Photo of the Week – The Citroen 2CV
I came across this classic Citroën 2CV, parked on a residential street in Arlington, Virginia.
As France’s answer to the VW Beetle, just 250 of the 2CV’s were built just before the start of WW-II in 1939. After the war, when production began resumed, it became a very popular car across France.
By 1990 when production ceased, over 3.8 million had been sold.
Three engine options were available, a 375 cc, a 435 cc or the “powerful” 602 cc engine. None created more than 40 horsepower. By comparison, the current Honda Civic engines produce 4 to 7 times more horsepower than the largest 2CV engine.
But even standing still, it is a beauty.
Images – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti
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3 Comments
A yellow Citroen was probably my favorite of my brother’s extensive Matchbox collection when we were kids. Thanks for a nice memory.
Send this to GM Ford and all the outher car makers. They want a fuel efficent car this beats them all. I had one and cannot rember filling it up it just went and went.
The 1960s VW bug has a 1200cc engine, more than 3 times the smallest Citroen’s 375cc engine. It must have been stingy with gas but scary pulling onto the highway.