Citroën 2cv: The Story

The "Ugly Duckling" was born twice. The first time in 1939, blind in one eye and with a water-cooled engine.. The second time in 1948, air-cooled, in a configuration that would remain largely unchanged over the years. By the end of 1977, three million units had been sold. And the "2CV boom" continued to astonish the world. What had been conceived as a solution for post-war transportation had become a trendy car. A vehicle that students, workers, housewives, and artists could afford. A car that evokes nostalgia, no matter the social class of its owner. Yet, the creators of the Citroën 2CV had no intention of designing a "fun" car. The "Deuche" came to life thanks to French rationalism combined with the boldness to defy conventions. In 1936, Pierre Boulanger, Citroën's president at the time, tasked his designers with developing a "car with four wheels under an umbrella." He specified his ideas as follows: The umbrella had to provide comfortable shelter for four people. It had to be capable of running at least 50 kilometers per hour. And one should be able to load a basket full of eggs inside without breaking any of them along the way. Three years later, in 1939, no fewer than 250 prototypes were completed. However, the first "ducks" looked rather frightening. The corrugated sheet metal seemed haphazardly assembled, the seats resembled hammocks, and the single headlight gave it the appearance of a pirate. In 1948, three years after the end of the war, the "Ugly Duckling" reemerged from obscurity. But in the meantime, it had evolved into the automobile that would be produced until 1990. The one and a half million visitors at the 1948 Paris Motor Show saw the "Ugly Duckling" as a revelation - a savior of mobility in an era marked by economic hardships. The French, and soon not only them, were amazed to see how this four-wheeled umbrella navigated the potholes of plowed fields with remarkable ease, in a fluid and secure motion. The first 2CV's 375cc engine produced eight horsepower - enough to reach a top speed of 55 km/h. The design principle was as logical as it was ingenious: focus on everything related to safety, driving comfort, durability, and reliability while eliminating anything superfluous or prone to breakage. Over time, improvements were made to both the equipment and body quality. This was accompanied by a systematic and gradual increase in engine power, eventually reaching a 600cc, 25-horsepower version. This made the Citroën 2CV the only car to triple its horsepower since its inception. The full story... and much more awaits you in 230 captivating pages that, if they don't revive your memories, will undoubtedly make you smile at the many adventures of the "Ugly Duckling."