The 2 CV had exceptional mileage: a total of 5,114,969 units were produced, including 1,246,335 2 CV vans. The last two CVs left the factory in Mangualde, Portugal, 42 years after their launch, on July 27, 1990.
THE ORIGINS OF THE 2 CV: THE “TPV” PROJECT
The “TPV” (“Toute Petite Voiture”) project was created in the mid-1930s, in 1936. The aim was to provide people with low incomes with an economical and versatile car. In 1937, the first rolling prototype of the TPV project appeared light, weighed only 370 kg, and had only one headlight (the legislation at that time did not provide for two). The vehicle could transport up to four people and 50 kg of luggage at a top speed of 50 km/h and was extremely comfortable.
250 pre-production models were supposed to be presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1939, but the outbreak of the Second World War prevented this. The models built were destroyed, except for four, which were kept secret at the Citroën test center in La Ferté-Vidame.
A LEGENDARY CAR THAT BECAME AN ICON OF THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD
When production began in July 1949, the 2CV was a small car with a 375 cc, 9 hp, air-cooled two-cylinder engine that reached a top speed of 50 km/h. Citroën revolutionized the automotive industry with an economical and versatile vehicle.
His unique body shape and attractiveness quickly captured a significant portion of the population. But it also owes its great success to its endless variety of uses, its modularity, its lightness, its agility, and its comfort. Not to mention, it was extremely cheap to maintain, making it the most popular car. By 1950, orders were pouring in, extending the delivery time to six years.
Its avant-garde spirit and technologies, which were ingenious for the time, ensured that it held its own in the automotive scene for many years. The 2 CV is a timeless model that has become a true social phenomenon, attracting collectors from all over the world. It is still commonly seen on our streets today.
The 2 CV is also known in many ways around the world, and its reputation has earned it several nicknames. The most famous include “Deuche”, “Deudeuche” and “Pato Feo”. This wide variety of nicknames shows how popular this historic and iconic model was.
DIFFERENT VERSIONS AND ADVENTURES ON THE ROADS OF THE WORLD
In total, there were ten special editions of the two CVs released in France and other European countries. These included the Spot, the Charleston, and the Cocorico. The 2 CV also underwent a number of changes, including the introduction of the 2 CV van (known as the 2 CV AU) in 1951 and then the 2 CV AZ in 1954, equipped with a 12 CV engine and the famous centrifugal clutch.
In addition, the 2 CV traveled on roads around the world thanks to several raids, such as the 16,500 km Paris-Kabul-Paris Raid in 1970, the 13,500 km Paris-Persepolis Raid in 1971, or the 8,000 km long Abidjan Africa Raid in Ivory Coast Tunisia in 1973, all organized by Citroën.
The sentence of the day
“Many of my friends ask me why I don’t change cars, and I tell them that I have the car I always wanted.”
