1959 Citroen 2CV

One of the Citroen's motto was 'it's not a car, it's a way of life.' It was launched in 1948 and at the time, there was nothing like it. It had a high ground clearance, a soft suspension, and was well suited to cope with the bumpy roads of the era. Its front-wheel drive system provided excellent weight distribution, good road holding, and a high standard of comfort. It was both a simplistic and an economical vehicle.

For 1959, the 2CV received very few changes and updates. It continued to be offered for sale in the United States, having a base price of just $1,300.

The appearance changed very little since its debut. The doors were hinged at the center post. A fold-back fabric roof was standard. In the back, the wheels were fully enclosed by fender. Under the hood was a horizontally-opposed air-cooled two-cylinder engine displacing 25.9 cubic-inches and offering 12 horsepower. It had a top speed of about 55 horsepower and a fuel economy reaching 55 mpg. It had a four-speed manual transmission with a centrifugal and manual clutch. The fuel tank could accomodate five gallons, the brakes were drums in the front and rear, and the steering was a rack-and-pinion setup.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2016