The Citroën 2CV is French-built, air-cooled front-engine, front-wheel-drive, small family car. Often referred to as an “umbrella on wheels” due to its interesting shape, it was produced from 1948-90. Due to their low engine displacement, the cars were never exported to the U.S. in any big quantities, so the seller’s car may have come home with someone who lived abroad. We’re told this Citroën has been kept in a garage most of the time and only needs a battery to be viable again. Located in Onancock, Virginia, this interesting auto is available here on craigslist for $6,500.
Much like the VW Beetle was conceived as the “People’s Car” in Germany, the Citroën 2CV was intended to help motorize the large number of French farmers still using horses and carts in 1930s France. The 2CV boasted an overall low cost of ownership, simplicity of maintenance, easily serviced air-cooled engine, and miserly fuel consumption. The car’s unusual shape featured a full-width, canvas roll-back sunroof which accommodated oversized loads. During its 42 years in production, more than 3.8 million 2CVs were built as the world’s first front-wheel-drive automobile to become a million-seller. Including derivates (like a van), Citroën assembled more than nine million of them.
We don’t know much about the seller’s 1970 edition of the Citroën, such as how it managed to find its way to the U.S. At the peak, the engines that propelled the little cars never exceeded a displacement of 602-cc, so they weren’t particularly adaptable to some U.S. highways, like interstates. This 4-door sedan was originally painted white, but that was changed to red at some point and it looks to have held up okay. The only rust the seller mentions is on the bumper.
At 30,000 miles, the 2CV is said to be in overall good condition, so we presume it runs fine. There is a placard on the door (which may or may not be removable) that makes note of its farm use, which harks back to the little vehicle’s original premise in the 1930s. You must wonder how hard it is to find parts for one of these today. We assume because of their largest original production numbers, sources exist all over the place in Europe, but not the U.S. Our thanks to Barn Finder Chuck Foster for this tip!
For when you want to see the scenery when you drive.
Is the car still available?
James, this was on Craigslist, and the listing has expired. Unless the original author of this BF listing saved the CL listing, the info on the seller is not available.
I love these cars. Once I was running down the Autobahn at about 115 mph, and passed one of these 2CVs. He was in the far right lane of course.
2 CV = deux cheveaux or in English 2 horses. When I was on the autobahn, they would spitefuly pull into the left lane so you would have to pass them on the right, which is an infraction. Arrogant disrespect of others.
While looking a bit tired, at least the pricing is reasonable. As always with 2CV you want to closely check the condition of the frame and the floor.
Go to pretty Onancock, take a boat trip out to the quaint Tangier Island, stay at the lovely Charlotte Hotel and ride home in this 2CV. Life can be pretty good sometimes!
“Only needs a battery.”
C’mon, pal. Spend a Benjamin on a battery before you list it for sale, if that’s all it truly needs.
Father-in-law had a 2cv truck, you could start it with a crank. Just be mindful of where your thumb is placed, you can crack the thumb joint or lose a thumb, take your pick.
I traveled with a couple of young Dutch women from Lisboa to southern France in one of these, back in 1976. Three people, three backpacks… it was a tight fit.
We took back roads, since it was slow— it had a red circle with “40” sticker on the back because it was legally restricted to 40 km/hr. There wasn’t much risk of violating the law, either. In the mountains, one of the girls and I had to get out and walk beside the car. It was summer, and the weather, like my companions, was lovely.
It took a few days, but we got to Bayonne, France, where left them, headed east while they continued north toward Holland. We promised to stay in touch, but didn’t, of course.
Still, that little deux cheveux left me with memories I wouldn’t have in modern car at highway speeds. Had I the money and skill, I would love to have this one, but that ship has long since sailed.
Even the last 2CVs can be started by hand; the wheelbrace has pins on the other end that engage with the fan centre. ECAS (England) and Club Mehari (France) between them can supply anything you’re going to need. If you’re after more performance, the oilhead BMW 4-valve bike engines can be persuaded to fit…
It is my understanding that the factory, located in downtown Paris, sold for more than the retail price of ALL the 2CV’s that were ever produced out of that plant…That’s kind of sad, really…
Have owned a 2 cylinder Citroen for almost fifty years to this day and if not it was probably some other Citroen!
Is the car still available?
..far be it from me to contradict …but…. not the worlds first front wheel drive I think. The Citroen Traction from 1934 was front wheel ..and other makes I think before ie Audi
Very happy to be corrected though !
Ian,
Historically, the front wheel drive dates back to the first self-propelled vehicle, Nicolas Cugnot’s Fardier a Vapeur [steam car] of 1769. And it seems back before 1900 there were many instances of vehicles built with front wheel drive. Most were either 1-off or very low production examples.
Probably the first PRODUCTION vehicle with front wheel drive was the Lohner-Werke’s 1897 automobile, also known as the Lohner-Porsche, after it’s famous engineer/designer. It used electric motors in the front wheel hubs for traction power. In America, for 1929 both Cord and Ruxton introduced FWD cars.
As for large scale production FWD cars, DKW [1931] and Adler [1933] both bought Gregoire’s license to make front wheel drive cars with the Tracta CV joint. Then came my favorite, the Traction Avant.
The one vehicle that had FWD [as part of an all-wheel drive] that exceeded all other FWD vehicles production for years to come, was the US Army’s Jeep. It also used the Tracta CV joint, as did the larger US Army 6X6 trucks.
Thanks Bill – to be advised is to learn !
Farm vehicle, eh? Replaces your side-by-side for less than half the price!!!
The first 2CV was produced in 1939.The prototypes were hidden by Citroen when the Germans invaded France after the start of WW2.The last cars were built in Portugal I believe.
had 2 CVs, luved them both
Amen Frank….I had a 2cv and a Panhard Tigre, both great cars!
That yellow one in that James Bond movie was a hoot!
How thin(& safe!!) are those doors if there’s no room for the windows to roll down?!
I would like to see a drag race of this, a VW bug, a yugo, a new 3 cyl mitz Mirage, & a Trabant – i guess the latter is the slowest? lol
…to “DOONE”…it says ” the first FWD to reach the million…..”….to the writer: there area few outlets in the US for parts, the main one being FPS in WA state.
The car is from Indre-et-Loire (37) with Tours as the capital. It is the center of the chateau country that all the tourists go to see. As for parts—super easy to find.
I was hitchhiking in France in 1984 and a sweet young lady driving a Deux Chevaux stopped for me
Even let me drive it. Fun stuff
A friend in France hase lot’s of those, 25 ore something.
Damn, I’m unable to log online for a couple of weeks, and out of the hundreds of vintage cars I want that are listed on Barn Finds, they are all too far away.
The ONE car that’s close to my home, and I really want, but when I check CraigsList, it’s gone! At least I’ve saved $6,500.
Bought a new 2CV in Northern Ontario (1964)
It was better in snow than anything on the road in those days.
Drove it to 80,000 miles….almost zero for repairs and service!
Also had it’s kissing-cousin a 1961 Panhard Tigre PL17.
….a 2 cylinder bomb!
Love French cars, I do!