BUYING WITH CONFIDENCE

CONCOURS £15,000-20,000+

1 WHICH VERSION IS IT? Rare derivatives are the most valuable. For example, one 4x4 Sahara model sold for a whopping £68,000 at auction last year!

2 CHECK THE HISTORY Handsome 2CVs aren’t rare, but the best are distinguished by the quality of restorative work, and colourful provenance.

3 ORIGINALITY MATTERS Genuine original survivors are unsurprisingly like hen’s teeth. When they’re unearthed, their value is anyone’s guess!

GOOD £7000-12,000

1 CHECK UNDERNEATH

Buyer attention focuses on pretty 2CVs, so make sure the seller hasn’t used up the majority of his maintenance budget on cosmetics.

2 WHERE WAS IT MADE? Those built after production moved to Portugal in 1988 are worth less. Commonwealth exports were built in Slough in the 1960s.

3 CHECK THE ENGINE Oil leaks are common and overheating can be an issue, so a clean engine bay and aftermarket electric fan are good signs.

USABLE £3000-7000

1 HAS IT BEEN ABUSED? Many get thrashed, so beware of excessive blue smoke. Check for DOT fl uid too; it ruins hydraulics on disc-braked cars (1982-on).

2 CHECK THE PARTS Inspect for poor quality parts, especially from yesteryear. Various dodgy items have come onto the market over the years.

3 WATCH OUT FOR ROT Always an issue. Welding must be checked for quality. Focus around the fl oor, windscreen, and base of the A-, B- and C-pillars.

PROJECT £1000-3000

1 PRICE UP THE REPAIRS A galvanised shell costs about £4500, depending on the options required. Newly reconditioned engines are around £1400.

2 KNOW THE EXPERTS 2CVs are simple to put together, parts availability is great, and there’s a big network of always-helpful enthusiasts to back you up.

3 IS IT WORTH IT? A specialist will charge about £20,000 to perform a full restoration, plus an extra couple of grand if extra colours are involved.