![[Home]](images/logo_new.gif){kind=logo}
|
|
Menu |
| Wine List |
| Desserts |
| Recipes |
| Reviewed |
| Dining Room View |
| French Connection |
| Paris Souvenirs |
| History |
| Books & CD's |
|
|
The 2CV 1948 - 1990  T
he 2CV must be the most famous Citroën of all times. You either love them or you don't understand them. The one thing that everybody agrees upon is that it certainly made an impact on the world. The objective was a car that would be useful on the back roads of France, with as little maintenance as possible. It would be available first to the people who needed it the most. One criterium during development was that the car should hold a basket of eggs while driving on a plowed field without breaking an egg. Today you can still amaze people by the ease with which the 2cv goes over speed bumps at relative high speeds. The early 2CVs had a roof which rolled back from the windscreen like a cabriolet and rolled up from the bumper as a boot lid.This last feature was replaced by a conventional boot lid but the cabriolet roof remained until the end. I always like to see peoples faces when on a hot day you stop on one of the highway rest stops, roll back the roof in seconds and drive on. To me the biggest disadvantage of the 2CV is that it's fairly underpowered. It can come along nicely with modern day traffic if you aren't in a hurry but uphill or with strong headwind the speed drops alarmingly. Still one of the most special cars to drive. People who've owned one always keep a soft spot for them.
Here are the changes year by year:
1948:Release at the Paris Auto Salon. This car, designed by Pierre Boulanger is the most extraordinary design of the show. The Citroën stand has never been this crowded. It looks revolutionary and it's mechanics are as well. It is designed to take a basket full of eggs over the country roads without breaking an egg. It is light, very economical and cheap. A car for the masses. The engine is an 375cc 9hp, air-cooled, 2 cylinder boxer. Top speed is 40 mph. and the cars are happy to rev flat out all day long. The early cars can be recognized by the oval ornament on the grill of the one-piece bonnet.
1949: This was model year 1950. No changes.
1951-1953: No changes.
1954: The oval on the bonnet disappear and only the chevrons are left. The speedometer gets a light for the dark.
1955: A new 2CV appears. It's the AZ with bigger 425cc engine developing 12hp and a top speed of 49 mph.
1957: The steering wheel turns from black into gray. A bigger back screen and a new model, the AZL. Aluminium strips on the bonnet and below the doors are the most obvious differences.
1958: 2 New models. The AZLM is a AZL with the metal boot lid ( earlier cars have a roof that rolls down to the bumper!). The 2CV Sahara 4x4 is the famous two engined 2CV. Four wheel drive is achieved by putting an extra engine in the boot and letting it drive the rear wheels. Either or both engines can be selected.
1959: Some heating is provided, most needed is the very effective front windscreen demister.
1960: Different tires for all 2CVs. 135x380 instead of 125x400. Changes to the Sahara include position of number plate, rear lights and position of the fuel tanks.
1961: New bonnet with small grill (like the one on my car) and separate pieces between bonnet and wings.
1962: Mixte is the name for the boot lid that opens complete with back screen. New engine gives 14 hp and puts top speed at 52 mph.
1963: New type of bumpers for all cars except Sahara.
 1964: New tyres Michelin X 125x400 instead of Normal 135x380. Electrical windscreen wipers instead of mechanical ones driven by speedometer cable. Speedometer moves from the windscreen to the dashboard and gets different shape. 1965: Finally all four doors open at the rear. Mixte is replaced by commerciale which can have a flat boot floor installed so you can take bigger objects and load the car more easily.
1967: A special version named Export appears. It is derived from the AZAM but is only produced for 4 months. 1968: Because of the introduction of the Dyane, only 2 models of 2CV are left, the Berline and Commerciale. 19681/2: Two models 2CV with 18 SAE hp. 1969: Two models of 2CV (Berline, Commerciale) with 425cc and 18 SAE hp.
1970: All 2CVs get a 12V electrical installation, round front indicators and new taillights. A list of all models: 1971-1973: No changes. 1974: New tyres: 125X15 instead of 125X380. 1975: New square headlights, a new plastic grill and new painted steel bumpers. 1976: 2CV Special is the new cheaper version of the 2CV and there is a special edition called Spot as well. The supremacy of the 2CV over the Dyane becomes clear: 4 models of the 2CV and 1 Dyane. Because of the oil crisis, the 2cvs and Dyanes are very popular. The hp figure is reduced from 28.5 DIN hp to 26 DIN hp. To celebrate the 5 millionth 2CV, a special limited edition model the Spot is introduced.
1978: No changes: 1979: The 2cv6 gets square headlights.The 2cv4 is discontinued and the 2cv Special gets the third side screen and keeps the round headlights. The 2CV6 gets increased power through a double choke carburetor to 29 hp. 1980: The 2CV Special gets the 602cc engine. All 2CVs get a 6.5 gallon fuel tank instead of 5.25. 1981: New carburation adjustment and rear view mirror. 29 hp, top speed 71 mph. The new 2CV called Charleston is introduced and for now only 5000 are made. 1982: The Charleston is a big success and is continued, but now with chrome headlights and different upholstery. All 2CVs get front disc brakes at last. 1983: New seat belts for all cars. 1984: A special edition. The white 2CV with blue stripes called France 3, Transat or Beachcomber. 1985-1990: No changes. The last car was produced the month of July in a plant in Portugal. THE END. Special thanks to J. Cats who has provided the above information and has perhaps the best web site about Citroen cars. To learn more about the 2CV and other Citroën autos, visit Citroëns , CitCity or Citroën World |
 La Bohème Restaurant Dolores Street at 7th, Carmel, California 93921 (831) 624.7500  Designed and maintained by La Bohème Restaurant Send e-mail to Alan Lewis |
1956: No changes.
1966: New grille with horizontal bars. Chevrons move from grille to bonnet. Third sidescreen for all cars except AZL and Sahara.
1977: Here is a list of all models: