LOT 7
1948 Citroen 2CV Chassis no. 9322
Sold for US$17,920 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 7
'From the Maine Classic Car Museum Collection'
1948 Citroen 2CV
1948 Citroen 2CV
1948 Citroen 2CV
Chassis no. 9322
Chassis no. 9322
375cc Air-Cooled Horizontally Opposed 2-Cylinder Engine
Single Downdraft Carburetor
9bhp at 3,800rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Front Leading Arms, Rear Trailing Arms with Torsion Bars
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
*An exceptionally rare first-year 2CV
*One of the most innovative small cars of all time
*Largely complete and ideal for refurbishment or restoration
THE CITROEN 2CV
In the years bookending World War II, France's substantial rural population still relied on horse carts for transport. Citroen's vice president, Pierre Boulanger, envisioned putting French farmers on wheels via a bare-bones motorcar that was inexpensive to own, simple to service, and capable of traversing the cart tracks and cobble paths dotting the French countryside.
The resulting 2CV or deaux chevaux (named for its 2 taxable horsepower), reached production in 1948 and was as simplistic as it was innovative. Every feature had a purpose, with nothing frivolous. The stamped-steel body sat on a platform chassis, while ingenious long-travel suspension utilized 8 interconnected torsion bars to give an astoundingly soft ride. The roll-top roof accommodated oversize cargo, the sling-type seats further smoothed the ride, and the air-cooled twin drove the front wheels for excellent traction.
In 1953, Autocar declared "the extraordinary ingenuity of this design, which is undoubtedly the most original since the Model T Ford," while the famous British journalist L. J. K. Setright described the 2CV as "the most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car," and a car of "remorseless rationality." Beloved in France and the world over, the simultaneously cheeky and serious 2CV – known variously as the "umbrella on wheels," the "tin snail," the "ugly duckling," and the "upside-down pram" – is one of the most significant production cars of all time.
THE CAR OFFERED
The 2CV offered here is a rare, desirable, and highly collectible first year example. Finished in an appropriately austere shade of gray, this car's corrugated bonnet, early-type grille, and full-length folding roof (to accommodate those extra-long baguettes) are unique to the early models. Formerly of the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, this 2CV is highly original and unrestored. Some mechanical work is required to return it to running and driving condition, however, its significance as a first-year example and the simple joy of experiencing a 2CV in its purest form would undoubtedly make it worth the effort.
Footnotes
Please note this car is titled as a model 1949.
Saleroom notices
Please note that chassis number 9322 corresponds to this being an A-Series model, built in 1951.
Additional information
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