The Deux Chevaux (Two Horsepower) car, or 2CV for short, was designed for the French peasantry to replace the traditional horse and cart and at the same time revolutionized the French automobile industry. In 1934, the famous Michelin company (the one of the tires and the influential guide), acquired control of the failing Citroën brand and, after market research, realized that the creation of large and expensive cars had led to Citroën's failure in the first place, while a shift to smaller and cheaper cars that would be available to all residents of France in the city and the countryside would bring about the company's recovery.
Pierre Michelin and his brother-in-law Gilles Pierre Boulanger, the directors of Citroën, ordered the development of a car that would meet the following requirements:
A. A cheap and economical car with a fuel consumption of 3 liters (about ¾ gallon) per 100 km.
B. Easy maintenance and repair.
C. Can comfortably accommodate four adults.
D. Ability to transport a barrel of wine or a large sack of potatoes (fifty kilograms of cargo)
E. The ability to transport eggs safely in difficult terrain conditions (plowed field).
F. Ability to reach a speed of 50 km/h.
For the neighborhood project – the Très Petite Voiture TPV – Pierre-Gilles Boulanger, head of design, recruited engineers who had been educated in evening classes, whom he preferred over engineers with university training. Boulanger believed in the cliché “necessity is the father of invention” and therefore, men from a more modest background would have more innovative solutions and more practical experience than those with a privileged education. The design of the 2CV was already in full swing and more than 40 prototypes had been built by 1939, but due to World War II and the occupation of France In Germany, the car's launch was postponed and the project was shelved for fear that the car would be used militarily by the Germans. The next few years were spent diligently by project engineer André Le Fabre on innovations and improvements, and in 1948 the car was presented at the Paris Motor Show. Although the media was not impressed, the public fell in love with the strange-looking little car with the economical price tag, to the point that Citroën could not keep up with the demands. A wait of between 3-5 years was required from the time of the order.
Everything about the car was both unique and entertaining. The front doors opened in the opposite direction. There was no room in the door panel for the window to fit, so the lower halves of the front windows folded out and were flush with the top of the door. The gearshift lever popped out of the dashboard, the car was stable, economical, easy to repair, and had air-cooling and a soft suspension.
The 2CV's roof was made of canvas that rolled up in good weather and was used to store a fairly large load. And because of the unique roof style, the car deservedly earned the nickname "umbrella on wheels."
The highlight of the car was the four-wheel independent suspension system, designed by André Le Fabre, a former Grand Prix racer. Le Fabre's sporting experience gave the car a relatively low weight, allowing it to absorb shocks and glide over bumps without losing contact with the surface. With the addition of a trailing arm. The front-wheel drive and the relatively light front engine mounted on the front wheels improved driving quality and wheel balance. Most of the body panels were modular and the fenders, doors, roof, hood, and later even the trunk could be removed. In fact, it was possible to turn the 2CV into an open van.
From 1948 to 1990, the last year of production of the 2CV, the car became a French icon. People loved its quirky looks, and it helped France recover from World War II. Despite a few changes made to the car over time, such as larger engines and mechanical improvements, the basic design of the car remained unchanged. Like the Beetle in the US, the 2CV became a cult car in the 70s. The car belonged to the entire French population, inParis and in the rest of France. The car was also popular in Israel and even served as a companion vehicle for IDF officers. Unfortunately, in the 80s the car succumbed to technological changes such as acceleration and speed and modern safety features.
In 2014, British car magazine Auto Express revealed in a survey that the Citroen 2CV was one of the most sought-after cars that its readers would be happy to see redesigned and modernized. The magazine added that in 2009, Citroen unveiled the Citroen Revolte concept car, which was based on the historic 2CV, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. And it seemed for a short time that the 2CV was about to be reborn under the DS brand platform. As of now, the Revolt DS2 has not yet entered the production line, although it is safe to assume that Citroen has all the tools when the business decision is made to expand the low, compact luxury car with the 2CV-inspired wheel arches and sculpted sides into the next generation of the historic icon and the embodiment of French charm in its essence.
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