1948 Citroen 2CV
About the Car
1948 Citroen 2CV
More than a car, the 2CV was a way of life. A European cultural icon since its launch until today, the Citroën compact is – and always has been – worshiped not only by collectors, artists and intellectuals, but mainly by an entire generation that understood for the first time what it was like to be able to have an individual means of transport. , affordable, versatile and reliable. A Citroën for everyone. You can find more visual details of the 1948 Citroen 2CV gallery by scrolling up.
The ultimate representation of what it means to be a “cool” car, the 2CV – or “Deuche”, for those close to it – had a pragmatic beginning in its history, as its concept was simple and urgent at the time. For Pierre Michelin, who had replaced André Citroën at the helm of the brand, the future model should allow the masses to replace the horse and carriage with a robust, useful and accessible vehicle, capable of transporting four people and 50 kg of agricultural goods – especially eggs. , which could not break during the journey – at a speed of 50 km/h, even on muddy and unpaved roads.
The first prototypes created by André Lefebvre (the genius behind the Traction Avant and the DS) were supposed to be unveiled in October 1939 – three years after the TPV, or Toute Petite Voiture, project began – but the 2CV was hampered by the outbreak. of the Second World War. Of the 200 or so already assembled, almost all were destroyed in bombing. Only four remained, kept secret in occupied France.
With factories destroyed, Citroën kept the development of the 2CV hidden and its debut took place on October 7, 1948, on a stage that could not be any other, the Paris Motor Show, the center of a Europe that was about to be rebuilt.
Instant success, there was a queue after the premiere. Soon after, you had to wait up to five years to park a 2CV in the garage. It was then created one of the first situations in which the used one cost more than the new one, because nobody wanted to wait. Over time, other countries also produced the model, such as the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Portugal, Spain and even Chile. His signature in the history of the automobile was already gaining its first contours.
Ahead of the driver, an air-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine with 375 cm³ of displacement and 9 hp of power, coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox. Did you think little? The fact is that, extremely light and with a stability far above average, the 2CV was a very fun car to drive, that’s right, piloted. So much so that its sensible increases in power would come strongly from the 70s, when the 2CV started to come out with a block of 602cm³ and 33 hp.
Practical and versatile, it featured long-travel independent four-wheel suspension that, in practice, was an ally for smooth rides, while the good ground clearance did not compromise its performance on uneven terrain. Not infrequently he won races against much more modern and powerful competitors, thanks to this incredible result of his suspensions.
In addition to the 2CV, other models were born from its mechanical base. One of them was the friendly Dyane. Almost identical, it incorporated a more traditional aesthetic and practical tailgate design when compared to the 2CV. Its popularity was such that almost 1.5 million dyanes were added between 1967 and 1983.
You can find more visual details of the 1948 Citroen 2CV gallery by scrolling up.
1948 Citroen 2CV Front View
Another highlight is the Sahara. Instead of a traditional setup involving differentials and clutches, Citroën simply added a rear-mounted engine to power the rear wheels and create a 2CV 4×4. Ingenious, it only had an accelerator, a clutch and a gearbox to operate both engines. With just under 700 copies built, it is a coveted item by collectors today. Not to mention the Ami (1961-1978) and the Méhari jeep (1968-1988), in addition to the Fourgonette, from 1951.
On July 27, 1990, a 2CV in two shades of grey, nicknamed “The Duck”, was discontinued at the Portuguese plant in Magualde, ending the model’s career 3,868,634 units later. He said goodbye not just as a utility vehicle, but as a legend. Thirty years after its retirement, it is the most produced Citroën in the world to date.