Cult classic on four wheels – the 1986 Tin Snail
Legend has it, Citroën director Pierre Boulanger came up with the idea for the 2CV on a market day in 1935. He tells his engineers that he wants to transport two boot-wearing farmers and a hundredweight of potatoes at a minimum speed of 60 km/h, consuming no more than three litres of fuel every 100 km. And yes, it doesn't matter what the car looks like.
| Cylinders | 2 |
| Mileage (km) | 18200 |
| Engine size | 600 |
| Performance (kW/hp) | 23 |
| First registration date | 1986 |
| Vehicle condition | 2 |
By 1937, the first prototype is ready for testing. During the war, Boulanger struggles to keep the project a secret from the Germans. The model débuts in 1948 at the Paris Motor Show, to a slightly confused audience at first. The 2CV is a radically minimalist car. With its roll-up roof and removable seats, it is also a space-saving wonder. But the press and dealers turn out to be more critical than the customers – at the end of the 1940s, France is still going through a tough post-war era, and a functional yet inexpensive car is just what the people need. By 1950, there's a six-year waiting list. In 1953, the 2CV is also launched on the Swiss market for 4,490 francs – 1,000 less than the VW Beetle or Renault 4CV.
By the 1960s, young people are falling for this affordable, uncomplicated Citroën model and the 2CV becomes a cult classic. Quite a few set off in their pride and joy through the Sahara and into the Middle East. In 1970, the manufacturer even organises a 2CV rally from Paris to Kabul, Afghanistan. With the fuel crisis a few years later and the maximum speed reduced, the future of the 2CV is secured. "The time is ripe for the 2CV," writes the Swiss Citroën representative Hürzeler in a 1973 advertisement. Of course, the 2CV is more than just a sensible car, it stands for individualism, perhaps even an alternative counterculture.
Our auction piece has been family-owned since 1986 and was first registered in Switzerland. It has never missed a service and any minor restoration work has always been carried out promptly. This really is a beautiful specimen with a long family history. One special feature on this model is a side door painted by the French Pop Art artist Maxime Blachère. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly quirky. With one door in the original paintwork, it's a true classic. The 2CV is without doubt a car with cult status and this vehicle is sure to give any owner many years of enjoyment.