Automotive History Citroen Deux Chevaux 2cv
I described the Citroen Deux Chevaux as half an egg and an engine because in profile, that is what it looks like to me. It also has to be one of the great automotive designs of all time. In terms of putting Europe on wheels, it is in the company of the original Volkswagen Beetle, the original Austin Mini, and the Renault 4, Italy the Fiat 500. These are all halo designs, historically significant for social as well as automotive reasons. Of these, only the Beetle, commissioned by Adolf Hitler and designed by Ferdinand Porsche, (yes, that one) ever made much of a showing in North America, but the others are arguably more interesting designs.
Pierre Boulanger was head of Citroen before the Second World War, when the project first was shaped. It did not see production until 1948, and by the end of the run, more than five million had been sold. The design requirements, since the 2CV was targeted at farmers who needed cheap, practical wheels, were that a man could sit in it while wearing a hat, that it could hold a bale of hay, and carry long loads of lumber as well as passengers. To call the bodywork basic is an understatement, an absolute minimalist yet very practical bit of work. Fold-down, bolt on fenders, headlights on stalks, (but adjustable from within the car) and a roll top roof made of canvas. This was actually intended to allow awkward loads to be carried, but certainly was fun in nice weather. These days a big sunroof like that would be an expensive option on most vehicles.
The suspension was ingenious, with long travel for an amazing ride, and had only two springs for its four-wheel independent suspension. The original car had nine horsepower, and must have weighed less than eight hundred pounds. It was front wheel drive, with an air-cooled two-cylinder engine.
My most notable times driving a Deux Chevaux were during a summer in Belgium. My then girlfriend Marie owned a 1972 model, which had twenty-eight horsepower. It weighed around twelve hundred pounds, amazingly light for any car, and that two cylinder never complained about being run hard all day. Getting across Brussels during rush hour involved a lot of rowing the gearshift lever, but the dents and mismatched paint of Marie's 2CV gave it a take no prisoners appearance which made those in pristine Peugeots and the like quite willing to share the road.
Once we drove it to Austria, up and down those twisting alpine roads, and while it was slow, it was not a rolling roadblock to other traffic. Downhill, there was nothing faster. The thing leaned over so far in corners it felt like your elbow would brush the pavement, but actual grip was very good, on super-skinny Michelin X tyres. The dashboard mounted shifter worked fine, and on the Cote D'Azure, that roll back roof made for some wonderful cruising, especially on moonlit nights. The seats could be removed and used as picnic chairs. Fuel mileage, overall, was about fifty miles per gallon. The UK version apparently even qualified as a low emissions vehicle in the late seventies.
Cheap to buy and operate, practical, roomy, with all the benefits that come from lightweight design. What could be better? This was not a minicar, but a full four seater with legroom to spare. Deux Chevaux have competed in some of the world's toughest rallies and endurance events. They even race the things on road circuits in England and elsewhere. With modified engines putting out 35-45 horsepower, they can do about 150 kph on a long straight. I've seen one of these events, and the competition is furious. There are 2CV clubs, competitions and shows all over the world. In the Great White North, try Citroen Autoclub Canada. Most countries have their own organizations. If the owners are as distinctive as the vehicles, membership might be entertaining.
These days we have an increasing number of economical micro-cars on the market. The 2CV concept shows that it is possible to build something large enough for a family, that is still not going to break the piggybank. An advanced safety frame could be the foundation for a modern design along similar concepts. Think of those halo vehicles. while the Mini and Fiat were tiny, the Renault, Citroen, and VW were bigger and had more room, while still being very economical.
I wonder how one of the later versions would work as a commuting and fun ride here in Whistler, British Columbia? There is not a car manufacturer today that could not learn from the Citroen 2CV.
