when I was a student, and after that - a Dyane 6. As mentioned in the video, the rear seat comes out in a matter of seconds, and is astonishingly lightweight. This (and the opening roof) comes in handy not only when you need more cargo space, but also on outings and picnics. It makes for a super-comfortable mobile outdoor sofa!
... amazing ... the french has really manage to produce iconic automobiles ... pragmatic & cost-efficient ... and classicaly turned designs ... found about this car in DW car show ... instantly caught my imagination & interest as an architect ... purchased mine in full die-cast model 1:24 ... superbly designed for the contry side-farmer ... in my country never arrived ... but assembled a close resemblance for about 3 decades with great success : the unforgetable Renault-4 ... also very avant-gard : almost first compact 5 door or hatcback -called nowadays popular city cars ...
The Surfers top fuel team transported barrels of nitromethane as well as 392 Hemis in parts in a 2CV back in the 1960:s. Story is on TH-cam. BTW, in Finland these were called "4 people coveralls".
I have fond memories of the 2CV aka deudeuche as we call it at home. I was 11 years old and living in Africa. During a summer camp in the bush run by our school headmaster and 3 nuns, I had a bad fall resulting in both my shoulder and elbow being dislocated. We were about 230km away from the next hospital. Thank God the headmaster opted to take me to hospital in the Nuns’ 2CV instead of the camp Land Rover. I was made as comfortable as possible at the back of the car with my legs on Sister Thérèse's lap and it took us nearly 5 hours driving on a bush track full of potholes all the way. Without any pain killer, I still remember not having suffered too much. Finally, we arrived past Midnight at the hospital where I was taken care of, and that … was painful. I just fainted.
I have a 1985 Special that I use every day named Miss Darcy, starts first time every time and kids smile and wave at me. Not bad for a 37 year old lady! I love her xxx
Hi from the UK. I have owned a Bamboo version of the 2cv from new, and have covered 215000 miles in it to date. It is an amazing car! Having owned sports cars and various 'modern' vehicles this one beats them all hands down. Quirky, reliable, and has probably the best suspension ever devised on a car, it has been part of our family for 30 odd years. It can carry enormous loads with the rear seat removed, and you can also use the said rear seat when removed just to relax in and enjoy the view when on a day out. May I wish you many years of good motoring in the future, and remember, a 2cv is the best 'stress buster' ever devised. Looking at your car, it surely has to be a Noel Slade purchase. He is truly a great mechanic for these cars, and it is his dad that started us on this 2cv journey all those years ago here in England. Regards.e
We had a 2 CV at the end of the 80's. It was the funniest car I have ever driven. My wife and I said to each other that if we ever win the lottery, we would buy a restored 2 CV. Here in Germany they cost € 15,000 - € 20,000. But then you can also drive it for the next 25 years.
What a great video. I owned two 2CV's here in the UK, years ago. One was a burgundy and black Charleston. They are definitely the most fun cars I've ever had. And absolutely everyone adored them too - especially once they'd enjoyed a trip in them. The crank saved me a couple of times in freezing weather too!
I am from the Netherlands; 2CV's were very popular over here and when i was a student in the eighties i owned a 2CV Special (compared to my Special the Charleston from the video is extremely luxurious) and a Acadyane. Man, those were fun cars and a joy to ride. I even went to the South of France for a holiday with my girlfriend in the 2CV Special. My love of convertibles started there.
There are no springs in the seats but a series of rubber O rings with a metal hook at opposite ends that hook between the metal seat frame and a woven panel. The foam padded seat cover rests on this and the whole affair is much lighter than having springs.That wheel brace "loosens" three bolts to remove the entire front fender/wing, the bolts don't even have to be removed completely since there are slots in the fender bracket allowing them to be pulled away.The rear trunk/boot panel when opened can be slid sideways to remove no tools needed same with rear doors lifted vertically. The metal flourish on top of each headlamp can be pressed down to release the glass and reflector for changing a bulb again no tools needed.Another advantage and something possibly unique to the 2CV is a total lack of rubber hydraulic brake hoses eliminating items that require periodic replacement. I could go on and on.
+RideswithChuck OK, the engine can be lifted from its mountings by an able person, the odd gear select pattern was chosen putting second and third gears opposite each other because they are the most used ratios after initial start. Fourth gear is a high cruise ratio. There is an inbuilt oil cooler for longevity, for simplicity no distributor and as a result the spark plugs have a redundant spark on the exhaust stroke! No timing chain to wear and create noise or break instead a single gear which is split in half and spring loaded to compensate for wear driving the cam. No head gaskets just a perfectly machined cylinder barrel and head. A low frequency suspension system that is more "in tune" with the human natural walking gait than other systems adding comfort. Concealed from the elements rack and pinion steering system which being mounted in the front suspension cross tube is together with the rear cross tube only attached to the chassis at four points. The lite weight punt chassis use and suspension design deserves an article on its own since it's unique in the automotive field totally unlike conventional chassis built cars.
couldn't have said it better myself. The lack of complication in the engine, no gaskets etc basically make the engine indestructable. I've been in one of these (well, a Dyane 6, but it's similar) going at motorway speeds and it nearly deafened me but it just ran and ran.
One person from the town where I live has this car it's quite a pleasure to see him drive it around during summer, I'm going to be one of the person's that has a old car in my town soon when I'm going to buy a Trabant 601 for my self
They always make me smile! I've driven them three times in Europe and dream of owning one. The shift was crazy, and I drove around in 2nd gear for an hour because I couldn't locate 1st! LOL
My Mum had one of these at the end of the 70s and I learned to drive in it. Once I knew how to drive I drove it a lot. There were many of these in the UK where I live but not as many as in France where they were ubiquitous. You can drive the 2CV at maximum speed just fine. The 602 cc ones would do about 65 and would sit at that speed all day if need be. If you are French and you say "2CV" it sounds just like "Deux Cheveaux" which is French for two horses. That is why Citroën called it that. My Mum and I liked that and we always called hers the Deux Cheveaux. The seats come out of the car and can be used self standing as seats in a picnic. The 2CV is ideal for crossing the countryside but it is not ideal as a town car. I think the steering was a bit heavy and the gear-change was a bit slow for city use. That is if I remember driving this car correctly, it was many years ago.
mr Jaylensaur: with the same engine and the same construction philosophy, Citroen has sold 12 million cars worldwide and 60 years of history. It is obvious that the car consumer is more intelligent than you ... (models of the same family 2CV Dyane Ami 8 Mehari etc etc)
Chan Mate I come from the U.K. which is part of Europe and most Europeans know that a lot of Citroens are absolute crap. The 2CV is a garden shed on wheels. If you want to talk about good cars then talk about something that’s useful or reliable like the classic Mini or the Ferrari Enzo. I’m sorry American car bloke but come to Europe and we’ll tell you the good cars and bad without you judging by it being “underrated”
@@MrJaylensaur The original comment was biased but great to see you showing big respect to a classic. 2CVs have a decent following in the UK and most of the people who take the piss out of them are Skyline fanboys doing donuts in riced up shitboxes at Ace Cafe. Most classic car people recognize them for they are. A simple and cheaply made piece of history with classic styling. Btw, I don't own one or am a die hard fan of them myself.
My dream car as a child in the 1960’s. Around 1973 I started to save for one with my pocket money. After one year inflation had increased the price of the 2CV more than I had saved up and put aside so I gave it up. It’s a cruel world 😔 Still a marvelously engineering tour de force. In 1948 the Citroën had nailed it. Center point steering, inboard brakes, interconnected springs, roll axis at ground level, front and rear, (Ralph Nader should have looked at its suspension geometry and then have written a book called “safe at any speed) ultra hyper low center of gravity, front wheel drive. And the list goes on and on and
It was an amazing construction, easy to drive, forgiving about any fault, starting instantly at -20°C … unless a Citroën workshop had hands on it. Workshops spoiled everything, their only standard was that a mechanic must have a wrench in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other hand. They didn't even fine-tune the ignition - a task that a 6-years-old can easily learn.
About 8 years ago i went to Foz do Iguaçu-Paraná-Brazil and saw a yellow 2CV IMPECCABLE(Paraguay license plate), i remember like was yesterday, thanks for the city tour, awesome!
great video. Thanks . I had 2 of these and a Dyane and loved them to bits . I still have the Dyane which I use in the summer here in Scotland . Parts are easily obtained and no job is too difficult to perform . Thanks for your great video .
My oldest sister has a 1984, light blue. She is a helicopter pilot and wanted something very simple with minimal instrumentation. We drove it and reached 60 knots per hour, with a strong tail wind. This car is an absolute riot to drive.
We had one - great fun - we took it trough thick snow in Scotland & in the desert heat of the Sahara - ours had the 602 29HP van engine (slightly lower compression so it could handle poor quality fuel) - ran it on full synthetic oil and it never missed a beat
the engine not need syntetic oil: the best is a high quality 20w40 mineral oil (20w50 in hot countries), thin synthetic oil like 5w40 or less is dangerous for this old design air cooled engine because low adherence on surfaces, specialy camshaft who is only lubricated by oil sprays...
Among the different cars I owned, my favorite are : the 74 red Dodge Dart Swinger I purchased when I was living in South Korea, my wifés 2 CV France 3 of 1984, my 66 Peugeot 404 SL, which I use for leasure, and my VW coccinelle. The most genius beeing the 2 cv.
the basic design from the 2cv is much older as 1948: it's based on the 1939 Citroën TPV, who was ready to launch for the "salon de Paris" 1939 ...who never happens because the war...the TPV had a 2cyl boxer, but water cooled, and a aluminium body...~250 TPV was built, but never sale, only 5 survive, 4 hidden in the Citroën test center and 1 by Michelin...
I had one of these for several years when I lived in Germany and Belgium. I loved that car. I love that, thanks to that car, I know how to use a manual choke and work a Duesenberg shift.
When i was young in France a friend of mine had a Dyane (which is basically the same car) his father which was mechanic put a Citroen GS motor in it with Weber carburator, man this thing was brutal and really dangerous i can't remember the max speed we make but more than 160 Km/h. I remember the face of the guys on modern car (Golf, Audi, Renault..etc) when we pass them on higway. At 150 Km/h it was like we going at 250 Km/h with the noise of the motor and the wind and vibrations, it was like we were in a WW1 Aeroplane. :)
no: i'ts impossible to install a GS engine on the 2cv chassis who is too weak for this: such thing was made with a AMI 8 SUPER chassis who is basicaly the same but modified and reinforced: this car was serial fitted with a 1015cc 55hp 4 cyl GS engine...It's relative easy to fit the 2cv body on the AMI 8 Super chassis: need only small mods ...top speed with this engine was 140 km/h not 160 (the aerodynamics from the 2cv is bad and need lot of power to gain speed...)
In The Netherlands the 2CV and the DC were more commonly known by their nicknames. A 2CV was known as "Lelijke Eend" (ugly duck) and the DC as "Snoek" (pike). When I was a kid we owned a green 2CV. I remember it being very cold in winter.
I've had Triumph, Ford, BMW, Opel, Volvo ... but my little 2CV was the most thoughtfully, creatively engineered car. You can't roll one either, except in reverse.
I own a 1980 "Dyane-6" which is a "refreshed" hatchback version of the same car, again extremely simple and using the same engine, frame, gearbox, suspension, interiors... It simply is just a little different from the outside, a tiny little bit more aerodynamic so it can be a little faster than a 2cv and the windows roll up and down just as a modern car (but not electric), I drive it everyday and everywhere, and everybody likes it, its a nice car to own as you don't need to have much money to keep and drive it as much as you want, and its also mechanically bulletproof!
Hi Chuck, Magnificent, after the Citroën DS 21 you present the ciroen 2 CV which is in my eyes the little French queen !!! I grew up with these cars what memories ... Thanks for the ride ... Denis.
Classic car- have owned 2 2CV's- a baby blue one and a red one with a red and white striped roof which my friends were embarrassed to be seen in lol. Also owned a couple of Dyanes too. The burgundy colored Charlestons were very popular in the UK but have not seen many yellow ones around. I once saw a 2CV in San Diego back in the mid 90's when I used to live in California. Your car is absolutely gorgeous and looks in amazing condition- well done and thx for the video!
...the crank used to remove the wheels was also used as well to remove the headlights columns and front and rear wings. Only 2 nuts to hold the front wings and only one lug and nut for the rear wing.
The thing about the rear wings is correct for the DS, not for the 2CV. In fact, these were a pain, having to loosen many 5 mm screws that were all rusty.
Where I live 2CVs were for school teachers and college students and lefties in general. It was, though, a brilliant example of how to almost build a car without really doing so
I've always wanted one, the shift pattern is weird though. And they're expensive in the united states. What's dunny is you can crank start all of them with the tire iron.
@@michaelboyko5024 lug wrench. For some reason the term tire iron applies to it but a tire iron is actually something different, from the early auto days where you had to pry the tire off the rim
The Charleston 2 CV was quite an exclusive car at its Time in the 80ties. The price for one in Germany was about 11.800 Marks about 5.400 Dollars for the same amount you could buy a Beetle Silver Bug or Last Edition between 1983 and 1986.
Awesome little cars. I've seen a few of them and had a ride in a new one in the early '60s when my brother's friend brought one back from Europe. I was 13 or 14. I was in love with that little car and Bill, my brother's friend said he'd sell it to me when I was 16. I used to dream about it! The next summer, his sister took it for a ride and demo'd it. I was bummed out for weeks :~|
Hi Chuck & John - Very interesting history and story, behind this car. I like the hand crank. No one is going to drive off with this car, because of the hand shifter. Yellow & black looks great. • Thanks for the ride. • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
That engine sound, I love it with the rest of the car. As a kid, we did the game in where you had to pinch the guy or girl next to you whenever you saw a green 2cv while driving looking out of the window. 'ugly duck' we call it in the Netherlands. It is not ugly at all of course, it's beautiful, nice to know this car came from where I live.
It was a minimalist, rustic, useful and cheap car. For farmers at first, but in the 70s it was also a car for hippies, then it became a car with a certain "art of living" fun, simple and that did not consume much. Citroen made a modern version of it: The DIane, but it wasn't the same thing. They stopped the modern and continued to produce the old 2CV. I think the French liked it as it was.... even if it was obsolete on many points. I liked mine, even though I was cold in it and I didn't hear the music because it was so noisy. But I felt joyful and free.
My first, second and third car was a Citroen 2CV. Stil I drive Citroen, now a C2. It is just as much fun. I still hope that Citroen comes with a retro 2CV.
Came from the Netherlands? The front licence plate is a french plate from region 24 (Dordogne area). I guess the seller in Amsterdam was just a pass through :-)
The 2 CV was designed before World War 2 and hidden from the Germans until after the war. I bought a somewhat decrepid Citroen Dyane with the 435cc engine in 1977. I swapped the engine for a 602cc engine/gearbox out of a scrapped Citroen Ami as I was fed up with being overtaken by pedestrians. Even today it is a brilliant piece of design and engineering that nobody has quite managed to replicate, and people have tried. They are nice friendly practical and comfortable cars to own and drive around in, which might surprise some. My brother did a 120 mile daily commute in his Citroen 2 CV until he was able to move closer to his new job. Getting up early and driving steadily he used about 2.5 gallons (UK not US) of fuel each day. Its an amazing car. That is the most luxurious 2CV I have ever seen....Carpets ? What are they ???
Just to wet the appetite a bit more You Tube CITROEN 2CV SCENIC DRIVE DASH CAM VIEW WITH ICE Mr Hub Nut takes Elly for a "spin" on a cold but sunny day enjoy
@@alainbergeron4520 Didn't know it is the slang word, I've only ever heard it as "deux cheveaux" (literally "two horses") shortened to "deuchvo". Guess my grandpa wasn't ghetto enough to go full slang. :-) So slight correction on your example: A Frenchman will say "I own a deuche" to express that he owns a 2CV. "2 deuche" (actually with a plural S), would mean he's got two of them.
@@Hamachingo you are right a deux cheveaux is also a more proper way to refer to the vehicle. A 2 deuches is definitely more colloquial borderline slang. Good job, my dream is to find one of those beast for myself. Amicalement vôtre. 💥👍
@@Hamachingo "La Deuche" was its pet name in France. It's just "Deux Chevaux" cut short since the final -x in deux is silent. Sometimes also "Deudeuche" but this is more recent and can refer to any old small popular car.
This car was imported but licence plate is from France , Dordogne more precisely. I like rear plate « deuche » , what is actually its nickname in France. Really good condition car. Just roll the top the other way round to avoid unexpected unroll. Cheers from Paris.
Great video, thanks! So this car may have been imported from the Netherlands, but before that it must have been imported from France as it's carrying a French numberplate. The latter number on the numberplate signifies the department in which the car was registered - 24 is for Dordogne.
Import from Netherlands is probably because a company there called Burton is specialized in restauration and production of what we can called new 2CV. They can create a new car from scratch since they are producing and selling genuine parts under Citroen licence. There is another one in France in Cassis doing restauration and production of 2CV also, on the same basis. So, it is still possible to buy this little funny car !
You can NEVER be sad when driving this car. It is so beloved, and will be even more loved in the future. The fun, the simplicity, the reliability are outstanding in this car.
I am on my third 2CV6 from new. 1978, 1982, 1990. Travelled a total of 550,000 km over 40 years. More 'Smiles per Mile' than any car on the planet. Like having a cute puppy dog, makes friends everywhere you go. I drove my 1982 car new from Paris. for 15 months across Europe, England, Ireland, Canada & USA, before shipping it back to Sydney from San Francisco. So French, different, wonderful and practical. Seats flip out for picnics!!
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
This little cute car is wonderful to own and drive - had one 20 years ago and just bought one because I missed it all these years.
How I would love to own one of those. Where are you from?
Kalundborg Denmark
Hi, I'm in Israel. I had a 2CV years ago, when I was a student, and after that - a Dyane 6. As mentioned in the video, the rear seat comes out in a matter of seconds, and is astonishingly lightweight. This (and the opening roof) comes in handy not only when you need more cargo space, but also on outings and picnics. It makes for a super-comfortable mobile outdoor sofa!
... amazing ... the french has really manage to produce iconic automobiles ... pragmatic & cost-efficient ... and classicaly turned designs ... found about this car in DW car show ... instantly caught my imagination & interest as an architect ... purchased mine in full die-cast model 1:24 ... superbly designed for the contry side-farmer ... in my country never arrived ... but assembled a close resemblance for about 3 decades with great success : the unforgetable Renault-4 ... also very avant-gard : almost first compact 5 door or hatcback -called nowadays popular city cars ...
The Surfers top fuel team transported barrels of nitromethane as well as 392 Hemis in parts in a 2CV back in the 1960:s. Story is on TH-cam. BTW, in Finland these were called "4 people coveralls".
A very cute little car indeed. Thanks for sharing Chuck & John.
The Shade Tree Fix-it Man You are welcome Sir!
I have fond memories of the 2CV aka deudeuche as we call it at home. I was 11 years old and living in Africa. During a summer camp in the bush run by our school headmaster and 3 nuns, I had a bad fall resulting in both my shoulder and elbow being dislocated. We were about 230km away from the next hospital. Thank God the headmaster opted to take me to hospital in the Nuns’ 2CV instead of the camp Land Rover. I was made as comfortable as possible at the back of the car with my legs on Sister Thérèse's lap and it took us nearly 5 hours driving on a bush track full of potholes all the way. Without any pain killer, I still remember not having suffered too much. Finally, we arrived past Midnight at the hospital where I was taken care of, and that … was painful. I just fainted.
Wow!!!
I have a 1985 Special that I use every day named Miss Darcy, starts first time every time and kids smile and wave at me. Not bad for a 37 year old lady! I love her xxx
Very comprehensive & interesting video. The car is exceptionally austere and simple, but it does the job cheaply, exactly the way it was designed to.
Hi from the UK. I have owned a Bamboo version of the 2cv from new, and have covered 215000 miles in it to date.
It is an amazing car! Having owned sports cars and various 'modern' vehicles this one beats them all hands down. Quirky, reliable, and has probably the best suspension ever devised on a car, it has been part of our family for 30 odd years. It can carry enormous loads with the rear seat removed, and you can also use the said rear seat when removed just to relax in and enjoy the view when on a day out.
May I wish you many years of good motoring in the future, and remember, a 2cv is the best 'stress buster' ever devised.
Looking at your car, it surely has to be a Noel Slade purchase. He is truly a great mechanic for these cars, and it is his dad that started us on this 2cv journey all those years ago here in England.
Regards.e
We had a 2 CV at the end of the 80's. It was the funniest car I have ever driven. My wife and I said to each other that if we ever win the lottery, we would buy a restored 2 CV. Here in Germany they cost € 15,000 - € 20,000. But then you can also drive it for the next 25 years.
I had a 375cc back in 1984... I miss my 2cv, the simplest, fun car to drive, mine was yellow too, i repainted it after buying it.
What a great video. I owned two 2CV's here in the UK, years ago. One was a burgundy and black Charleston. They are definitely the most fun cars I've ever had. And absolutely everyone adored them too - especially once they'd enjoyed a trip in them. The crank saved me a couple of times in freezing weather too!
French are geniuses, and very modest... I'm french.
what a contradiction haha
Une deux deuches avec un toit sardine! C'est le paradis!
Oui, c'est la verite. L'auto est magnifique!
In an ad in Germany Citroën said:
Intelligence on wheels.!
A une époque, une majorité de français roulait en "cabrio"!
I am from the Netherlands; 2CV's were very popular over here and when i was a student in the eighties i owned a 2CV Special (compared to my Special the Charleston from the video is extremely luxurious) and a Acadyane. Man, those were fun cars and a joy to ride. I even went to the South of France for a holiday with my girlfriend in the 2CV Special. My love of convertibles started there.
I'm from Uruguay and i had an Ami 8 wich shares engine and plataform with the 2 cv and mehari.
@@atiliogarcia5019 viva Uruguay !
@@minutepapillon5060 Papillon! Henri Charriere!
There are no springs in the seats but a series of rubber O rings with a metal hook at opposite ends that hook between the metal seat frame and a woven panel. The foam padded seat cover rests on this and the whole affair is much lighter than having springs.That wheel brace "loosens" three bolts to remove the entire front fender/wing, the bolts don't even have to be removed completely since there are slots in the fender bracket allowing them to be pulled away.The rear trunk/boot panel when opened can be slid sideways to remove no tools needed same with rear doors lifted vertically. The metal flourish on top of each headlamp can be pressed down to release the glass and reflector for changing a bulb again no tools needed.Another advantage and something possibly unique to the 2CV is a total lack of rubber hydraulic brake hoses eliminating items that require periodic replacement. I could go on and on.
Please do!
+RideswithChuck OK, the engine can be lifted from its mountings by an able person, the odd gear select pattern was chosen putting second and third gears opposite each other because they are the most used ratios after initial start.
Fourth gear is a high cruise ratio.
There is an inbuilt oil cooler for longevity, for simplicity no distributor and as a result the spark plugs have a redundant spark on the exhaust stroke!
No timing chain to wear and create noise or break instead a single gear which is split in half and spring loaded to compensate for wear driving the cam. No head gaskets just a perfectly machined cylinder barrel and head.
A low frequency suspension system that is more "in tune" with the human natural walking gait than other systems adding comfort. Concealed from the elements rack and pinion steering system which being mounted in the front suspension cross tube is together with the rear cross tube only attached to the chassis at four points.
The lite weight punt chassis use and suspension design deserves an article on its own since it's unique in the automotive field totally unlike conventional chassis built cars.
couldn't have said it better myself. The lack of complication in the engine, no gaskets etc basically make the engine indestructable. I've been in one of these (well, a Dyane 6, but it's similar) going at motorway speeds and it nearly deafened me but it just ran and ran.
It's good to see someone that actually knows what they're talking about.
@@SPTSuperSprinter156 Actually the valve covers have gaskets.
Marvelous, My grandpa had one, my dad too. A Chilean made one. Amazing.
One person from the town where I live has this car it's quite a pleasure to see him drive it around during summer, I'm going to be one of the person's that has a old car in my town soon when I'm going to buy a Trabant 601 for my self
Go for it!
Thanks! I will for sure :D
They always make me smile! I've driven them three times in Europe and dream of owning one. The shift was crazy, and I drove around in 2nd gear for an hour because I couldn't locate 1st! LOL
My Mum had one of these at the end of the 70s and I learned to drive in it. Once I knew how to drive I drove it a lot. There were many of these in the UK where I live but not as many as in France where they were ubiquitous.
You can drive the 2CV at maximum speed just fine. The 602 cc ones would do about 65 and would sit at that speed all day if need be.
If you are French and you say "2CV" it sounds just like "Deux Cheveaux" which is French for two horses. That is why Citroën called it that. My Mum and I liked that and we always called hers the Deux Cheveaux.
The seats come out of the car and can be used self standing as seats in a picnic.
The 2CV is ideal for crossing the countryside but it is not ideal as a town car. I think the steering was a bit heavy and the gear-change was a bit slow for city use. That is if I remember driving this car correctly, it was many years ago.
The most beautiful car in the world.
It looks like a spasticated frog and drives like one. Are you on drugs or something?
mr Jaylensaur:
with the same engine and the same construction philosophy, Citroen has sold 12 million cars worldwide and 60 years of history. It is obvious that the car consumer is more intelligent than you ... (models of the same family 2CV Dyane Ami 8 Mehari etc etc)
Chan Mate I come from the U.K. which is part of Europe and most Europeans know that a lot of Citroens are absolute crap. The 2CV is a garden shed on wheels. If you want to talk about good cars then talk about something that’s useful or reliable like the classic Mini or the Ferrari Enzo. I’m sorry American car bloke but come to Europe and we’ll tell you the good cars and bad without you judging by it being “underrated”
@@MrJaylensaur The original comment was biased but great to see you showing big respect to a classic. 2CVs have a decent following in the UK and most of the people who take the piss out of them are Skyline fanboys doing donuts in riced up shitboxes at Ace Cafe. Most classic car people recognize them for they are. A simple and cheaply made piece of history with classic styling. Btw, I don't own one or am a die hard fan of them myself.
MrJaylensaur I am from Britain and I adore these little cars and so do most people in my family
Remember eyeing that type car 🚙 while station in Vietnam 🇻🇳! My from Missouri
If you want to see another one... :D there's one upside down in Tavern Creek under the Highway A bridge by St. Anthony.
My dream car as a child in the 1960’s. Around 1973 I started to save for one with my pocket money. After one year inflation had increased the price of the 2CV more than I had saved up and put aside so I gave it up. It’s a cruel world 😔
Still a marvelously engineering tour de force. In 1948 the Citroën had nailed it. Center point steering, inboard brakes, interconnected springs, roll axis at ground level, front and rear, (Ralph Nader should have looked at its suspension geometry and then have written a book called “safe at any speed) ultra hyper low center of gravity, front wheel drive. And the list goes on and on and
It was an amazing construction, easy to drive, forgiving about any fault, starting instantly at -20°C … unless a Citroën workshop had hands on it. Workshops spoiled everything, their only standard was that a mechanic must have a wrench in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other hand. They didn't even fine-tune the ignition - a task that a 6-years-old can easily learn.
About 8 years ago i went to Foz do Iguaçu-Paraná-Brazil and saw a yellow 2CV IMPECCABLE(Paraguay license plate), i remember like was yesterday, thanks for the city tour, awesome!
great video. Thanks . I had 2 of these and a Dyane and loved them to bits . I still have the Dyane which I use in the summer here in Scotland . Parts are easily obtained and no job is too difficult to perform . Thanks for your great video .
For a basic car, it's a work of art.
My oldest sister has a 1984, light blue. She is a helicopter pilot and wanted something very simple with minimal instrumentation. We drove it and reached 60 knots per hour, with a strong tail wind. This car is an absolute riot to drive.
We had one - great fun - we took it trough thick snow in Scotland & in the desert heat of the Sahara - ours had the 602 29HP van engine (slightly lower compression so it could handle poor quality fuel) - ran it on full synthetic oil and it never missed a beat
the engine not need syntetic oil: the best is a high quality 20w40 mineral oil (20w50 in hot countries), thin synthetic oil like 5w40 or less is dangerous for this old design air cooled engine because low adherence on surfaces, specialy camshaft who is only lubricated by oil sprays...
Among the different cars I owned, my favorite are : the 74 red Dodge Dart Swinger I purchased when I was living in South Korea, my wifés 2 CV France 3 of 1984, my 66 Peugeot 404 SL, which I use for leasure, and my VW coccinelle. The most genius beeing the 2 cv.
It's so cool and stylish. It's not a transcontinental interstate cruiser, but a wonderful around town car with all that you need.
the basic design from the 2cv is much older as 1948: it's based on the 1939 Citroën TPV, who was ready to launch for the "salon de Paris" 1939 ...who never happens because the war...the TPV had a 2cyl boxer, but water cooled, and a aluminium body...~250 TPV was built, but never sale, only 5 survive, 4 hidden in the Citroën test center and 1 by Michelin...
That noise . . . I could listen to that all day.
Thanks for sharing John and Chuck. It is indeed the cutest most practical no frills ride. My wife wants to get hold of one. Thanks again. ❤️🇵🇭💐👍🆗
I had one of these for several years when I lived in Germany and Belgium. I loved that car. I love that, thanks to that car, I know how to use a manual choke and work a Duesenberg shift.
What a wealth of information on this beautiful example. A deep level of knowledge and interest that I would expect from John Langston.
I owned a green bamboo version from 1997-98. Lovely car...cute in every way! 29bhp 2 cylinder 0.6 litre engine ...72mph top speed.
I would love to own one of those. I first saw one in Paris 31 years ago.
Nice squeek in the gearstick. And the headlights ! Chrome with yellow lightbulbs. Fantastic 😊👍🤝🇳🇱
My dad had one yesteryear..lovely car and lot of memories. Would love to have one if found.
At first sight you hate its old-fashioned look... But then you suddenly see the beauty! Awesome 2CV6! Thanks for the story.
The car is in a constant state of retro.
Michael Boyko I knew the 2CV since I was 1 or 2 years old... I hated it but I have yet to drive it or ride in it.
When i was young in France a friend of mine had a Dyane (which is basically the same car) his father which was mechanic put a Citroen GS motor in it with Weber carburator, man this thing was brutal and really dangerous i can't remember the max speed we make but more than 160 Km/h. I remember the face of the guys on modern car (Golf, Audi, Renault..etc) when we pass them on higway. At 150 Km/h it was like we going at 250 Km/h with the noise of the motor and the wind and vibrations, it was like we were in a WW1 Aeroplane. :)
Paul HochonHa ! Ha ! Ha ! J'aurai bien aimé voir ça ! ;-)
no: i'ts impossible to install a GS engine on the 2cv chassis who is too weak for this: such thing was made with a AMI 8 SUPER chassis who is basicaly the same but modified and reinforced: this car was serial fitted with a 1015cc 55hp 4 cyl GS engine...It's relative easy to fit the 2cv body on the AMI 8 Super chassis: need only small mods ...top speed with this engine was 140 km/h not 160 (the aerodynamics from the 2cv is bad and need lot of power to gain speed...)
In The Netherlands the 2CV and the DC were more commonly known by their nicknames. A 2CV was known as "Lelijke Eend" (ugly duck) and the DC as "Snoek" (pike). When I was a kid we owned a green 2CV. I remember it being very cold in winter.
lovely car ! i had one years ago ! i would have another !
Also, the early model 2cv had the pedals which could be used with clogs. Voila ! I experienced it and it works very well.
Good job Chuck and John. A real pleasure to see this.
I've had Triumph, Ford, BMW, Opel, Volvo ... but my little 2CV was the most thoughtfully, creatively engineered car. You can't roll one either, except in reverse.
Hi chuck.
This car reminds me my childhood, there were many in Israel in the 70's and 80's.
Thanks for sharing.
***** Are there any left in Israel?
I think there are a few....
5:29 Surprising indicator, considering the fact that I once saw an old Beetle on which the indicator was very slow.
I own a 1980 "Dyane-6" which is a "refreshed" hatchback version of the same car, again extremely simple and using the same engine, frame, gearbox, suspension, interiors... It simply is just a little different from the outside, a tiny little bit more aerodynamic so it can be a little faster than a 2cv and the windows roll up and down just as a modern car (but not electric), I drive it everyday and everywhere, and everybody likes it, its a nice car to own as you don't need to have much money to keep and drive it as much as you want, and its also mechanically bulletproof!
curious about those roll up windows?? the Ami series cars have roll ups but the Dyane only ever had horizontal sliding windows and only on the front!
Spanish Dyanes and the Dyane light-truck (Acadiane) had roll-up side windows (in the front doors)
Hi Chuck,
Magnificent, after the Citroën DS 21 you present the ciroen 2 CV which is in my eyes the little French queen !!! I grew up with these cars what memories ... Thanks for the ride ... Denis.
The Foudre My town of Downers Grove seems to be turning French!
Classic car- have owned 2 2CV's- a baby blue one and a red one with a red and white striped roof which my friends were embarrassed to be seen in lol. Also owned a couple of Dyanes too. The burgundy colored Charlestons were very popular in the UK but have not seen many yellow ones around. I once saw a 2CV in San Diego back in the mid 90's when I used to live in California. Your car is absolutely gorgeous and looks in amazing condition- well done and thx for the video!
Hi, Thanks for watching and commenting.
The 2cv is the perfección of simplicity..thanks for share
LOL. This is one of my favorite cars.
Belle 2CV ❤
i had one of these when stationed in germany in the army.1988-1990-soooo cool...btw the windows open to a partial opened position that he didnt show
Citroëns are so silly that you just have to love them 🇫🇷♥️🇫🇷
I like Renault 4 too ♥️
...the crank used to remove the wheels was also used as well to remove the headlights columns and
front and rear wings. Only 2 nuts to hold the front wings and only one lug and nut for the rear wing.
The thing about the rear wings is correct for the DS, not for the 2CV. In fact, these were a pain, having to loosen many 5 mm screws that were all rusty.
Where I live 2CVs were for school teachers and college students and lefties in general. It was, though, a brilliant example of how to almost build a car without really doing so
Very cool little car.
I've always wanted one, the shift pattern is weird though. And they're expensive in the united states. What's dunny is you can crank start all of them with the tire iron.
Tire iron! It took some time to understand what's that
@@michaelboyko5024 lug wrench. For some reason the term tire iron applies to it but a tire iron is actually something different, from the early auto days where you had to pry the tire off the rim
@@rexjolles wow, now it's clear! For English learners there appear some difficult moments, haha.
Didn't realise 2CVs made it to the States. They are such clever, characterful cars. Less is certainly more!
The Charleston 2 CV was quite an exclusive car at its Time in the 80ties. The price for one in Germany was about 11.800 Marks about 5.400 Dollars for the same amount you could buy a Beetle Silver Bug or Last Edition between 1983 and 1986.
Awesome little cars. I've seen a few of them and had a ride in a new one in the early '60s when my brother's friend brought one back from Europe. I was 13 or 14. I was in love with that little car and Bill, my brother's friend said he'd sell it to me when I was 16. I used to dream about it! The next summer, his sister took it for a ride and demo'd it. I was bummed out for weeks :~|
Ok grandpa.
Hi Chuck & John - Very interesting history and story, behind this car. I like the hand crank. No one is going to drive off with this car, because of the hand shifter. Yellow & black looks great. • Thanks for the ride.
• Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
***** It is a little attention getter!
My 1st car, i was 18, she was from 1962, she was bright orange and a beauty..should have kept it (
Finally, finally somebody gets it, that is the cutest car ever 🤗🤗🤗🧸🧸🧸
Thanks for the ride, very enjoyable and informative video.
That engine sound, I love it with the rest of the car. As a kid, we did the game in where you had to pinch the guy or girl next to you whenever you saw a green 2cv while driving looking out of the window. 'ugly duck' we call it in the Netherlands. It is not ugly at all of course, it's beautiful, nice to know this car came from where I live.
Lucid Hangout We played the same game in France. Not sure if the 2 color model stands for a yellow 2CV though.
I'have the same one 10 years before , nice car ...
i have an '08 smart, 999ccs, 50mpgs, heat and a/c and can do 93mph before the computer slows it. i would kill for a 2CV, loved that car forever!
It was a minimalist, rustic, useful and cheap car. For farmers at first, but in the 70s it was also a car for hippies, then it became a car with a certain "art of living" fun, simple and that did not consume much. Citroen made a modern version of it: The DIane, but it wasn't the same thing. They stopped the modern and continued to produce the old 2CV. I think the French liked it as it was.... even if it was obsolete on many points. I liked mine, even though I was cold in it and I didn't hear the music because it was so noisy. But I felt joyful and free.
The car will get you noticed for sure.
@@RideswithChuck Even in France now ! It's it has become quite rare.
My first, second and third car was a Citroen 2CV. Stil I drive Citroen, now a C2. It is just as much fun. I still hope that Citroen comes with a retro 2CV.
I have had 3 of them, Great to drive and a lot of fun
Thank you John!!! Thank you Chuck!!! Awesome Ride!!!
You are very welcome!
Looks fun! In the 60s I drove a DKW
Came from the Netherlands? The front licence plate is a french plate from region 24 (Dordogne area).
I guess the seller in Amsterdam was just a pass through :-)
if it actually was from the netherlands it would be rotted out
Super practical for sure, reminds me of probably I rode around in as a passenger in Denmark.
Fantastic. And this funky old duck meanders between brash V8 F150's ;)
Cool... Thanks for the ride John!
Thank you for this video, really helpful, I'm going to look at one The Bamboo tomorrow. Can't wait!
The 2 CV was designed before World War 2 and hidden from the Germans until after the war. I bought a somewhat decrepid Citroen Dyane with the 435cc engine in 1977. I swapped the engine for a 602cc engine/gearbox out of a scrapped Citroen Ami as I was fed up with being overtaken by pedestrians. Even today it is a brilliant piece of design and engineering that nobody has quite managed to replicate, and people have tried. They are nice friendly practical and comfortable cars to own and drive around in, which might surprise some. My brother did a 120 mile daily commute in his Citroen 2 CV until he was able to move closer to his new job. Getting up early and driving steadily he used about 2.5 gallons (UK not US) of fuel each day. Its an amazing car. That is the most luxurious 2CV I have ever seen....Carpets ? What are they ???
The more I hear/ see about this car the more I want one.
Just to wet the appetite a bit more You Tube CITROEN 2CV SCENIC DRIVE DASH CAM VIEW WITH ICE Mr Hub Nut takes Elly for a "spin" on a cold but sunny day enjoy
whet
Try watching it.
Just bought a red 1987 - in pretty good shape!
What a cool little car!
Cute car....i used to have one...most fun ever...congats
The 2CV was not specifically sold to farmers, but to anyone needing cheap transport. Un Germany the 2CV initially was more expensive than the VW bug.
5:43 That license plate! Both sophisticated and offensive at the same time.
@Hamachingo not offensive at all" deuche " is the slang word for a cv. In fact a Frenchman will I own a 2 deuches meaning a 2 cv's. Voilà!
@@alainbergeron4520 Didn't know it is the slang word, I've only ever heard it as "deux cheveaux" (literally "two horses") shortened to "deuchvo". Guess my grandpa wasn't ghetto enough to go full slang. :-)
So slight correction on your example: A Frenchman will say "I own a deuche" to express that he owns a 2CV. "2 deuche" (actually with a plural S), would mean he's got two of them.
@@Hamachingo you are right a deux cheveaux is also a more proper way to refer to the vehicle. A 2 deuches is definitely more colloquial borderline slang. Good job, my dream is to find one of those beast for myself. Amicalement vôtre. 💥👍
@@Hamachingo
"La Deuche" was its pet name in France. It's just "Deux Chevaux" cut short since the final -x in deux is silent. Sometimes also "Deudeuche" but this is more recent and can refer to any old small popular car.
Thankfully in the UK we had most the car's the French made. You could buy a new 2cv til the very early 90s.
Not coming from Amsterdam area... might have transited through it but the front registration put it from dordogne France
thanks for sharing, great little car
This car was imported but licence plate is from France , Dordogne more precisely. I like rear plate « deuche » , what is actually its nickname in France. Really good condition car. Just roll the top the other way round to avoid unexpected unroll. Cheers from Paris.
I have an early model with the 425cc engine and the centrifugal clutch. I love it! The top is my favorite feature.
Threetails It was fun riding in it. I think John would have been happy to drive it a little harder.
Man I really want to get one of these beautiful cars some day
Great video, thanks!
So this car may have been imported from the Netherlands, but before that it must have been imported from France as it's carrying a French numberplate. The latter number on the numberplate signifies the department in which the car was registered - 24 is for Dordogne.
Import from Netherlands is probably because a company there called Burton is specialized in restauration and production of what we can called new 2CV. They can create a new car from scratch since they are producing and selling genuine parts under Citroen licence. There is another one in France in Cassis doing restauration and production of 2CV also, on the same basis. So, it is still possible to buy this little funny car !
You still see these here in the Netherlands occasionally. Nice video. :-)
In germany we call these 2CV's "Ente" which means Duck. And there are still a lot of them around. :)
Funny. In Spain we call the Citroën Traction Avant "El Pato" (the duck). :)
I guess old French cars look like ducks. xD
:D
+E34Benzin My cousin used to call it "Horsy" when she was 3-4 years old.
In Britain we call it the tin snail which I think many countries did. There isn't as many around here but you usually see one a month.
in Argentina we call it "la rana", (the frog)
Desde pequeño me gusto este coche gracias por compartir esta maravilla con ruedas 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
De nada
what a perfect condition for this old lady!