Citroën 2CV
James welcomes his Deux Chevaux to the line-up
Documents have been signed, keys handed over and I am now officially the owner of my own bright red Citroën 2CV. Well, I say ‘bright’ red… the body required some paint revival so before doing pretty much anything, I set to work one sunny evening with the polish and got a pleasing result. The car had been sitting in brambles in all weathers for six years so the paint had faded and there remains a fair bit of corrosion here and there. Nothing terminal, though. Before the handover, previous owner Barry Annells and his son Pete had spent some time patching up the floors after an MOT test had thrown up some advisories. This very personal dedication was down to the fact that Barry bought this particular car from the original owner in 1991. As well as pressing it into service as the daily driver, for 20 years he and wife Gloria drove the car all around Europe with Pete and sister Louise in the back – anywhere from Sweden to Italy – on numerous 2CV clubrelated exploits.
The service folder contains the original purchase receipt and stamped maintenance history but also a priceless little archive of photographs involving its past adventures with the Annells family. There’s further evidence in the way it drives because what with Barry’s work as a Citroën specialist, the oily bits have been kept in tip-top order throughout its life.
The engine is extremely healthy and pulls the little car along with a great deal more zip than any Deux Chevaux I’ve previously driven – acceleration is sprightly and you can just about mix with the big boys on the dual carriageway.
There is, however, a fairly lengthy list of work to be carried out – most of which can wait until the spring when I’ll have more time to dedicate to a proper restoration.
There are numerous holes in the shell, which will be coming off (just a few bolts and off it pops!) and while I send that away for a blasting, there can be a full inspection (and possibly replacement) of the rather aged-looking chassis.
This 2CV is on its third, so a new galvanized chassis might well be on the cards. This car really deserves it.
Meantime, further efforts to spruce things up have included the fitment of new front and rear bumpers, grille, rear wings and a new exhaust
‘There isn’t much to go wrong because it’s all so simple…’
cross box. None of it is much of a challenge as the 2CV is like a giant Meccano set. Between myself, Barry and Pete, the jobs were done with minimal fuss, including removal of the glassfibre roof that you may have spotted in the previous issue
(PC, November 2019). Despite fitment almost 20 years ago, I wasn’t overly keen to be saddled with the responsibility for it (only three were made) and in any case, it just popped straight off to be replaced by a traditional canvas arrangement.
There isn’t much in the way of interior trim but the driver’s seat needed a total rebuild, hence the work that you see opposite, which took all of just half an hour. I’ll get around to replacing all of the rather tired seat covers, canvas and rubber bands with brand new items next year.
For now, this car is very much a case of ‘it’ll do’. Everything that needs to function, functions, and I don’t mind that it looks a bit shabby.
Being a 2CV, there isn’t much to go wrong anyway! I’m just happy, at long last, to be enjoying driving around in it. Unlike my sluggish old 9bhp 1954 ‘ripple bonnet’ 2CV with its somewhat painful 40mph top speed, I can use this ‘big block 602’ for the daily commute on main roads without fear of being squished from behind by impatient Audis. The shriek of that flat-twin is pure joy – and, comparably, it goes like the clappers. Put it this way: genuinely, I have been grinning so much since collecting the 2CV a few weeks ago, my jaw has developed a discernible ache.