A French icon: La toute petite voiture

ajmat · 18th April 2008, 12:58

Sixty years ago this year, a strange little vehicle appeared at the Paris car show. It looked like an upside-down pram with a corrugated bonnet and a canvas roof.

It had no starter motor and one headlight. Its windscreen wipers were operated by the forward motion of the wheels. Its seats looked like cheap canvas deckchairs. The wheels were as thin as saucepan lids. The car – for it was a car – was available in any colour that you wanted, so long as it was dull grey.

read on here

GTO · 19th April 2008, 10:56

Great read! Who would have thought this would be the base to feed the post-WW need, and a runaway success?

clevermax · 19th April 2008, 11:23

I remember seeing this same old model, of course with the same color in Germany!! Never knew about these details until now.

Cyrus43 · 19th April 2008, 11:40

Interesting history lesson about one of the cutest cars ever!
Bien fait ajmat!

sujaylahiri · 19th April 2008, 16:09

Wow what a coincidence.
We had a question in one of our exams yesterday about the Citroen 2CV.

Batla · 28th April 2008, 16:52

Being french, leaving in France.. I had to react on this one.
'La 2 chevaux (2CV)' has been the most popular french car ever. Where I leave (in Alsace in France) there are still many of them which are used daily and which are in a very good shape. People love(d) it because it was often the first car they could afford when they were young drivers and very often they would even not pay for it since their by parents would 'abandon' it to their kids.
The basic technology of this car (2 flat cylinders air cooled) made it extremely easy to repair by almost anyone. The best part was driving this thing. Despite that it was moving like a boat on a bad ocean, it would stick to the road. This car was designed in a such a way that it was litterally impossible to make it flip.
This car has been customized like no other. As an example you may want to have a look at the blog of a belgian 2CV addicted guy. The text is in french but browsing through the 16 pages of photos is already worth it.
I hope you'll enjoy it, as I did!
bugaclaude's blog - buga-buga - Skyrock.com

A few kilometers away from where I leave in Alsace, France, is a museum dedicated to the 2CV.
Here is their site: Le musée 2CV du Framont :: 2cv-legende.com ::

Lastly.. In 1953 (excellent year..) a 2CV a bit prepared.. won 'Le Bol d'Or' which was a 24h competition in Le Mans. They even established a new record.. Amazing..
More details here: Séries spéciales 2CV :: 2cv-legende.com ::
There is a list of all the special series which made this car so popular..

Take Care et 'Vive la dedeuche!!!'

Serge

29th April 2010, 12:50

According to today's The New Indian Express, a German Taxi Advertisement, urging customers to rent a small Citroen C3 hatchback and mocking at French President Sarkozy's height, created furore in France. It said, "Be like Madame Bruni, take a small French Model"!

jigbarai · 29th April 2010, 13:30

^^
Oh man.
Something like this in India even to one of the senior ministers would create a political catastrophe

Rallies, shouting slogans, bringing the LS / RS houses down and the works.

Wonder if Mr & Mrs President even noticed this in France.

hillram · 29th April 2010, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batla

Being french, leaving in France.. I had to react on this one.

Serge..Im sure you meant LIVING in France !!!!
Excuzez-moi mon ami,si Je t'ai fait du mal.Ce n'est qu'une observation !!!

Batla · 29th April 2010, 17:16

Obviously I meant living and not leaving even if sometimes I feel like I'd better be elsewhere. Pas de problème hillram, mon anglais est loin d'être parfait.

With regards to the ad above I do not think that anyone in France besides Sarkozy and (may be) his wife felt offended.
Since he always tries to cheat on his size and physical abilities, he is on the top list of our sarcastic humorists.
There is not one single day without him or his wife being mocked on TV, radio, the net etc... and not only because of his physical 'limitations' but more importantly because of his incompetence.
His popularity is currently at ground level!

Batla · 30th April 2010, 15:14

You have a 2CV in your garage??.. Lucky you!
You're just a small step away from this:

The 2CV Minik!

18th April 2008, 12:58	#1
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 15,216 Thanked: 31,655 Times View My Garage	A French icon: La toute petite voiture Sixty years ago this year, a strange little vehicle appeared at the Paris car show. It looked like an upside-down pram with a corrugated bonnet and a canvas roof. It had no starter motor and one headlight. Its windscreen wipers were operated by the forward motion of the wheels. Its seats looked like cheap canvas deckchairs. The wheels were as thin as saucepan lids. The car – for it was a car – was available in any colour that you wanted, so long as it was dull grey. read on here
	() Thanks

19th April 2008, 10:56	#2
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,879 Thanked: 323,161 Times View My Garage	Great read! Who would have thought this would be the base to feed the post-WW need, and a runaway success?
	() Thanks

19th April 2008, 11:23	#3
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,115 Thanked: 2,909 Times View My Garage	I remember seeing this same old model, of course with the same color in Germany!! Never knew about these details until now.
	() Thanks

19th April 2008, 11:40	#4
Cyrus43 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 5,019 Thanked: 230 Times View My Garage	Interesting history lesson about one of the cutest cars ever! Bien fait ajmat!
	() Thanks

19th April 2008, 16:09	#5
sujaylahiri BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North America Posts: 960 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Wow what a coincidence. We had a question in one of our exams yesterday about the Citroen 2CV.
	() Thanks

28th April 2008, 16:52	#6
Batla Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: strasbourg, france Posts: 16 Thanked: 0 Times	Being french, leaving in France.. I had to react on this one. 'La 2 chevaux (2CV)' has been the most popular french car ever. Where I leave (in Alsace in France) there are still many of them which are used daily and which are in a very good shape. People love(d) it because it was often the first car they could afford when they were young drivers and very often they would even not pay for it since their by parents would 'abandon' it to their kids. The basic technology of this car (2 flat cylinders air cooled) made it extremely easy to repair by almost anyone. The best part was driving this thing. Despite that it was moving like a boat on a bad ocean, it would stick to the road. This car was designed in a such a way that it was litterally impossible to make it flip. This car has been customized like no other. As an example you may want to have a look at the blog of a belgian 2CV addicted guy. The text is in french but browsing through the 16 pages of photos is already worth it. I hope you'll enjoy it, as I did! bugaclaude's blog - buga-buga - Skyrock.com A few kilometers away from where I leave in Alsace, France, is a museum dedicated to the 2CV. Here is their site: Le musée 2CV du Framont :: 2cv-legende.com :: Lastly.. In 1953 (excellent year..) a 2CV a bit prepared.. won 'Le Bol d'Or' which was a 24h competition in Le Mans. They even established a new record.. Amazing.. More details here: Séries spéciales 2CV :: 2cv-legende.com :: There is a list of all the special series which made this car so popular.. Take Care et 'Vive la dedeuche!!!' Serge
	() Thanks

29th April 2010, 12:50	#7
J.Ravi Posts: n/a	According to today's The New Indian Express, a German Taxi Advertisement, urging customers to rent a small Citroen C3 hatchback and mocking at French President Sarkozy's height, created furore in France. It said, "Be like Madame Bruni, take a small French Model"! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by J.Ravi : 29th April 2010 at 12:53.
	() Thanks

29th April 2010, 13:30	#8
jigbarai BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 560 Thanked: 39 Times	^^ Oh man. Something like this in India even to one of the senior ministers would create a political catastrophe Rallies, shouting slogans, bringing the LS / RS houses down and the works. Wonder if Mr & Mrs President even noticed this in France.
	() Thanks

29th April 2010, 17:16	#10
Batla Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: strasbourg, france Posts: 16 Thanked: 0 Times	Obviously I meant living and not leaving even if sometimes I feel like I'd better be elsewhere. Pas de problème hillram, mon anglais est loin d'être parfait. With regards to the ad above I do not think that anyone in France besides Sarkozy and (may be) his wife felt offended. Since he always tries to cheat on his size and physical abilities, he is on the top list of our sarcastic humorists. There is not one single day without him or his wife being mocked on TV, radio, the net etc... and not only because of his physical 'limitations' but more importantly because of his incompetence. His popularity is currently at ground level!
	() Thanks

30th April 2010, 15:14	#11
Batla Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: strasbourg, france Posts: 16 Thanked: 0 Times	You have a 2CV in your garage??.. Lucky you! You're just a small step away from this: The 2CV Minik!
	() Thanks