1991 Citroen 2CV Charleston

The Citroen 2CV was instrumental and essential in France's return to mobility in the post-war era. They were powered by a small, durable, and capable two-cylinder engine complemented by a long-travel suspension and gave rural residents the means of negotiation rutted country roads with relative ease. Years later, it became popular with city dwellers with its unique, retro style, diminutive size, and frugal economy.

The Citroen 2CV, or Deux Chevaux, so named for its fate as the replacement for a two-horse-drawn carriage, was introduced in 1948 over five million examples were built by the time production came to a close in 1990.

The 2CV offered ample headroom, assured by the manufacturer, as Pierre Boulanger, president of Citroën, test-drove his prototypes donning his hat. The test was considered a failure if the hat did not fit or was lost en route, prompting engineers to return to the drawing board.

The 1991 Citroen 2CV came equipped with a horizontally-opposed two-cylinder engine displacing 602cc and offering 29 horsepower. It was backed by a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drum brakes provided the stopping power. The 93.3-inch wheelbase chassis was suspended by a front leading arm and rear trailing arm suspension.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2021

Sold for $20,160 at 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction.
This Citroen is one of the final 2CV examples built. The car has had just two owners since new and currently displays 10,000 kilometers on the odometer. The first owner purchased the car to drive from his estate to the market in Deauville, France, a distance of just one kilometer. The Mullin Automotive Museum acquired the 2CV in 2015.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2021