1964 Citroen 2CV

The Citroen 2CV was conceived in the 1930's as an inexpensive and reliable automobile. Introduced in 1948, it followed the original design of carrying four people plus 100 pounds of farm goods at 30 mph over rural roads. The mandate also specified that a farmer should be able to drive eggs across a plowed field without breaking them, thus the proper suspension setup was a critical element with Citroen.

The world was desperate for transportation after the war, and France was no different. The inexpensive 2CV helped fill the need, with a simple body, folding windows, and was cheap to produce. The engine was a 2-cylinder, air-cooled unit that was reliable and easy to service. With the help of the lightweight body, it 2CV offered excellent fuel economy. It was given several advanced technical components, including front-wheel drive and a four-speed transmission. The suspension used a set of suspension cylinders connected to springs which worked with each wheel to keep the car level.

The original 375cc air-cooled flat-twin engine grew eventually to 602cc, although the 2CV's performance remained relatively modest with a top speed of about 110 km/h flat-out.

The AZAM Luxe model was introduced in 1963 and came with additional chrome on the trim, bumpers and hubcaps. The interior upholstery was a softer cloth, and the steering wheel was coated instead of bare metal. Additional luxury amenities included a vanity mirror on the passenger sun visor and electric windshield wipers, replacing the vacuum-operated wipers of previous models. The horsepower rating rose to 16 hp, which gave it a claimed 85 KPH top speed.

The four-wheel-drive 'Sahara' used a second engine to drive the rear wheels. Some Citroen dealers had already tried this ingenious means of providing all-wheel drive, and by the end of the 1950s, the factory had decided to produce its official version, which was intended mainly for use in the desert terrain of France's North African colonies. The motoring press was first shown examples in 1958, with production commencing in December of 1960. Additional features of the Sahara included a special chassis, reinforced suspension, wider wheel rims, twin fuel tanks (beneath the front seats) and countless other modifications. In 1962, after Algeria's independence, Citroën dropped the 'Sahara' name and the car became the '2CV 4x4'. It is believed that approximately 700 of both designations were originally built.

Production of the 2CV lasted for over four decades and remains as one of the classic mass-produced cars of the post-war era. It outlived its humble beginnings to gain cult status as the favored car of the environmentally concerned motorist. It helped to put the French working class on wheels, especially important after the ravages of WWII and offered basic transportation, which helped the French economy both from transportation and a manufacturing standpoint. The last French-built 2CV left the Levallois factory in 1988, although production continued in Portugal for two more years.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019