Citroën 2CV

France’s ‘ brolly on wheels’ is as appealing as ever, but not all buyers appreciate what they’re taking on. Consider yourself clued up…

It’s not hard to understand the enormous affection that so many people hold for the 2CV, with its cute face, fascinating mechanicals, and the incredible story of its clandestine survival during France’s Nazi occupation. Chat to owners and you’ll discover its uncanny ability to become part of the family over many years, often acquiring a pet name.

Sadly though, not all buyers fully appreciate the 2CV’s limitations when they take one on, and some cars end up languishing unloved as a result. That’s the experience of Buckinghamshire specialist Steve Hill (stevehill.co.uk). ‘2CV or not 2CV, that’s what I always tell people! You’ve got to bite the bullet and commit to it, not let it deteriorate. Customers will often bring me a car that needs about £1000-1500 of recommissioning work to get it useable for the summer, sometimes because it’s owned by their kid who’s gone to university and left it.’ The lesson? Be alert to signs of neglect by less-than-dedicated enthusiasts.

Most 2CVs, especially later models, come to the market via private classified ads, and their sellers will often have tales of adventure worth listening to. France has a much greater number of remote old farm buildings than we’re used to in the UK; perfect nesting places for sleeping 2CVs. Bits of them pop up for sale in odd places, sometimes even in antique shops, while new parts availability has simplified the job of keeping later cars on the road. Earlier ‘ripple bonnet’ models (up to 1960) are much rarer and ooze collector appeal, but trickier availability of parts suppresses values.

Derivatives of the 2CV occupy a huge spectrum of quirkiness, and keen prices are paid for the rarer models. The 4x4 Sahara features high among the favourites, despite real-world impracticality. It has two engines!