Citroen 2CV Berline
The Citroën 2CV (French: deux chevaux, literally "two horses", from the tax horsepower rating) was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1948 to 1990. Highly esteemed for its simple engineering, clever design, low price, and practical nature, the 2CV is one of the longest-lived vehicles ever built, with production being carried out over 42 years.
Its iconic creator, Pierre-Jules Boulanger, formulated a very ambitious brief for the vehicle: it had to be low-priced, rugged, and should be easy for two peasants to accommodate as they drove up to 100 kg of goods at a speed of 60 km/h, even if the road was unpaved and in mud. The TPV (Très Petite Voiture, or "Very Small Car") was to consume no more than 3 litres of gas to cover the distance of 100 km. Moreover, the vehicle had to be capable of driving across a field without breaking the eggs that it contained. To improve driver’s comfort, Boulanger also increased the roof of the car for him to drive while wearing a hat.
André Lefèbvre was the engineer in charge of the project. His initial efforts were dedicated to building prototypes equipped with water-cooled engines and using magnesium and aluminium components; the seats were then hammocks that were suspended from the roof by wires. During the German occupation of France, the Michelin and Citroën managers decided to protect the TPV from the Nazis, as they anticipated potential military applications. To that end, the TPV was either buried in a secret location or destroyed, leaving Boulanger with six more years to contemplate further upgrades. Up until the year 1994, it was believed that only two of the created prototypes had survived; however, the discovery of three more in a barn challenged this assumption. By 2003, five TPVs were known to exist. It eventually emerged that none of the hidden TPVs had been lost during the war, but were rather scrapped during the 1950s upon the demand of the top management, without their knowledge.
The Citroen 2CV Berline 1963 is a classic French car that resonates with people around the world. Get your hands on unique posters, mouse pads, t-shirts, and calendars of this iconic car to add to your collection––it's an easy way to add style and nostalgia to any space!
