Citroën’s ‘tin snail’ 2CV is picking up the pace

Citroën 2CV values have been bubbling nicely for some time and the Fifties ripple-bonnet cars are now £20k-plus. But the more numerous Eighties versions of Specials, Dollys, Charlestons, Bamboos and Beachcombers are up too. You can expect to pay £10k for the nicest, and specialists like 2CV City in Bradford are offering fully rebuilt cars for around £12,500, which has set a price benchmark. The last-of-the-line 602cc models with their round headlamps can manage 80mph (just) and are easy to fix and restore. A private seller in Scotland has a 1985 B-reg Charleston in rare two-tone grey with 39k and needing some ‘minor fettling’ for £5000. Prices vary wildly though, and another private man in Essex has a restored red ’83 Special with 52k for £3000, which sounds on the cheap side. Most will have had replacement chassis by now and condition and mileage are what drive values. Any really tiny-mileage 2CV in sparkling nick should now be worth £15k so don’t ignore genuine minimal mileage cars that just need tidying. As long as the front bulkhead, chassis and floorpans are sound, it won’t cost much to turn a tired into a minter. Mechanicals have all the complexity of a pair of tweezers and you can take off the front wings with a wheel brace and the rears with a screwdriver. Parts are plentiful and cheap and, as long as you’ve got a can of WD-40 handy, easy to replace with limited kit and ability. Originality is everything so make sure your 2CV is kept totally stock. I’ve owned 26 in my time and have done joyful (albeit slow) drives to and from France – and loved every mile.