OT CITROEN HOT ROD...pretty neat

[Powerhouse]

http://www.davintosh.com/2008/02/16/citroen-2cv-rat-rod/

[Uncle-Pekka]

Amazing - this truly shows genius imagination.

He has preserved the 2CV spirit, yet build something totally new design.

The car somehow reminds of early WW2 fighters and same time start wars space ships...

My hat is off for this builder.

[greg g]

Has anyone ever actually driven a 2CV??? two cylinder opposed engine, shifter sticking out of the dash, don't think they got synchros till well along in thier lifetime, seats like lawn chairs. Mushy torsion rod suspension. Fold up front windows. But like the model T thay had some pretty impressive off road deiving characteristics. They were originally targeted at rural peasants as a way to take their farm produce to market. One of the advirtising thing was that they could transport eggs across a plowed field without breaking them, the canvas roof panel was there to translprt irregularly shaped cargo, say like sheep or calves. Guess they were succesful at thier intended jobs, but their top speed was 40 mph, If you could stand the canvas flapping.

[Plymouthy Adams]

those things are most unstable..roll over and go belly up before the neighbor's dog..the fact that the swing arms were widened I am sure is to offer some sort of stability..no matter what you do to it, its still a Citroen

[Uncle-Pekka]

Yes, I've driven 2CV. It is small, VERY simple and spartan car, but like most french (and american) cars it is still somehow confortable, just forgive the powerless 2-cylinder engine and total lack of noise isolation.

For an european car the suspension (springs) is soft.

It is easy to maintain and durable.

EDIT: I have to disagree a bit with Tim: 2CV suspension is like jelly, indeed - BUT it is not unstable in the same sense as the Corvair or some modern cars without the expensive computerised stabilization system. I doubt you could turn 2CV belly up on normal road conditions. It is wide and long wheelbase compared to weight and body size. Also drive geometry is OK. Only the torsional springs are very soft and will give poor cornering. It will nod deep, but not roll over. A common man does not dare to push it over the limit.

Then background:

As you know VW beetle KdF was first successful approach in Europe to build a affordable car for the masses (Of course Ford "T" & "A" were popular in Europe, but in 30's you had to be wealthy to afford any car).

2CV was engineered in France right after the war for rival or replacement of the VW (factories in Germany were bombed clean off).

Later, in the end of 50's, another french company (state owned Renault), did similar approach, the R4. R4 was also simple, but way more modern. It had small 850cc in-line OHV four, five doors (YES, 1st true minivan) and front w.drive.

All these: Beetle, 2CV & R4 were extremely popular among the hippies of the 60's.

In my childhood they were common sight in roads of Finland as well.

To speak about small cars of the sixties, one must mention also english and italian rivals: Morris Minor (later the Mini) and FIAT 500 (later 600). All competed in class of engine displacement less than a litre.

Now you probably already have guessed that unkka P is a nut for these small cars. I confess. I have three Renault R4's and one earlier R1090 "Dauphine" project. The R1090 had the same small engine as R4. It is about the same size, but "4d sedan" and rear engine set up.

Edited January 22, 2011 by Uncle-Pekka

[james curl]

I have always liked what my wife calls "Womb cars" cause they are so small. I once had a Berkley with 600 cc Excellsoir motor cycle 2 stroke engine and a 948 cc MG Midget Mark 1. three Triumph TR-4s and a Toyota Celica although not all at once. Loved all of them except the Berkley which was so small that my right leg had to straddle the gear shift handle , very uncomfortable. Never drove it on the road, sold it and delivered it in the back of my short bed 55 Chevy pick up with the tail gate down for the back tires to sit on.

[old stovebolt]

Has anyone ever actually driven a 2CV??? two cylinder opposed engine, shifter sticking out of the dash, don't think they got synchros till well along in thier lifetime, seats like lawn chairs. Mushy torsion rod suspension. Fold up front windows. But like the model T thay had some pretty impressive off road deiving characteristics. They were originally targeted at rural peasants as a way to take their farm produce to market. One of the advirtising thing was that they could transport eggs across a plowed field without breaking them, the canvas roof panel was there to translprt irregularly shaped cargo, say like sheep or calves. Guess they were succesful at thier intended jobs, but their top speed was 40 mph, If you could stand the canvas flapping.

Yes, I have driven several 2CVs. Fun little cars, not very fast and super ugly. Back in the late '70s I worked on several (bodywork) and they are just tin cans, with the metal was so thin.

And.....somewhere I have photos of one I painted with flames. It looked as bad as it sounds.

Edited January 23, 2011 by old stovebolt

[John Mulders]

I drove the 2CV and owned two Renault 4's.

I agree with Uncle-Pekka, it will lean over a lot but not tip over.

These car were very forgiving in terrain (used by farmers in France) as well.

The Renault also had the dashboard stick, just a matter of getting used to.

Easy to maintain (everything was bolted) and cheap to replace.

Question for Uncle Pekka, that R4 picture is not from Finland right?

The plate looks very much Dutch old style plates (blue with white letters).

Also the mailbox looks like the Dutch one.

Loved the R4. Different circumstances in Holland (small winding roads, small parking spots) so these cars were very usefull.

Great milage for both cars for that era.

John

[Uncle-Pekka]

John,

You're right the picture is NOT from Finland. It is so easy to link pictures from web, I just picked an odd pic to illustrate. However, we use that very same mailbox in Finland.

I will post some pictures of my cars here, but it takes some work to download them in the web.

You also right that R4 is most fun to drive in small country roads when you do not have any hurry. Not so nice for long highway trips. Practical cruising speed is 50...55mph max.

The dash stick is very funny too: It is actually just a straight rod through the dashboard and fire wall, over the engine and radiator. The gear box is in front of the engine, below radiator. There is a conventional "floor stick" standing up on the g/box top cover btw grille and radiator. The horizontal dash stick has a loop on the front end, which simply loops over the gear stick in front.

[Young Ed]

We ran into this one on our honeymoon. The shop owner let us sit in it. I recall it being a little crowded. Very spartan vehicle too. Slide back windows etc. I believe she said this one was an early 80s model.