HISTORIC, ICONIC, LEGENDARY: CITROËN CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF THE 2CV.

• Citroën celebrates the 75th birthday of its legendary and timeless icon, the 2CV
• Over 5 million were produced between 1949 and 1990
• 2CV has its roots in the ‘TPV’ (‘Toute Petite Voiture’ or ‘very small car’) project in 1936, which was aimed at making cars versatile, economical and accessible to the masses
• 2CV has become an icon, built on the Brand's mainstays: popular, comfortable, simple, robust and affordable
• Its unique body shape and versatility were the key ingredients in a success story which spanned several decades
• To mark the occasion, eight iconic and noteworthy 2CVs were artistically photographed at the Citroën conservatoire, where a 75^th anniversary celebration will be held on 7^th October

Citroën is celebrating the 75th birthday of its most iconic car: the 2CV. Designed at Citroën's design office on Rue du Théâtre in Paris and fine-tuned at the La Ferté-Vidame test centre in the Eure-et-Loir region, the 2CV was first unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show on 7 October 1948. The 2CV enjoyed an exceptional career: a total of 5,114,969 units were produced, including 1,246,335 2CV vans. The very last 2CV left the Mangualde factory in Portugal at 4 PM on 27 July 1990, 42 years after its launch.

THE ORIGINS OF THE 2CV: THE ‘TPV’ PROJECT

The ‘TPV’ (‘Toute Petite Voiture,’ or ‘very small car’) project was born in 1936. Its aim was to provide people on low incomes with a versatile and economical car. In 1937 the first roadworthy prototype of the TPV project was produced, weighing just 370 kg and with only one headlight (legislation at the time did not require two). The vehicle could carry up to four people and 50 kg of luggage at a maximum speed of 31mph, being so comfortable that it was able to transport a basket of eggs across a freshly ploughed field without breaking any of them.

250 pre-production models were due to be unveiled at the 1939 Paris Motor Show, but the outbreak of war meant that this did not happen. The models which had been built were therefore destroyed – all except four, which were secretly stored at the Citroën Test Centre at La Ferté-Vidame.

A LEGENDARY CAR THAT HAS BECOME AN ICON OF THE MOTORING WORLD

When it went into production in July 1949, the 2CV was a small car with a 9 bhp, 375 cc, air-cooled, flat-twin engine capable of a top speed of 31mph. Citroën had revolutionised the car industry with a versatile and affordable vehicle. 

Its unique body shape and people’s car appeal quickly won over a large part of the population, but its huge success can also be attributed to its infinite range of uses, as well as its removable benches, its lightness, agility and comfort. It was also ultra-economical to run, making it the most popular car in France. By 1950, orders were flooding in, pushing delivery times up to 6 years.

Its avant-garde spirit, combined with ingenious technologies for the time, ensured that it remained part of the motoring scene for many years. The 2CV is a timeless model that has become a social phenomenon embedded in popular culture, attracting collectors from all over the world and featuring regularly on our screens.

To this day, it is still frequently seen on our roads, and it has earned a number of nicknames. Some of the best known are ‘Flying Dustbin’, ‘Tin Snail’ and ‘Ugly Duckling’, to name but a few. This wide variety of nicknames shows just how popular this historic and iconic model was.

SEVERAL VERSIONS AND EPICS ACROSS THE WORLD'S ROADS

In total, there were ten special editions of the 2CV, which launched in France and a number of other European countries. They included the Spot, the Charleston and the Cocorico. The 2CV also underwent a number of changes throughout its lifetime, including the launch of the 2CV van (known as the 2CV AU) in 1951, and the 2CV AZ in 1954, equipped with a 12 bhp engine and the famous centrifugal clutch.

The 2CV’s ruggedness and ease of maintenance mean it continues to be a favourite for some of the roughest journeys in the world – such as the 10,252-mile Paris-Kabul-Paris Raid in 1970, the 8,388-mile Paris-Persépolis Raid in 1971 and the 4,970-mile Africa Raid from Abidjan to Tunis in 1973, all three organised by Citroën.

EIGHT ICONIC 2CVS PHOTOGRAPHED FOR THE OCCASION

To mark this anniversary, eight iconic 2CVs from Citroën’s collection will be displayed and photographed at the Citroën Conservatoire to highlight their unique styles: 

• The 2CV 6 by Hermès, dressed by Hermès inside and out, was shown at the 2008 Paris Motor Show to mark the 60th birthday of the 2CV.
• The 2CV 6 Spécial, one of the last 2CVs produced at the Levallois plant in 1988
• The 2CV Spot, Citroën's first special edition, 1,800 of which were built with two-tone upholstery and bodywork based on a design by stylist Serge Gevin.
• The 2CV A, one of 250 prototypes built in 1939 for the Motor Show, which ended up being cancelled because of the Second World War. One of the four remaining vehicles at the Citroën Conservatoire.
• The 2CV A Berline (1950), identical to the one unveiled by Pierre Boulanger at the opening of the Paris Motor Show in 1948.
• The right-hand-drive 2CV A, built in Slough (UK) from 1953. It had a sheet-metal boot and opening rear windows. To this day, it is the oldest British 2CV in Europe.
• The 2CV AZU, a 2CV van produced from 1954 until March 1978, has a large load capacity and rear ‘cupboard’ doors for easy loading.
• The 2CV 4 x 4 ‘Sahara’, with four-wheel drive and two engines that enable it to negotiate gradients of over 40 per cent in the sand.

ENDS

To download the documents:

Press_kit_2CV_75YEARS

Contact:

JOHN HANDCOCK
HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
john.handcock@stellantis.com

TEL +44(0)7810 180249

LUCINDA INGGS
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
lucinda.INGGS@citroen.com 

TEL +44(0)7542 394878

MICHAEL ARNOLD
PRESS FLEET MANAGER
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JEREMY TOWNSEND
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
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TEL +44(0)7827 896480

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Citroën

Since 1919, Citroën has been creating automobiles, technologies and mobility solutions to respond to changes in society. A Brand of boldness and innovation, Citroën places peace of mind and well-being at the heart of its customer experience and offers a wide range of models, from the distinctive Ami, an electric mobility object designed for the city, to saloons, SUVs and commercial vehicles, most of which are available in electric or plug-in hybrid versions. A pioneer Brand in the services and attention paid to its private and business customers, Citroën is present in 101 countries and has a network of 6,200 points of sale and service throughout the world.

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