When we think of the traditional home of 2-seat Sports Cars, the Netherlands doesn’t immediately spring to mind. However, the Burton Car Company hails from that country, producing kit cars and turnkey vehicles for those who don’t want to follow the DIY path. Our featured Burton sits on the company’s Citroën 2CV underpinnings, meaning that while it isn’t the most powerful beast on the planet, it should be unerringly reliable. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P. for spotting the Burton listed here on Craigslist in Leominster, Massachusetts. The seller has listed this quirky classic for $25,750.
Founded in 1993 by brothers Iwan and Dimitri Goebel, the Burton Car Company produced its first fiberglass kit car in 2000. It initially focused on domestic customers in the Netherlands, but quickly began shipping kits and completed cars across Europe. The styling is interesting, bearing traces of vehicles produced by Jaguar, Bugatti, and Delahaye. Although the company’s first car emerged at the start of the New Millennium, the model year designation confirms that this Burton’s body is attached to the underpinnings of a 1984 Citroën 2CV. Its presentation is exceptional, from its sparkling Turquoise paint to the White Hardtop with the quirky gullwing doors. The deal also includes a Black soft-top and a tonneau, both unused. The trim is excellent, and the glass is spotless.
Kit cars typically feature dash fascias finished in the vehicle’s body color or covered in faux timber. This Burton features the former, with the broad gauge selection reinforcing the sporting feel. The detachable timber wheel accentuates that impression, and with no radio or in-car entertainment, the heated seats are the main luxury touch. The appearance seems faultless, with no wear or other issues. It might not be luxurious, but it looks extremely comfortable.
I’ve talked in previous articles about bulletproof mechanical components, and those used in the Citroën 2CV fall into that category. The company’s 602cc air-cooled twin-cylinder engine might produce only 29hp in factory form, but it lasts forever if properly maintained. Even if abused, they will still keep on plugging along after lesser motors have waved the white flag. This Burton features the little twin that feeds its power to the road via a four-speed manual transmission. However, the seller says it has the “big-bore” kit and cold air tube, pushing power to a dizzying 40hp. It still won’t be fast in a straight line, but the seller says it is a blast to drive if you keep your foot to the floor and are prepared to row the shifter a bit. Citroën quoted a top speed of 71mph for the standard 2CV, but this classic will top 75, with 85 not out of the question. It runs and drives well, and is a turnkey proposition.
The seller says they believe there are only five to nine examples of the Burton in North America, and this is only the second we’ve seen at Barn Finds. An online search of current offerings and past sales also supports that claim. It won’t appeal to everyone and, if past reader feedback is a guide, some will find the price too high. However, exclusivity sometimes comes at a cost, as with the Burton. It won’t threaten high-performance models, but if you crave a 2-seater with exotic looks and near-indestructible mechanical components, this could be the car for you.
I think it’s really neat, but lost me at the “2CV” thing. As impressive as the car looks, it should have more than 40hp. See, thing is, Europeans are apparently content just motoring along with as much enjoyment as 40hp. could provide. Americans, on the other hand, want their back teeth flying out upon massive acceleration, while still looking cool. Not sure about 75mph, maybe on nitro, but great for that merry old European tree covered lane, no wonder Europeans are generally more laid back and live longer. Cool find.
Could also be that the UK doesn’t have the rate of obesity that plagues the USA.
Obesity also could be why 40hp is not sufficient for most Americans.
Agree that 40 hp seems low, but as the old saying goes: it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. A friend used to race through town in his air cooled VW Beetle and nobody else knew he was racing
Yes, nitro is a good proposal.😁 A boyfriend of my older daughtger and his nitro Toyota lasted just a few days, everything inside the engine turned a bluish color and my daughter said it was almost uncontrollable when faced with a turn.
I don’t know what it is, if it’s the color combination, or what but this, at least to me, is a really good looking car. Going off what Howard said, maybe if I drive a low HP car and try to stay more laid back…
I’D live longer!!! ( Nope…. Probably not….)
Very nice Adam, I like this one a lot.
Most of my cars for the past nearly 70 years have been those in which one must quickly learn and practice “energy management” much as big-rig drivers had to do before the advent of turbocharging… ‘n I’ve lived to this ripe stage of 90+ without wrapping myself ’round a tree out of exuberance.
Oh, and Adam said, “It might not be luxurious, but it looks extremely comfortable” to which I will add, “… if one can get in!” Getting out? That’s another issue for the less-than-limber. Ah, for the days again of my earlier cars where one would effortlessly ingress and egress with the rear-hinged doors…
Oh, the car… neato, but not for me.
I think us Americans really do need to learn how to slow down. Rush, Rush, Rush, go, go, go… Sit back and enjoy the ride !
I can’t believe this only has 40 hp and a 2cyl. It looks like it should at least have a straight six. I’d still love to own this, though. I think it’s rather unprepossessing, but definitely not the worst car I’ve seen, and I would be guaranteed to be the only one around with such a car as this.
‘unprepossessing’- Thanks, I just learned a new word.
At least you’ll look good while everyone is passing you. Pretty car. If it were cheaper, it might be worth electrifying it. Oh well, I doubt it sells, but good luck to anyone who ends up with it.
I’m even more against electrifying a vehicle than LS-swapping one.
There are various big-bore options available in 2CV-world.
The bog-stock car has 29bhp; UK championship racers have 40-odd (still on 602cc).
The Belgians have a race class called “Prototype” which allows 652cc Visa barrels/pistons on 2CV crankcases. Apart from that piece of control, everything else is pretty much allowed
I dunno… Certainly less practical than a 2CV, without any real advantage. And at $25k there are plenty of nice real sports cars available so why would one get a kit car?
It looks like some home built creation from the 1950s.
Drop a small block V8 in it, and if nothing else, wait for someone asking to race…
Have ya’ll seen European roads? Narrow, windy, and literally not made for speed (except maybe the Autobahn)
Early VWs only had 36hp and more than a few of those were sold here in the US. With $5/gallon gas 40hp is just about right. I really like this car but at my age I don’t want to burden my heirs with having to unload it.
In general US made cars are not familiar with lightness. The original late production 2CV is already not exactly obese and can wobble along easily at 65 mph. The Burton is in fact the same car, but with a much lighter, much lower and far better streamlined body. So you shouldn’t be surprised if it will do at least 70. With the engine configuration mentioned 80 mph is quite possible, provided you can live with the pure sensations of the screaming engine and more. The roadholding of the little beast is far beyond what you can imagine. All this due to sheer lightness plus the brilliant basic Citroën concept.
I think that the passenger would be screaming louder at 80 mph than the engine!
Looks like a lot of fun, the owner is definitely proud of this thing its a kit car so I don’t think modifying it with something more powerful would completely destroy its value but I don’t know enough about them to make that decision. Some ideas come to mind like taking the engine out of a Honda gold wing and putting it in there or convert the front to fronk space and putting the drive train from a smart for two back there. Or just enjoy it as it currently is if you can drop that kind of money on a toy
Or if you really want to get crazy put a Hyabusa engine in it. Having said that, I like the car just like it is. It looks like it would be a lot of fun to drive, and it’s very cool looking.
The king of bulbosity. Double ugly!
So many pictures but barely one of the left side. I was looking for the side exit exhaust.
There was no mention of a side-exit exhaust? Found pics of other Burtons confirming they typically have a rear exit exhaust, offset towards the left side.
Having owned one for 12 years, I’m a big fan of the 2CV, but to me this adaptation just has an ungainly “kit-car” vibe. It also promises more (in looks) than it can deliver (in performance). An original 2CV has a certain honesty to it, and the quirky “styling” was a deliberate design to keep the car as light as possible. By the way, my car does 75 mph at 5,000 ft, but a hill or a headwind can really slow it down.
Gorgeous, but so underpowered it´s a joke. To each his own I suppose.
Good looking example! The ones who think it’s not easy to get in and out are somewhat correct, but know that the steering wheel comes off and once you have it off it’s easier,much easier! The “big bore” must be in reference to the 652CC available from Burton itself; 40hp for a car that size with a weight of under 1,100 pounds bring more thrills than one expects, and the cruising speed is easily 75mph with a top speed (observed!) of over 85mph on flat.
One more thing: very reliable and economical to run. A member of my Citroen club here in AZ has a black one; last year he (slow) rear ended the car in front of him, cracked the fiberglass hood in a couple spots, took close to one year to get a new hood from the Netherland….exclusivity, at any level, presents risks.
Just adding this: was this one painted by the owner? Because the Burtons coming out of factory have the color imbedded in the fiber body itself and I have never seen this color before on a Burton.
Electric or better hybrid. Imagine this thing with 100 bhp and almost unlimited torque.