Citroën 2CV

A pre-1965 2CV still running in 2003, notice "suicide" doors

The 2CV (deux chevaux - literally "two horses", from the horsepower unit) was a popular French car made by Citroën. 3,872,583 2CVs were produced from 1948 to 1990.

Pierre Boulanger's early 1930s design brief - astonishingly radical for the time - was for a low-priced, rugged 'umbrella on four wheels' that would enable two peasants to drive 100 kg of farm goods to market at 60km/h, in clogs and across muddy unmetalled roads if necessary. It would use no more than 3 litres of petrol to travel 100 km. Most famously, it would be able to drive across a ploughed field without breaking the eggs it was carrying. He later also had the roof raised to allow him to drive while wearing a hat. By 1939 the TPV (Toute Petite Voiture) was deemed ready, but only two had been finished when WWII broke out. One was buried at a secret location, one was disguised as a pickup, the others were destroyed, and Boulanger had the next six years to think about more improvements.

Citroen finally unveiled the car at the Paris Salon in 1948. It was laughed at by the press, probably because Citroën had launched the car without any press advertising. History has confirmed that the car was not only charming, but a revolution in consumer transportation.

The body was constructed of a dual H-frame chassis, an airplane-style tube framework and a very thin steel shell. It was powered by a flat-2 air-cooled engine designed by Walter Becchia, with a nod to the classic 'boxer' BMW motorcycle engine. (The flat-2 engine and thin steel body make a peculiar noise that can't be compared to anything, except maybe a Piper J-3 at startup.) Front-wheel drive made the car easy and safe to drive. Large inboard hydraulic brakes ensured that brake failure on one side left steering and braking largely unaffected. The swinging arm, fore-aft linked suspension system was lighter and more responsive than existing spring or leaf designs, enabling the 2CV to indeed be driven at speed over a ploughed field. The canvas roof could be rolled completely open. The seats were hammocks suspended from the roof by wires. The car had one rear light, one stop lamp and was available only in grey. Within months there was a three-years waiting list.

The engine was a 375cc developing only 9bhp on the earliest model. A 425cc engine was introduced in 1955. A 602cc giving 28bhp at 7000rpm was introduced in 1968. With the 602cc engine the tax classification of the car changed and it became in fact a 3CV, but the commercial name remained unchanged. The 602cc engine evoveld to 33bhp in 1970; this was the most powerful engine fitted to the 2CV. A new 602cc giving only 29bhp at a slower 5750rpm was introduced in 1979. Despite being less powerful this engine was more efficient, allowing less fuel consumption and better top speed.

The 2CV was produced for 42 years, the model finally succumbing to customer demands of speed, comfort and safety, all areas (apart from ride comfort) in which it had fallen significantly behind modern cars. Style alone no longer justified its retention in the Citroën range. The 2CV has earned a unique place in motoring history: the most radical production design car ever.

Popular French nicknames were "Deuche" and "Dedeuche". The Dutch were the first to call it 'de lelijk eend', the ugly duck.

A 2CV fitted with the engine from a Citroën GS stars in the James Bond movie For your eyes only.