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.

Early examples employed a lawnmower cord starter, but this was abandoned in favor of an electric starter for production. When production began, only those in need of transport for their employment were originally permitted to buy the early models off the production line. Others had to wait, sometimes up to six years.

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 Dan Vaughan