One thing I have learned while writing for Barn Finds is that cars with a movie history attract differing views. Some readers view it as a positive trait, while others consider it to add nothing to a car’s potential value. That is the question surrounding this 1962 Citroën 2CV, which appeared in the 1993 movie Indecent Proposal, starring Robert Redford, Demi Moore, and Woody Harrelson. The seller includes documentation supporting their claim, stating that this quirky French classic runs and drives. It is begging for restoration, and appears to be a promising project candidate. You will find the 2CV here on eBay in Warwick, New York. The seller set their BIN at $17,000 with the option to make an offer.
Citroën commenced development of the 2CV in the mid-1930s. Various stories have been told about the design brief. Some state that the company aimed to produce a vehicle equivalent to four seats under an umbrella. There is also a story that the suspension needed to be supple enough for a farmer to cross a plowed field with a basket of eggs on the seat, and that the eggs shouldn’t have broken during the journey. It is known that the company was set to commence production when the Nazis invaded France. Determined not to allow the design or the prototypes to fall into the hands of the invading forces, Citroën hid everything until hostilities ended. This created an interesting scenario because some of the prototypes were never recovered from hiding, and one was actually located in a French barn only around ten years ago. This 2CV rolled off the line in 1962, wearing a two-tone Gray combination. The paint looks tired, and there is evidence of rust requiring attention. It is visible below the windshield, and I believe that there might be isolated spots in the floors. However, the vehicle appears to be structurally sound. What makes the 2CV such an attractive project candidate is its construction. In an episode of the TV series MythBusters, the hosts completely dismantled a similar car using tools a person might typically find in a basic toolbox. Therefore, performing a nut-and-bolt restoration is pretty straightforward. The seller removed the front bumper, but the remaining trim is present and in good condition.
The first thing I noticed when examining this Citroën’s interior was that the front seat doesn’t appear to be original. However, with no torn or ripped upholstery, the seats could be reused in their current form to reduce the project costs. The dash is missing a few minor pieces, and the driver’s door trim is AWOL. We can also see surface corrosion, further supporting my belief that this car deserves a nut-and-bolt restoration. However, with replacement parts readily available, reviving the interior is a realistic goal.
The 2CV isn’t a bitumen burner. Citroën fitted these cars with a 424ci air-cooled two-cylinder engine producing 14 hp and 20 ft/lbs of torque. The power reaches Planet Earth via the front wheels and a four-speed manual transmission. To describe the power and torque figures as modest would be an understatement, although with the 2CV tipping the scales at a mere 1,113 lbs, the motor doesn’t have much mass to move. The factory declared a top speed of 52mph, but this car would be far happier sitting at 40. The good news for potential buyers is that this Citroën runs and drives. It is unclear whether it is genuinely roadworthy, but at least the buyer appears to be working from a sound foundation if it isn’t.
The Citroën 2CV is a classic that divides opinions. Some view it as a quirky classic featuring clever engineering and a superb ride. Others are unmoved, stating that its spartan interior and underwhelming performance leave them feeling cold. It seems that very few enthusiasts tread the middle ground. In short, you love it, or you hate it. That brings us to the question of this 1962 Citroën 2CV and its documented silver screen history. I don’t believe that it adds anything to its value, unless you happen to be a fan of the movie or its stars. I also believe that the seller’s price is optimistic, and that may also be a product of the Hollywood connection. Leaving that factor aside, have you ever longed to own a 2CV enough to pursue this one further?
Weeeell, gather ’round, time for another 4am affirmation, I don’t know about that particular movie, but a far more interesting 2CV movie story, is the car Curt Henderson( Richard Dreyfuss) drove in American Graffiti. Sharp observers noted, with the setting 1962, the car was actually a 1967 2CV. Apparently, during filming, it was the closest Lucas could find to a ’62. Few noticed. They were quirky cars that fit Curts personality. We all knew a “Curt”, or perhaps were one yourself. I certainly was with a ’58 Volvo. I’ve never been, but 2CVs aren’t as spindly and fragile as they look. They have 2CV races that are a hoot, and they do surprisingly well and in French fashion, very reliable. Reason for the tall roof, was to accommodate Gendarmes tall hats at the time,I read. I’d love to have one.
Now, if I may say something about movies and classic cars. I don’t like to mention, but am very proud of my daughter, who is a production designer in Hollywood. No, no “gray haired daddy, drivin’ her limousine”,,yet, but get this,,,she emails me a photo of a pickup truck, and says, “dad, help, we need to know what kind of truck this is for a film we’re making”. It was clear to me, it was an ’81ish GMC 1500 2wd, I said, why? Apparently, the producer wanted a truck like that for a scene,,,and NOBODY KNEW WHAT IT WAS!!! My daughter said, “my dad will know”,,,then, she tells me, there’s an outfit in Hollywood, called “Star Cars”, or something, if a producer needs a certain vehicle, this company will find one. She said, “dad, that would be for you!” If I was a younger man, thanks for listening,,,
2CVs are wonderful. Once you get used to the shift pattern (push-pull-twist-push-pull) and the glacial acceleration, they are fun, useful, economical, quirky, comfortable and, most of all, French. The major body roll in corners seems a bit unusual to first-timers, but the payoff comes in a smooth ride no other car in the 2CV’s class can come close to equaling.
As Adam says, they are easy to work on — again, there are quirks — and, since so many were built, parts are not exactly a problem. In fact, I believe combining the various sources would allow an adventurous wrencher to build a complete car from new parts….
This one, despite its movie history, is not quite $17K charming. The front seat is definitely wrong, I see some other signs of possible disuse and misuse, and would probably pull the thing apart to correct any hidden issues stemming from age and normal wear.
Nonetheless, the lead image, like discovering a long-lost photo of a high-school “crush,” has me all charged-up again with longing for one of these baby Cits.
I’ve always thought these were neat cars. My first memory of one is in the Movie American Graffiti like Howard mentioned above. Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I’d like one, just to putter around town, if it’ll to 45 to 50 the back roads would be just fine with me. I’ve read what Adam wrote about the eggs being transported without any breaking, and I believe that. Thanks Adam, I enjoyed your write up. ( Now you’ve got me wanting a 2CV now 😆)
“2CV” actually meant two horses, and if I had 2 horses as slow as these cars are, I’d send them to the glue factory. Fun facts, these hold the record for being in production the longest, and were actually quite safe in a collision because the car’s front and rear are basically crumple zones. I think the seller of this particular steed is asking way too much, but then again in America they aren’t too common. Probably because they aren’t exactly interstate rippers. Parts are indeed, plentiful as they should be, because world wide there’s still a lot of them around.
“2CV’ actually stand for “2 Cheval Vapeur” (in English: two steam horses”), which was the French taxation system for cars.
I once read an explanation of how it was calculated which gave the formula but, being French, it defies understanding.
Engine size in the article should be in cc, not 424ci. That’s a lot of engine for a car the size of a large shoe. I showed this to my 12 year old daughter and she said she’d like to drive one to school, so there’s hope for us that dig weird cars.
I like the quirkiness of the Ducks and would love to have one, but I worked on a movie car when I was working at a brake shop as a high schooler. Someone had bought it and needed some work done. It looked great, but was a jumble of breaks and fixes under the surface. That is my only experience with “movie” cars, but after seeing that one, I’d be hard pressed to ever buy one! I’m sure it depends on the movie and the car’s role, but it put me off, even as a 17 year old kid.