Citroën celebrates the 75th birthday of one of its most iconic models: the 2 CV. Designed at the Citroën design office on Rue du Théâtre in Paris and fine-tuned at the La Ferté-Vidame test center in the Eure-et-Loir region, it was presented to the public at the Paris Motor Show on October 7, 1948. The 2 CV had an exceptional commercial history: a total of 5,114,969 units were produced, including 1,246,335 2 CV vans. The last 2 CV left the Mangualde factory in Portugal 42 years after its launch, on July 27, 1990.
The 2 CV has represented, like few models in the history of the French firm, the fundamental pillars of the brand: popular, comfortable, simple, resistant and affordable. Its unique body shape and versatility were key to a success that spanned several decades. The origins of this unique model are found in the "TPV" ("Toute Petite Voiture") project, which was born in the mid-1930s, specifically in 1936.
Its goal was to provide low-income people with an affordable and versatile car. In 1937, the first rolling prototype of the TPV project saw the light, weighing only 370 kg and with only one headlight (the legislation of the time did not require two). The vehicle could carry up to four people and 50 kg of luggage at a maximum speed of 50 km/h and was extremely comfortable.
Those responsible for the French company planned to present 250 pre-production models at the Paris Motor Show in 1939, but the outbreak of the Second World War prevented this from happening. The models that had been built were destroyed, except for four that were kept secret at the Citroën Test Center in La Ferté-Vidame.
After the war, when the initial planning was recovered and production began, in July 1949, the 2 CV was a small car with a 375 cc, 9 HP two-cylinder air-cooled engine, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 50 km/h. Citroën revolutionized the automotive industry with an economical and versatile vehicle.
Its special body shape and attractiveness quickly conquered an important part of the population. But its great success was also due to its infinite variety of uses, its modularity, its lightness, agility and comfort. Not to mention, it was ultra-cheap to maintain, making it the most popular car. In 1950, orders accumulated far exceeding the manufacturing capacity of the model, which caused delivery times to extend up to 6 years.
Its avant-garde spirit, and the ingenious technologies it already implemented for the time, ensured that it remained on the automotive scene for many years. The 2 CV is a timeless model that has become a true social phenomenon, attracting collectors from all over the world. It is still frequently seen on our roads today and remains a symbol of freedom, fascination with French culture, anti-conformity and adventure.
The engine was an air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer with an initial displacement of 375 c.c. It developed 6.6 kW (9 HP) and was coupled, as standard, to a 4-speed gearbox for the first time in a car of the brand. Numerous evolutions followed this initial version. The 602 c.c. engine Incorporated in the Citroën 2 CV 6 of 1970, it already developed 21 kW (28 HP). In all the 2 CV manufactured it was possible to start the engine using the crank provided to loosen the wheel bolts.
The first version of the Citroën 2 HP achieved, with its 9 HP, a maximum speed of around 70 km/h. The latest models, with 29 HP, reached a maximum speed of 113 km/h. The 2 CV is one of the few production models in the world in which the initial power tripled throughout its commercial life.
In Spain, the Citroën 2 CV played a fundamental role in the development of the automotive industry. In 1958, the Citroën Hispania factory opened its doors in the Vigo Free Trade Zone. The first model to leave the assembly lines of the Galician plant was the 2 CV, in its van version.
The 2 CV is also known around the world in many different ways, and its reputation earned it several nicknames. Some of the best known are "Deuche", "Deudeuche" and "Pato Feo", to name a few. It received as many nicknames as versions and variants throughout its fruitful commercial career. Thus, in total, there were ten special editions of the 2 CV, released in France and several other European countries.
These included the Spot, the Charleston and the Cocorico. The 2 CV also underwent a number of changes, including the launch of the 2 CV van (known as the 2 CV AU) in 1951, and then the 2 CV AZ in 1954, equipped with a 12 CV engine and the famous centrifugal clutch.
In addition, the 2 CV traveled on roads around the world thanks to several Raids, such as the Paris-Kabul-Paris Raid of 16,500 km in 1970, the Paris-Persepolis Raid of 13,500 km in 1971 or the Africa Raid of 8,000 km from Abidjan to Tunisia in 1973, all organized by Citroën.
To commemorate this anniversary, the signature of the two chevrons has been photographed from a particularly artistic angle eight iconic 2 CVs from the Citroën Conservatory, located on the outskirts of Paris:
