What is a great car? Is it rare and beautiful? Is it a technological breakthrough? Or is it a vehicle that makes it possible for everyman to drive? Did Henry Ford make all of us Barn Finders enthusiasts? Or was that Enzo Ferrari? I think it was Henry Ford, and I think a great car is a car that takes the status quo in its proverbial teeth and shakes it silly – and to me, that’s the Model T, the VW Bug, and the Citroën deux chevaux, aka the 2CV. These cars made history because they were cheap enough to make drivers of anyone – and once you were a driver, well then you could be a hot rodder, a rallyist, a racer, or a restorer, even. These vehicles made history because they sold in the millions, and their production time frames lasted decades. In the US we are most familiar with Fords and VWs, but almost anywhere else in the world, the 2CV can be found plying dusty, narrow roads in faithful service. If these nifty little wheeled snails appeal to you, here on Hagerty’s auction site is a 1986 2CV6, bid to $2800 and located in Portland, Oregon. The tip is courtesy of PRA4SNW – thanks, good to see you back in our tip list!
The 2CV was invented before WWII. When the war began, the prototypes were hidden away to prevent enemy acquisition of what was destined to be a great idea – a cheap, simple car with a long suspension travel to accommodate rough roads and enough room inside to haul goods. Delays due to multiple political and resource roadblocks prevented a smooth recovery in France, pushing the new car’s launch out to 1948. Production finally ended in 1990 after more than 9.2 million 2CVs of various iterations were made. This ’86 is equipped with a 602 cc air-cooled two-cylinder engine rated at 29 hp (thus the “6” appended to “2CV”). The gearbox is a four-speed manual transaxle driving the front wheels. The car runs well after a restoration conducted in Europe, thought it probably hasn’t traveled too many miles since that work was completed, judging by its spiffy underside.
If the exterior isn’t enough of a clue, it’s when we step inside that we really know we’re in France. The single-spoke steering wheel, the gearshift emerging from the dash (who does that!), the haphazardly arranged instrument panel, the thin seats and the roll-back roof … oh, I forgot to mention that the windows hinge open about halfway up – no roll-up windows in this critter but at least you can pay a toll. No question the quality of the restoration was fine indeed – the new owner won’t need to do much but pilot toward the nearest Cars ‘N Coffee.
The ’86 2CV6 needs about 33 seconds to mosey up to 62 mph, which is close to its top speed – making freeway merging a nail-biting experience. But for puttering around town on nice days with the top down it’s ideal – park it anywhere, load up your groceries, wheel on home. As to prices, special variants can sell for over $25k but the vast majority of 2CV6s sell between high four figures and mid-teens. This example is in outstanding condition – it should veer to the high end of the price range.
I’ve never seen a 2CV painted black before, and wonder if that was a factory color or just someone channeling their inner Henri Ford. Most are gray, or are sporting :Charleston” two-tones, my favorite.
They are somewhat slow-ish for freeway use, but they can handle it. I speak from some experience here. Slipstreaming 18-wheelers, while not recommended, helps to inch their maximum up to 65 or so.
These are incredibly comfortable and quirky — the shift lever and its odd push-pull-twist movements take some getting used to — and, as far as I know, dead reliable. I love them.
Sadly for me, I expect the price to rise considerably before the auction ends. It would be the perfect car for the small village I live in.
You’ve done it again, Michelle!
The gear shifting on these (and Renaults with a similar “umbrella handle” shifter in the dash) is easier to wrap your mind around if you ignore which way the lever is pointing and just focus on the movement of the knob itself, which moves in a familiar horizontal H pattern.
Mine’ll go off the clock quite happily, but it has been breathed on a bit!
Black wasn’t a standard colour, but is, however, popular.
This is such a nice Citroën. Great find PRA4SNW, and a great article too Michelle. I have a bucket list of cars I want to drive, besides a Model T, one of these is on my list. ( trust me theres a lot more than that but I’ll put This one looks terrific, love the black paint. You can tell it’s work is absolutely top notch. I’m sure there’s a lot of labor hours in its restoration, and it really shows. Thank you for writing this up.
My apologies got a phone call in the middle of typing that comment ……if it sounds cryptic…….It is….i was typing that I wasnt going to share my entire bucket list of cars to drive, I’m sure I’d put everyone to sleep. Once again, I enjoyed the car and write up, thank you.
You’re very welcome…. Always interested in bucket list cars; what are your top two?
Thats a much tougher question to answer than you’d think Michelle….. Lol. It always seems to rotate. I see something on the road, or on here and it hits the top of the list. I’ll definitely start with a model T and one of these for sure at at the top.
Nice write-up and vehicle, … nicely presented, … and I concur with your tastes described here. I have 11 Frenchies, like them all and use them as often as possible. My 2CV’s/Ami keep up with modern traffic, even on the 4-laners. We drove my truckette across from Oregon to Wisc through British Columbia for a R&T trip-story years ago, a vehicle my brother and his wife drove to So America and LIVED in for 18 months before driving it back to Wisc. They work & work, and are pleasant to drive and own.
I stayed with a friend in Bouzigues France, a small oyster farming village on The Mediterranean. He said “Let’s take the 2CV and get some oysters, wanna drive”? I was like HELL YEA! As i approached the speed hump I slowed down and he said “What are you doing, get on it” The suspension is crazy, as you go over a bump the suspension bounces up and down but you hardly feel it. Farmers drive them in the fields. Really fun car to drive!
One must wonder if this, as a 1986 can even be legally registered in Portland or California and many other places as it won’t pass smog inspection!
That occurred to me. The ’86 vintage could prove a stumbling block – not old enough on paper to qualify for exemption in OR, but still using the “old” mechanical arrangement that’s not acceptable emissions-wise.
I’ve always been intrigued by these – what a great idea for the times, and amazing that they remained in production for so long.
I’m glad to see a good amount of comments for this one.
I’m sure that they have been written up here on BF before, but it must be a rare occasion.
Its funny you said that. Ironically the last 2CV sedan ( thats a normal stock one) that was on here was Nov. Of last year, it was a really nice blue 1960 model that Michelle also wrote up. ( I’m thinking she likes these lol.)
I have seen one of these in North Carolina that was powered by a BMW Flat 2 cylinder motor cycle engine. It was spirited to say the least !!!
what? No one suggesting an LS swap? the BF faithful must be slipping.
SOLD for $14,552.