30 years since 2CV production stopped...

[brownnova]

Today marks 30 years since the last 2CV rolled off the production line... 

So how some nice pictures of 2CV adventures

One year ago today ours was our wedding car! 

They’re so good we bought a second! 
 

To celebrate 2CV day let’s have your 2CV pics! Ones you’ve owned, ones you’ve seen ones you found on google.... 

[GeordieInExile]

How capable are these of keeping up with modern traffic..? Iirc even the most powerful 2CV6s only have 24bhp, which isn't much even in a car that weighs the same as a paper bag (and offering much the same crash protection!).

[Mr Pastry]

13 minutes ago, GeordieInExile said:

How capable are these of keeping up with modern traffic..? Iirc even the most powerful 2CV6s only have 24bhp, which isn't much even in a car that weighs the same as a paper bag (and offering much the same crash protection!).

Surprisingly good at keeping up.  You soon get used to the lack of acceleration and drive accordingly.   You often get held up be somebody dawdling along in a modern. 

[sierraman]

I often think there’s a place for a new 2CV, not an overweight parody like the beetle or the mini but a simple cheap car that’s got the looks of the old 2CV but modern suspension perhaps dare I say it electric. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 minute ago, sierraman said:

I often think there’s a place for a new 2CV, not an overweight parody like the beetle or the mini but a simple cheap car that’s got the looks of the old 2CV but modern suspension perhaps dare I say it electric. 

Citroen did have a go at this - they called it the C3.

[sierraman]

Just now, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Citroen did have a go at this - they called it the C3.

Wasn’t very utilitarian though like the old 2CV though. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Just now, sierraman said:

Wasn’t very utilitarian though like the old 2CV though. 

I suppose the market for utilitarian cars had shrunk, in favour of retro-looking cars.

[sierraman]

1 minute ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

I suppose the market for utilitarian cars had shrunk, in favour of retro-looking cars.

I suppose the availability of cheap credit has seen off the appeal of cheap cars. Another £25 a week and you can have a DS3!

[Six-cylinder]

You can stop that 30 years ago bit right now, I sold these new!

"It was not that long ago production ended in my mind"

The photo is me chasing my current 2CV in my GS.

[petermcpete]

Been all over Europe in my 2cv...bought in 2015 and had been off the road since 2001...about 6 months repairing it and now it gets a regular run out.

 

First bought

 

Stripped

Cecile returns to France...here's the Arc de Triomph

 

Replacing alternator belt near Bordeaux 

 

Spark plug thread stripped on way to Amsterdam...helicoil needed so sadly not a roadside repair 

 

Our lovely Peak District

 

Scotland last year

 

Eilean Donan Castle

[dollywobbler]

2 hours ago, Mr Pastry said:

Here's mine.  I am the 4th owner and I have the complete history from new, including original bill of sale.  Now on 65,000 miles, so just nicely run in.  Goes very well, totally reliable, in constant use, and I always look forward to driving it. 

 

Was this parked up in Pembridge the other week?

[eifion]

Here's mine now that it's back on the road. This photo was taken last week after I'd just driven it rather enthusiastically along the B4407 Ysbyty Ifan road which is a GR9 driving road on a sunny day.

 

 

[Spiny Norman]

I love them. I remember bringing this one back from Edinburgh with a mate. Tailgating a Volvo estate I got the speedo off the clock, it had just had an engine rebuild and may have had an extra horsepower somewhere...

One of these cars that everyone should have a shot of at least once.

[egg]

I've not had one. 

Just before the end my dad vaguely considered getting one as family transport, and at least went as far as the dealer, as I've still got the Tintin brochure from the time, like the one below...

And then in 2000, when I phoned up for my first ever insurance quote (yeah, phoned young-uns) I got a quote on a 2CV and was keen to get one, but I bought my brother's Uno instead, because I needed to do motorway driving(!).

Talk about missing the boat.

[tul66]

4 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

You can stop that 30 years ago bit right now, I sold these new!

"It was not that long ago production ended in my mind"

The photo is me chasing my current 2CV in my GS.

40mph, it'll be flat out.

[HMC]

I’ve had maybe 6 but it was a time where I was not taking photos as I went

I do have this of my 1964 425cc AZAM that the chassis snapped in half on 

 

I Had them from 2003-2007 and used them as everyday transport. I bought my first with all new floors and sills etc for about £700 and a mint rust free plum and custard dolly For £1850 thinking it was strong money. 

[HMC]

If you read contemporary car mags it sounds like the parent was mildly embarrassed by it by 1990. I wonder why, and I wonder in 2020 what regard it is held. Will we see future models inspired by it- wether in concept or aesthetics. 

[MJK 24]

What factories / countries were they built in over the years?  I think France, UK and Portugal?

What years was quality high and what years low?  What were the visible attempts at penny pinching?

I thank you kindly ? 

[HMC]

My local 2cv guy used to set store by a car being levoallais (?) sp (Paris) built and not assembled in Portugal. 
 

Edit - LEVALLOIS in your finest cod french accent

[Mr Pastry]

1 hour ago, MJK 24 said:

What factories / countries were they built in over the years?  I think France, UK and Portugal?

What years was quality high and what years low?  What were the visible attempts at penny pinching?

I thank you kindly ? 

Built in many countries across the world, with some particularly interesting variations in Belgium and South America.  French production ended in 1988, and moved to Portugal.  Total production around 4 million.

Quality is said to have dropped off after 1985, and Portuguese build quality is said to be variable with inferior steel, but nowadays, the overall condition of the car is the most important thing when buying, not its age or origin.

The car is  well designed and better finished than you might think.  Even small brackets and fittings are nicely made.  You would expect it to be thrown together with pop rivets and self tappers, but it isn't.  Proper old school nuts and bolts.

Penny pinching - again less than you might expect, but it was of course built to a price, so paintwork is not fantastic, and interior trim doesn't last well.

The good news is that nearly every part is still available.  

 

 

[rmjbn1]

Such a wonderful car and so much fun. Still miss mine something rotten.

Edit (missing full stop): Still miss mine. Something rotten.

Original factory condition:

Hoon!:

Draws admiring glances everywhere it goes:

[LightBulbFun]

I sadly dont own a 2CV and I think this is the only picture I took that has one in it I think LOL  (I thought I had grabbed one proper, when rummaging for a throttle cable but sadly it seems not)

 

but I very much hope I get a chance to drive one some day  

[500tops]

[mat_the_cat]

3 hours ago, HMC said:

If you read contemporary car mags it sounds like the parent was mildly embarrassed by it by 1990.

I remember an article in CAR magazine at the time, written by someone who wanted to buy one of the last 2CVs. IIRC Citroen weren't very helpful, and I think he ended up buying a second-hand one.

[HMC]

To my mind something like a battered Berlingo mk1 is the closest Citroen has come to in recent years to some of the spirit of a 2cv

[500tops]

[richardmorris]

[Zelandeth]

It's far too long since I was last out in a 2CV, and still very much want to see what my husband makes of one... they're cars which are so utterly unlike anything else that they need to be experienced and looking at pictures don't really give a full experience!

 

[richardmorris]

22 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

It's far too long since I was last out in a 2CV, and still very much want to see what my husband makes of one... they're cars which are so utterly unlike anything else that they need to be experienced and looking at pictures don't really give a full experience!

 

If we’re up at the field of dreams when I have the 2cv there, you’re welcome for drive over the ploughed field.

[Spiny Norman]

Foot to the floor, over 70mph indicated. IIRC this was the road to Helensburgh.
They're not great in town where you have to constantly start and stop but on the open road you can barrel along at 60-65 quite easily in a good one.