videos like these, seeing you two just generally have a great time, with the humor & pure enjoyment is why I've became a fan & supporter of both channels a long time ago. Thanks guys. This one is your best yet.
And when it does, it collapses into itself like tinfoil so it can be fed easier into compacting machines. Not only is it safe, it's also environmentally conscious. Truly ahead of its time
Out of all the cars that have been on Extra TH, this one deserved a full, high production version on the main channel the most. It has not been shown before, and it wasn't going to overshadow any of the other main channel videos. I could already hear the jolly background music whilst the both of you jump and bump in this little car around town, gathering thumbs-ups from strangers.
If I remember correctly the 2CV was the result of a very specific design brief. Its a bit of an urban myth but apparently the Citroen director wanted a car that was very affordable car to a wide population, was extremely simple, easy to drive even for complete beginners, had good enough suspension to drive over any road with a box of eggs and have none of them break as well as the cabin must allow a grown men to sit in with his hat on. How much of that is true is apparently still a bit in debate.
Jokes and rumours aside, I do have a fascination with the 2CV the same way I do with the Beetle regardless of how awful they could be. Simple, yet clever engineering.
It's actually true. It were requirements by the main engineer. Prototypes of the 2cv were hidden from the Germans in WWII and with much delay it was introduced in 1948. Was meant 'pour la campagne' so rural France. Greetings from neighbouring Belgium!
It was a bit more specific in the sense you should've been able to go over a freshly plowed field with the eggs withoout breaking, and they did a great job with the suspension, there is avideo that explains it very well but briefly: front and rear suspension on each side share the same spring so when the front tyre is compressed the spring translates the force partially on the rear wich rises a little keeping the car levelled, with this trick they managed to reduce ondulation in pitch Like at 07:55 watch how the car stays horizontal
Many moons ago, I used to work with someone who drove one of these. As he said - "it has central locking - you can reach all 4 doors from the drivers seat".
My dad's fist car was a 2cv. He changed the engine with his friends to a more strong engine and the car was very good daily. He did long trips and he started his business with it.
Gimme a 2CV over ANY supercar .... ANY day of the week! My older brother had one when I was still an annoying kid. He took me places in that thing and it was sooooo much fun. I LOVE that car!
yup: here is a video where you can see the driver doesn't really slow down in roundabouts or on bumps: ua-cam.com/video/ZVC8_NQisG8/v-deo.htmlsi=ZThbXa-m4gHzR3Ss&t=376
Really enjoying to see you guys reviewing an iconic French car. Started in just after WWII with scared ressources, hence the simplicity. As another comment from @lehangars , it was meant to be as soft and agile that you could drive thru destroyed fields and farms landscapes. It weights ~490kg because it needed to be light enough than 2 persons could move it around.
I love the fact the 2CV is leaning towards Thomas. I had one o f the successors to this when I was 19, the Diane. It had a few more horsepower but was slower to 60. Drove it from Edinburgh to Plymouth and back for a holiday. That was really a journey.
@@florjanbrudar692 and it's a Dyane and not a 2CV ! You'll be claiming an Ami is a 2CV next :) My mate Dave from the village I grew up in (a French village in Essex) had a Renault 4, I mean the scandal, a 2CV and a Renault 4 in the same conservative village in Essex ?
Great review, Guys. My first car was a 400cc 2CV back in 1987. Absolutely loved it. Amazing suspension with longitudinally arranged springs. I later graduated to the legendary oleopneumatic suspension of a Citroen Xantia. 5 years ago I foolishly surrendered to the badge snobbery of a BMW 5 series with the suspension of a dung cart. Currently looking at a citroen C5. Vive la difference!
My first car was a 1972 Citroën Dyane 6 (a slightly angular hatchback version of the 2CV) with 26 bhp. The most practical car I've ever had, the back seat folded or could be removed and that 602cc engine was capable of giving more than 60 mpg (Imperial) when driven carefully. The roof could be fully rolled back or the front section flipped back and could be closed in seconds. Due to a comparatively heavy flywheel it could be the fastest car away from traffic lights (at least for the first 5 seconds) if you revved it high and dumped the clutch it almost reached it's first gear limit instantly and the change from first to second is just push the the gear lever forward with a flat palm. In 1979 it was the best student car imaginable.
yes, but that the statement is actually very wrong. England is probably the country the most knowledgable about the 2CV... it was revered there (i remember a lenghty article about the 2 CV in the journal "the Guardian3 circa 2000, while the French had almost forgotten about the 2 cv at that point.)
The most fun you can have on 4 wheels - More Smiles Per Mile. I have enjoyed 485,000 kms in 2 new Citroen 2CV6 RHD Charlestons - 1982 & 1990 models. Top price at auction for a 1990 RHD Charleston In Australia was Aus $40,000 with 40,000 km. Top speed I have seen on the GPS downhill with a tail wind was 134 kph. Other drivers' eyes popped out... the same as when they see the body roll around corners.... We have 2CV RAIDS in Australia across the way outback with 40 or more 2CVs with a number from overseas. 2023 is the 75th anniversary of the launch of the 2CV in 1948, made until July 1990. To celebrate 2CV6 ownership from 1978 I have ordered a 'Big Bore' engine for mine. 652 cc instead of 602cc. Plus a Powertube... Sacre Bleu.....
I remember my 1979 Wedgewood blue 2CV6 with great fondness. I have never driven such a comfortable, fun loving vehicle in my life. The word that sums up this car is the word fun. I know of one close to me here in Western Australia, a bright yellow one that lives in Wannanup and I'm almost envious of the happy faced owner when I see it out on the road. Fancy stopping for a pique-nique? Grab your basket from the rear with some Brie or Camembert and of course mandatory baguette and bottle of wine in a perfect location and unlatch your front seats. Et voila, you have seating for two anywhere you fancy. Love it. Someone will make an EV version I hope.
I love this video, thanks guys. I've had two 2CVs to date and as a student with no money, it was the perfect car. There was a famous motoring journalist in the UK, LJK Setright who wrote for Car magazine back in the day and he came out with a great quote about the 2CV. 'The most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car'. I think that sums it up pretty well :o)
Long ago, I drove one for a week. First hour was a driver 'adjustment'. Later, lots of fun. top rolled back, slow driving was perfect to sight-see in small villages having cobble lanes and no places to park. entirely different experience from today - entirely better.
a girlfriend in the 80s had one. Southern Germany, driving to the mountains, trips to lakes, just parking it in a field with no worries of getting it out, even if stuck, just push it... being in touch with the world . The 2CV, german pet name "Duck" was everything that other cars aren t, all the things everyone else classifies as sooo important. Just pratical, super fun, converdible... just enjoying life. I wish todays generation to have that, not just sit in there tank like suv s, sound proof, not even feeling the summer.
Glad to see this! Wind it out is the way to drive it, and don't fear the lean! But most glorious when you roll the roof back. Ask Chris Harris about the 2CV - he loves them and has one, I think.
I know I was very surprised that none of them had the idea to check the roof and open it (maybe the owner told them not to for some reason but even then they could have mentioned it)
It has been my first car…and my first crash 😂 anyway, it is a simple car base on very simple principles, light, confortable (it’s a Citroen after all) reliable and low maintenance. Which was exactly what it was. What many didn’t say, in the middle of the winter time, it was the only car who start (air cooling), and drive (front wheel drive) perfectly on snow. Then in the summer it was the right cab to go to the beach surfing 😎🏄♂️
I had one of these back in 1978 thru 1980 when I was stationed in Germany - LOVED IT. So comfortable. Picture a U.S. Army trooper going to work in the morning in one of these. But it was very economical and fun. Oh, and my heritage if French Canadian. Viva la France e Viva Quebec
Dutch here, I still see quite a few of these used as daily drivers, really cool to see. There also used to be a guy that did a engine swap in one, he put a Porsche boxer engine in there. They are actually really nice to drive.
Je kan ook een bmw 2 cilinder blok van een motor er in leggen, maar het is wel zonde van het geluid eigenlijk. Het fluiten van de versnellingsbak is echt iconisch.
My dad used to own a 2cv or 'ugly duck' as we called it in the netherlands. He had a 58 model where the seats were just pieces of cloth on springs attached to a frame and without seatbelts. Regarding safety, there was non felt like driving a tin can. But the ride was so nice, loved the suspension citroen put in their cars from the era. We took it for camping a few times a year, sadly he sold it but i still love these things.
These on snow were fantastic, the tiny tires meant so much grip and so much fun. I really wish they could build cars like that again, with a bit more safety obviously, but the same simplicity and repairability. You'll be happy to have one of those when the zombie apocalypse comes :)
I'm a Brit and own a 1988 2CV, and I also own a 1932 Morris Minor Two-Seater (the first MG Midgets were based on the original 1928-1934 Minor). I can say that the 2CV feels very modern, smooth, quick, and easy to drive in comparison to a vintage pre-war Morris Minor. BTW, I'll be embarking on a 180 mile drive across country in the 90-year-old Morris next week. Over the course of 4 days I'll end up doing 500+miles at an average speed of about 30mph (it should do 50mph but I tend not to exceed 40-45mph).
"I don't know what 'Je ne sais quois' means" is a great sentence because you can translate the French part by just going back and reading the first part again.
This car was developed pre WW2. The idea was to offer a cheap means of transportation and that a farmer could transport a basket of eggs to the local market, without breaking any. The car stayed in production for over 40 years. Childhood memories.
Love the fact that as I watched this UA-cam showed me commercials in French. yes I did actually watch to practice my high school French from 40 years ago. Vive La France!
I just wanna say that I just met James at some random place in Toronto and this man is one of the nicest people I have ever encountered, I was really surprised when I saw him and I didn’t know what to say, but all love to you man it was a pleasure to meet you
Road on the memory lane. Love it. Had my first driving lessons in a 2cv on a farm when I was 10. Remember what a challenge it was to maintain enough speed for 2nd gear.
I love these cars!! More of these please. James’ French is an English wreck, but I’m here for it. Reminds me of a time I met an Irishman give some French students a tour. It hurt my ears, but you know what I’ll never forget him!
My mom used to drive one when I was a kid. The sound of that engine brings back memories. Never driven one myself but my dad would let us shift sitting next to him in it. We actually had several as a second car. The very first one had suicide front doors, the next was a Dyane and then a special edition with a wooden shifter knob and a casette player as standard. The last one even had go faster pin stripes on the side.
I have learnt to love the 2cv after watching HUBNUT videos 👍 All the wings,doors ,bonnet and boot lid come off in about 5 mins with a spanner and screwdriver.
My friend's mom had one in the 60s & I loved riding in it. The top had a snap-on plastic cover that you could roll back then stand up on the seats. We took it off-road like a Jeep at their ranch. Good times.
Well, I’m English and we certainly covered the American revolutionary war at school, and I know all about Citroen. We had four Citroens in our family at various times. I’m only seconds into this so perhaps reason will prevail. 2CV isn’t a patch on the Dyane by the way.
About 20 years ago I stayed in the Middle East for a summer. The 2cv was my ride and will not go up steep hills. We had to get out and push so many times.
I've driven one of these on our holiday in the summer from Holland to Spain spread over 2 days. One of the most fun and mentally curing cars out there. Please don't mock the French, surely when being english, a country not known for there revolutionary motoring, except for the mini.
@@jamesengelsman9369 Somewhere, somehow, for some reason, there's a person that sat in this thing and felt the same way you did when you sat in the Century. ... Metaphorically of course.
We all love the 2CV. The 2CV is to cars what bread is to food. Wouldn't it be great if it could go back into production, giving millions of people this transportation option? Citroen AMI: The usual response to that wish is that it's impossible because the 2CV can't pass safety regulations. But here's a loophole for that: Citroen itself is selling a car called the Ami, which is legally a "quadracycle" -- I guess that's a motorcycle with 4 wheels. The Ami itself uses the 2CV logo on its grill (see this article called "The Electrek review: This tiny Citroën Ami microcar is just weird enough to work". ) Here's a quote about it's being designated as a quadracycle, "It’s technically considered to be a quadricycle, a type of vehicle classification in Europe that falls somewhere between a motorcycle and a standard car. That helps it thread the needle of low cost and low regulations while still offering much the feeling of an actual car. It may not have a dozen airbags like some cars (or even one airbag), but you weren’t planning on hitting anything anyway, right?" "Largely an artisanal procedure": Here's an article about when the 2CV was produced in Iran: "Citroën Saipac 2CV, Jiane Sedan, Jiane Pickup and Mehari". It describes the manufacturing as "largely an artisanal procedure", i.e., they are hand assembled. ... That means a high school kid can put one together in their back yard (!). How many millions of high school kids wouldn't consider that as an option for their first car??? Burton 2CV Parts: This place in The Netherlands -- Burton 2CV parts -- has several videos about putting together a whole 2CV with purchased parts. They don't come out and say it -- but it's hard not to make that conclusion: "You can build your own 2CV!" Modded 2CV: 720cc - speed machine! Can the 2CV hold its own on a highway? This video makes it look like it can: Modded 2CV: 720cc - speed machine! (channel is Hub Nut). It talks about some minor-looking improvements to the spark-advance, giving it highway-capable speeds. Rust is a problem? Here is a video about hot-dipping the whole body in zinc: Fully Zink coated body!! The daily driver citroën 2cv6 real solution against rust restoration. 2cv ^^ a hot-dipped zinc-coated 2CV will last a lifetime or more, in terms of rust. Argentina: 2CVs used to be made in Argentina, and now it has an extremely free-market president and administration. I bet Argentina would embrace re-introduction of the 2CV with open arms. (And its mostly a flat, mild-weather country -- it should do well there.) Let's figure out a way to get this back into production and make it a transportation option for millions. There must be 20 million high school kids who would be happy with this as their first car (sorry, no macho). There must be 20 million retirees who would be happy with this as their grocery shopping car. There must be 20 million 9-to-5ers who would be happy with this as their drive-to-work car.
I think that car is awesome. You buy it for car meets and just to meet new people. I'd always love to check something like that out at a local meet. I definitely vote cool. They are iconic cars honestly.
Sad there is no real description of the suspension other than how smooth it is. It's a completely unique design that allowed the 2CV to ride smooth yet remain stable and nearly impossible to roll over. It's truly baffling how there is no modern adaptation of it in any car we can buy today.
"I don't know what "je ne sais quoi" means" is a really good pun James. The 2CV has sort of a cultstatus in The Netherlands and is connected with anti-establishment dynamics I believe. It's nickname is "ugly duck" and 2CV stands for 2 horses...
Okay, i live 3km from a SPECIALIZED 2cv shop. Like literally a garage dedicated to fixing 2cv. This is all they do. A car like this in this day and age is a car you buy because : your grandad had one and you saw it in his garage rusting away, but it reminds you of your old grand pa, so you feel connected to old france and the life in rural france at the time. You buy one because it feels authentic in a era where everything as become foreign and disconnected. You buy it because modding it is just a hammer and screwdriver away. You buy it... Well simply because it is a relic of a bigone era where everything was simpler. Where a car that wheighs about as much as wet shirt is all you needed to go about your day in the community. Its a way of life, a way to reconnect for people that are enthusiastic about the old days and when everything was slower and more... Connected.
As a 1st car in the 80's in the UK it was brilliant. It taught you to read the road ahead and patience which has stood me in good stead throughout my driving life. It was also the cheapest possible insurance. Another advantage was you could go to the local scrapyard to replace parts and you wouldn't have to get a garage involved. There was also the camaraderie when driving. You'd always get a wave from other 2CV drivers and if you ever broke down, another 2CV driver would likely stop to help. I'd get another in a minute if I could afford one. The main problem with them was rust. Now you can actually galvanize the chassis to make them almost rust proof. As stated one of the main reasons to get one now is fun. It's a car with character which is something missing in modern cars.
I came across a 2CV accident on an offramp, guy did the "you can't roll these" pitch in and it was horrible to witness, as the back came around. It was what you would expect barrel rolling a tin shed with a fabric roof would be. The 2CVs roof and doors went on the 1st roll and when it rolled again against the guard rail it took out the driver. We pulled the passenger out and he was badly cut up from abrasions from the road and glass far worse than you would expect as the b pillar and rear folded in.
Hello from France. I had one similar car as my first ride, many years ago 😌 : a Dyane 6. That was a nice and fun car, I drove many many kilometers with it.... And James.... That's OK, I don't mind you being a tad sarcastic about us, french people.... We know you must compensate the fact you have.... A Queen.... 😉😂 Keep up the good work guys, I love your channels !
Cool to see a french iconic car reviewed on this channel, we did a huge video on our channel about it. First of all it as been produce to allow french people to go across a damaged filled while carrying egg. It was made after WWII but conceived before and destroyed to hide it to the german who later build the bug
I've got three of them (A-type). 1960 Citroën AZ 12hp 1970 Citroën AZ original 18hp (now another engine about 30hp) 1984 Citroën 2cv6 Club 29hp And a 1974 Citroën Ami 8 Berline 34hp. (The Ami was built on the platform of a 2cv).
I love the title. Also In England we know so little about the revolutionary war when James said that’s England and Britain I went “is it”. We literally know nothing about it And for anyone interested that car weighs just less than 600kgs
In Europe they would refer to these cars as The Duck. Reason was that going around corners with its interesting suspension setup it would waddle like a duck walking.
I had 3 of these and I'm English ! My first one was my first car, cheap and in the upper sixth I had a car ! The starting handle frequently came in handy (dodgy alternator) and obviously it was a convertible. You omitted to mention you can take the seats out for that picnic you mentioned and unbolt the body panels. My second one replaced a 205 GTI ... well I say replaced, the insurance money from the write replaced it and put a deposit down on my first flat. Who knew lift off oversteer was a thing with hot hatches eh ? I bought it new from Martin Brundle's dad's garage , so I guess I helped him on his way into F1 in a way ? But the crowning glory came with the 3rd 2CV (or deux chevaux as we enthusiasts call them) ... I had a 968 club sport in black (the best colour, recently renovated by OPC Leicester) no not lie cest errrr you lot and I needed a dump car .... turquoise 2CV anyone ? perfect. I always fancied but never got round to doing the old mondello park 24 hour in one, funny enough I could never find enough volunteers to join me in that. You do know it has a 4th gear don't you ?
Honestly the similarity with the Chiron is incredible. Hard to believe it's only coincidence.
Came here for this.
Yep. There's no way that's a coincidence
And it's the Chiron that copied the 2CV - probably the car it always wanted to be.
@@notroll1279 wait wut?!?!.... Oh hahaha they did too. I thought this one was a special paint scheme but it's factory.
You really weren't trolling ;)
That side-scallop motif goes back to at least Jean Bugatti in the early '30s. It's embedded in the French auto DNA.
videos like these, seeing you two just generally have a great time, with the humor & pure enjoyment is why I've became a fan & supporter of both channels a long time ago. Thanks guys. This one is your best yet.
Agreed. Best one yet. It's got this "Je ne sais quoi" to it! 😁
Wise words were spoken here
These kinds of "having fun videos" are just the best
More of this please
It’s like 2/3 of top gear
I was smiling through the whole video
Pause the video at any time while they're driving and you'll see both of them genuinely happy and smiling. That is exactly what old cars are about...
The 2CV actually has one safety feature: It's so slow, it hasn't got into the accident site yet when the accident happens.
And when it does, it collapses into itself like tinfoil so it can be fed easier into compacting machines. Not only is it safe, it's also environmentally conscious. Truly ahead of its time
One of the best comments I've read in both TH channels, Jaakko! 🤣
🤣🤣🤣
More than 100kmh speed is not « slow »
@@leneanderthalien like 60 mph lmao
Out of all the cars that have been on Extra TH, this one deserved a full, high production version on the main channel the most.
It has not been shown before, and it wasn't going to overshadow any of the other main channel videos. I could already hear the jolly background music whilst the both of you jump and bump in this little car around town, gathering thumbs-ups from strangers.
They could have an excuse to show it again by finding a variant
I think the higher production ones take time
If I remember correctly the 2CV was the result of a very specific design brief. Its a bit of an urban myth but apparently the Citroen director wanted a car that was very affordable car to a wide population, was extremely simple, easy to drive even for complete beginners, had good enough suspension to drive over any road with a box of eggs and have none of them break as well as the cabin must allow a grown men to sit in with his hat on. How much of that is true is apparently still a bit in debate.
Jokes and rumours aside, I do have a fascination with the 2CV the same way I do with the Beetle regardless of how awful they could be. Simple, yet clever engineering.
The 2cv is not a urban car: the engine doest like city driving and wear fast in such condition
It's actually true. It were requirements by the main engineer. Prototypes of the 2cv were hidden from the Germans in WWII and with much delay it was introduced in 1948. Was meant 'pour la campagne' so rural France. Greetings from neighbouring Belgium!
It was a bit more specific in the sense you should've been able to go over a freshly plowed field with the eggs withoout breaking, and they did a great job with the suspension, there is avideo that explains it very well but briefly: front and rear suspension on each side share the same spring so when the front tyre is compressed the spring translates the force partially on the rear wich rises a little keeping the car levelled, with this trick they managed to reduce ondulation in pitch
Like at 07:55 watch how the car stays horizontal
I can't imagine any other reason too make the suspension that absurdly soft
They were built to take eggs over a ploughed field without breaking them. Worked in the motor trade and drove many very good fun.
Many moons ago, I used to work with someone who drove one of these. As he said - "it has central locking - you can reach all 4 doors from the drivers seat".
My dad's fist car was a 2cv. He changed the engine with his friends to a more strong engine and the car was very good daily. He did long trips and he started his business with it.
Gimme a 2CV over ANY supercar .... ANY day of the week! My older brother had one when I was still an annoying kid. He took me places in that thing and it was sooooo much fun. I LOVE that car!
Fun fact - it's basically impossible to roll over in a 2CV - going forward - but super easy in reverse. It's virtually untippable.
yup: here is a video where you can see the driver doesn't really slow down in roundabouts or on bumps: ua-cam.com/video/ZVC8_NQisG8/v-deo.htmlsi=ZThbXa-m4gHzR3Ss&t=376
Really enjoying to see you guys reviewing an iconic French car.
Started in just after WWII with scared ressources, hence the simplicity.
As another comment from @lehangars , it was meant to be as soft and agile that you could drive thru destroyed fields and farms landscapes.
It weights ~490kg because it needed to be light enough than 2 persons could move it around.
I love the fact the 2CV is leaning towards Thomas.
I had one o f the successors to this when I was 19, the Diane. It had a few more horsepower but was slower to 60. Drove it from Edinburgh to Plymouth and back for a holiday. That was really a journey.
We all know it's spelled Dyane
@@florjanbrudar692 and it's a Dyane and not a 2CV ! You'll be claiming an Ami is a 2CV next :) My mate Dave from the village I grew up in (a French village in Essex) had a Renault 4, I mean the scandal, a 2CV and a Renault 4 in the same conservative village in Essex ?
These cars are indestructible. So glad you guys reviewed it
And can be taken apart in minutes with basic tools with a team of at least 3 people
Yea..... my old one would beg to differ
The 2CV has only one enemy: Water. You can watch it rosting.
@@Zarkovision You can now get places which galvanize them with zinc to stop them rusting.
@@freakygoblin3068 I know, I own a 2CV...
Great review, Guys. My first car was a 400cc 2CV back in 1987. Absolutely loved it. Amazing suspension with longitudinally arranged springs. I later graduated to the legendary oleopneumatic suspension of a Citroen Xantia. 5 years ago I foolishly surrendered to the badge snobbery of a BMW 5 series with the suspension of a dung cart. Currently looking at a citroen C5. Vive la difference!
My first car was a 1972 Citroën Dyane 6 (a slightly angular hatchback version of the 2CV) with 26 bhp. The most practical car I've ever had, the back seat folded or could be removed and that 602cc engine was capable of giving more than 60 mpg (Imperial) when driven carefully. The roof could be fully rolled back or the front section flipped back and could be closed in seconds. Due to a comparatively heavy flywheel it could be the fastest car away from traffic lights (at least for the first 5 seconds) if you revved it high and dumped the clutch it almost reached it's first gear limit instantly and the change from first to second is just push the the gear lever forward with a flat palm. In 1979 it was the best student car imaginable.
This is the car I drive every day👌🏻😅 Has been in our family for 30 years. I still love it ❤️
“I don’t know anything about French. It might be revolutionary” I caught that, James.
I feel like many, even Thomas, missed that!
yes, but that the statement is actually very wrong. England is probably the country the most knowledgable about the 2CV... it was revered there (i remember a lenghty article about the 2 CV in the journal "the Guardian3 circa 2000, while the French had almost forgotten about the 2 cv at that point.)
The most fun you can have on 4 wheels - More Smiles Per Mile.
I have enjoyed 485,000 kms in 2 new Citroen 2CV6 RHD Charlestons - 1982 & 1990 models.
Top price at auction for a 1990 RHD Charleston In Australia was Aus $40,000 with 40,000 km.
Top speed I have seen on the GPS downhill with a tail wind was 134 kph. Other drivers' eyes popped out... the same as when they see the body roll around corners....
We have 2CV RAIDS in Australia across the way outback with 40 or more 2CVs with a number from overseas.
2023 is the 75th anniversary of the launch of the 2CV in 1948, made until July 1990.
To celebrate 2CV6 ownership from 1978 I have ordered a 'Big Bore' engine for mine. 652 cc instead of 602cc. Plus a Powertube...
Sacre Bleu.....
I remember my 1979 Wedgewood blue 2CV6 with great fondness. I have never driven such a comfortable, fun loving vehicle in my life. The word that sums up this car is the word fun. I know of one close to me here in Western Australia, a bright yellow one that lives in Wannanup and I'm almost envious of the happy faced owner when I see it out on the road. Fancy stopping for a pique-nique? Grab your basket from the rear with some Brie or Camembert and of course mandatory baguette and bottle of wine in a perfect location and unlatch your front seats. Et voila, you have seating for two anywhere you fancy. Love it. Someone will make an EV version I hope.
I love this video, thanks guys. I've had two 2CVs to date and as a student with no money, it was the perfect car. There was a famous motoring journalist in the UK, LJK Setright who wrote for Car magazine back in the day and he came out with a great quote about the 2CV. 'The most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car'. I think that sums it up pretty well :o)
Correct!
That LJK Setright quote captures it perfectly. I like to say that the 2CV has everything you really need...... and absolutely nothing else!
I used to read his column in car religiously, barely understood half of it but very entertaining. No George Bishop though :)
Long ago, I drove one for a week. First hour was a driver 'adjustment'. Later, lots of fun. top rolled back, slow driving was perfect to sight-see in small villages having cobble lanes and no places to park. entirely different experience from today - entirely better.
a girlfriend in the 80s had one. Southern Germany, driving to the mountains, trips to lakes, just parking it in a field with no worries of getting it out, even if stuck, just push it... being in touch with the world . The 2CV, german pet name "Duck" was everything that other cars aren t, all the things everyone else classifies as sooo important. Just pratical, super fun, converdible... just enjoying life. I wish todays generation to have that, not just sit in there tank like suv s, sound proof, not even feeling the summer.
Glad to see this! Wind it out is the way to drive it, and don't fear the lean! But most glorious when you roll the roof back. Ask Chris Harris about the 2CV - he loves them and has one, I think.
I know I was very surprised that none of them had the idea to check the roof and open it
(maybe the owner told them not to for some reason but even then they could have mentioned it)
@@brunohebert1351 Probably didn't open it because the sn glare would have made the filming terrible.
The 2CV has always made me happy. More so than Minis and Beetles
It has been my first car…and my first crash 😂 anyway, it is a simple car base on very simple principles, light, confortable (it’s a Citroen after all) reliable and low maintenance. Which was exactly what it was. What many didn’t say, in the middle of the winter time, it was the only car who start (air cooling), and drive (front wheel drive) perfectly on snow.
Then in the summer it was the right cab to go to the beach surfing 😎🏄♂️
Probably gets more bugs splattered on the rear window than the front
I don’t know what “I don’t know what” means. Quote of the day 😆 You two are the best!
Got me Laughing out loud at the end. Though used as an idiom, like the other phrases, it means 'I can't quite put my finger on it'
I had one of these back in 1978 thru 1980 when I was stationed in Germany - LOVED IT. So comfortable. Picture a U.S. Army trooper going to work in the morning in one of these. But it was very economical and fun. Oh, and my heritage if French Canadian. Viva la France e Viva Quebec
Dutch here, I still see quite a few of these used as daily drivers, really cool to see. There also used to be a guy that did a engine swap in one, he put a Porsche boxer engine in there. They are actually really nice to drive.
Je kan ook een bmw 2 cilinder blok van een motor er in leggen, maar het is wel zonde van het geluid eigenlijk. Het fluiten van de versnellingsbak is echt iconisch.
I was raised with the 2CV and the 3CV. All but good memories. We were 6 in the family, and would go on holidays in that... never a problem.
My dad used to own a 2cv or 'ugly duck' as we called it in the netherlands. He had a 58 model where the seats were just pieces of cloth on springs attached to a frame and without seatbelts. Regarding safety, there was non felt like driving a tin can. But the ride was so nice, loved the suspension citroen put in their cars from the era. We took it for camping a few times a year, sadly he sold it but i still love these things.
These on snow were fantastic, the tiny tires meant so much grip and so much fun. I really wish they could build cars like that again, with a bit more safety obviously, but the same simplicity and repairability. You'll be happy to have one of those when the zombie apocalypse comes :)
Finally, a hypercar worthy opponent
Their battle will be legendary
I'm a Brit and own a 1988 2CV, and I also own a 1932 Morris Minor Two-Seater (the first MG Midgets were based on the original 1928-1934 Minor). I can say that the 2CV feels very modern, smooth, quick, and easy to drive in comparison to a vintage pre-war Morris Minor. BTW, I'll be embarking on a 180 mile drive across country in the 90-year-old Morris next week. Over the course of 4 days I'll end up doing 500+miles at an average speed of about 30mph (it should do 50mph but I tend not to exceed 40-45mph).
"I don't know what 'Je ne sais quois' means" is a great sentence because you can translate the French part by just going back and reading the first part again.
I had one of these, you could feel the engine working, great car.
This car was developed pre WW2. The idea was to offer a cheap means of transportation and that a farmer could transport a basket of eggs to the local market, without breaking any. The car stayed in production for over 40 years. Childhood memories.
Love the fact that as I watched this UA-cam showed me commercials in French. yes I did actually watch to practice my high school French from 40 years ago. Vive La France!
I just wanna say that I just met James at some random place in Toronto and this man is one of the nicest people I have ever encountered, I was really surprised when I saw him and I didn’t know what to say, but all love to you man it was a pleasure to meet you
Road on the memory lane. Love it.
Had my first driving lessons in a 2cv on a farm when I was 10. Remember what a challenge it was to maintain enough speed for 2nd gear.
2CVs were popular in England, so was surprised that James
I love to see you guys having fun. Citroen, Mini, Fiat, Alfa Romeo so cool
I love these cars!! More of these please. James’ French is an English wreck, but I’m here for it. Reminds me of a time I met an Irishman give some French students a tour. It hurt my ears, but you know what I’ll never forget him!
My signing career summed up in a nutshell.
This channel generally presents better cars than the regular one... love this channel!
My dad had one in the early 90s in Serbia, it was a completely normal car to own.
I think the world of Thomas his sarcasm 4:49 best part ever
My mom used to drive one when I was a kid. The sound of that engine brings back memories. Never driven one myself but my dad would let us shift sitting next to him in it. We actually had several as a second car. The very first one had suicide front doors, the next was a Dyane and then a special edition with a wooden shifter knob and a casette player as standard. The last one even had go faster pin stripes on the side.
The car racing by at 1:46 was absolutely perfect
What Engine folks… Porsche ?
My old man bought one from the last batch ever produced in Portugal brand new. Still looking mint to this day.
More room than a Porsche and as many wheels as a Rolls-Royce 😉
I have learnt to love the 2cv after watching HUBNUT videos 👍
All the wings,doors ,bonnet and boot lid come off in about 5 mins with a spanner and screwdriver.
Thank you !!! This is one of my all-time favorite / bucket list vehicles .
My friend's mom had one in the 60s & I loved riding in it. The top had a snap-on plastic cover that you could roll back then stand up on the seats. We took it off-road like a Jeep at their ranch. Good times.
My first 3 cars were 2CVs - I love them. Such good times.
Well, I’m English and we certainly covered the American revolutionary war at school, and I know all about Citroen. We had four Citroens in our family at various times. I’m only seconds into this so perhaps reason will prevail. 2CV isn’t a patch on the Dyane by the way.
Chaps im an Englishman who daily drives a 1963 18bhp 2cv and its brilliant!
"I don't know what je ne sais quoi means'' love this kind of humour!
About 20 years ago I stayed in the Middle East for a summer. The 2cv was my ride and will not go up steep hills. We had to get out and push so many times.
I've driven one of these on our holiday in the summer from Holland to Spain spread over 2 days. One of the most fun and mentally curing cars out there.
Please don't mock the French, surely when being english, a country not known for there revolutionary motoring, except for the mini.
Love the line at the end, very clever James. Be well.
"in 2022, why would you buy one?" says the guy who just bought a fuqqin toyota century 😭❤️
This happened just before I tried the century!
@@jamesengelsman9369 Somewhere, somehow, for some reason, there's a person that sat in this thing and felt the same way you did when you sat in the Century. ... Metaphorically of course.
omg he noticed me 😳😳😳🥵
We all love the 2CV.
The 2CV is to cars what bread is to food.
Wouldn't it be great if it could go back into production, giving millions of people this transportation option?
Citroen AMI:
The usual response to that wish is that it's impossible because the 2CV can't pass safety regulations. But here's a loophole for that: Citroen itself is selling a car called the Ami, which is legally a "quadracycle" -- I guess that's a motorcycle with 4 wheels. The Ami itself uses the 2CV logo on its grill (see this article called "The Electrek review: This tiny Citroën Ami microcar is just weird enough to work". )
Here's a quote about it's being designated as a quadracycle, "It’s technically considered to be a quadricycle, a type of vehicle classification in Europe that falls somewhere between a motorcycle and a standard car. That helps it thread the needle of low cost and low regulations while still offering much the feeling of an actual car. It may not have a dozen airbags like some cars (or even one airbag), but you weren’t planning on hitting anything anyway, right?"
"Largely an artisanal procedure":
Here's an article about when the 2CV was produced in Iran: "Citroën Saipac 2CV, Jiane Sedan, Jiane Pickup and Mehari". It describes the manufacturing as "largely an artisanal procedure", i.e., they are hand assembled. ... That means a high school kid can put one together in their back yard (!). How many millions of high school kids wouldn't consider that as an option for their first car???
Burton 2CV Parts:
This place in The Netherlands -- Burton 2CV parts -- has several videos about putting together a whole 2CV with purchased parts. They don't come out and say it -- but it's hard not to make that conclusion: "You can build your own 2CV!"
Modded 2CV: 720cc - speed machine!
Can the 2CV hold its own on a highway? This video makes it look like it can: Modded 2CV: 720cc - speed machine! (channel is Hub Nut). It talks about some minor-looking improvements to the spark-advance, giving it highway-capable speeds.
Rust is a problem? Here is a video about hot-dipping the whole body in zinc: Fully Zink coated body!! The daily driver citroën 2cv6 real solution against rust restoration. 2cv
^^ a hot-dipped zinc-coated 2CV will last a lifetime or more, in terms of rust.
Argentina: 2CVs used to be made in Argentina, and now it has an extremely free-market president and administration. I bet Argentina would embrace re-introduction of the 2CV with open arms. (And its mostly a flat, mild-weather country -- it should do well there.)
Let's figure out a way to get this back into production and make it a transportation option for millions.
There must be 20 million high school kids who would be happy with this as their first car (sorry, no macho).
There must be 20 million retirees who would be happy with this as their grocery shopping car.
There must be 20 million 9-to-5ers who would be happy with this as their drive-to-work car.
I think that car is awesome. You buy it for car meets and just to meet new people. I'd always love to check something like that out at a local meet. I definitely vote cool. They are iconic cars honestly.
the real 2 mil special
Best car ever! I had two when I was younger! Fantastic first car!
"I don't know what 'je ne sais quoi' means-"
*cut to black*
absolutely incredible ending to a wonderful video lol
Sad there is no real description of the suspension other than how smooth it is. It's a completely unique design that allowed the 2CV to ride smooth yet remain stable and nearly impossible to roll over. It's truly baffling how there is no modern adaptation of it in any car we can buy today.
"I don't know what "je ne sais quoi" means" is a really good pun James.
The 2CV has sort of a cultstatus in The Netherlands and is connected with anti-establishment dynamics I believe. It's nickname is "ugly duck" and 2CV stands for 2 horses...
This car always puts a smile on its drivers and passengers.
Okay, i live 3km from a SPECIALIZED 2cv shop. Like literally a garage dedicated to fixing 2cv. This is all they do.
A car like this in this day and age is a car you buy because : your grandad had one and you saw it in his garage rusting away, but it reminds you of your old grand pa, so you feel connected to old france and the life in rural france at the time. You buy one because it feels authentic in a era where everything as become foreign and disconnected. You buy it because modding it is just a hammer and screwdriver away. You buy it... Well simply because it is a relic of a bigone era where everything was simpler. Where a car that wheighs about as much as wet shirt is all you needed to go about your day in the community.
Its a way of life, a way to reconnect for people that are enthusiastic about the old days and when everything was slower and more... Connected.
I loved my 2CV new in 1983. Brilliant car! I want another one!!!!!
My favorite UA-camrs ❤
I know these were made for decades but the fact that this is an 87 still blows my mind
This has a "Je ne sais quoi", means this has something special, hard to explain. Direct translation is "I don't know what".
Got to feed this over to the main episode that was great
As a 1st car in the 80's in the UK it was brilliant. It taught you to read the road ahead and patience which has stood me in good stead throughout my driving life. It was also the cheapest possible insurance. Another advantage was you could go to the local scrapyard to replace parts and you wouldn't have to get a garage involved. There was also the camaraderie when driving. You'd always get a wave from other 2CV drivers and if you ever broke down, another 2CV driver would likely stop to help. I'd get another in a minute if I could afford one. The main problem with them was rust. Now you can actually galvanize the chassis to make them almost rust proof. As stated one of the main reasons to get one now is fun. It's a car with character which is something missing in modern cars.
I came across a 2CV accident on an offramp, guy did the "you can't roll these" pitch in and it was horrible to witness, as the back came around. It was what you would expect barrel rolling a tin shed with a fabric roof would be. The 2CVs roof and doors went on the 1st roll and when it rolled again against the guard rail it took out the driver. We pulled the passenger out and he was badly cut up from abrasions from the road and glass far worse than you would expect as the b pillar and rear folded in.
It looks like a very fun car and perfectly suited to narrow Street like those in Italy
Glad to be an early viewer while being french
Salut mon ami!
Love this little car. I have the Dolly Version in Blueberries & Cream. My 1st car, always brings a smile to your face 🙂
My first car, so many good memories.
“You might roll it!”. Pas possible monsieur!
Hello from France. I had one similar car as my first ride, many years ago 😌 : a Dyane 6. That was a nice and fun car, I drove many many kilometers with it.... And James.... That's OK, I don't mind you being a tad sarcastic about us, french people.... We know you must compensate the fact you have.... A Queen.... 😉😂 Keep up the good work guys, I love your channels !
"It's a very French thing to not avant." This made my day!
Smiles per minute are off the chart in this video 😄
This reminds me of the baby blue 2CV my mom drove me to school when I was a whee little lad. I miss that car.
Cool to see a french iconic car reviewed on this channel, we did a huge video on our channel about it. First of all it as been produce to allow french people to go across a damaged filled while carrying egg. It was made after WWII but conceived before and destroyed to hide it to the german who later build the bug
I've got three of them (A-type).
1960 Citroën AZ 12hp
1970 Citroën AZ original 18hp (now another engine about 30hp)
1984 Citroën 2cv6 Club 29hp
And a 1974 Citroën Ami 8 Berline 34hp. (The Ami was built on the platform of a 2cv).
I laughed right along with you when it was leaning hard when James was driving.
One of the mandates of the "Deux Chevaux" was to allow a chicken farmer to carry his eggs to market without breaking any. Hence the insane suspension.
"I don't know what 'Je ne sais quoi' means"....LMAO, I just can't with you James.
I think the 2CV is incredibly cool. Great car, great review!
This car makes people happy.
I love the title. Also In England we know so little about the revolutionary war when James said that’s England and Britain I went “is it”. We literally know nothing about it
And for anyone interested that car weighs just less than 600kgs
In Europe they would refer to these cars as The Duck. Reason was that going around corners with its interesting suspension setup it would waddle like a duck walking.
😊Such a delightful car, you guys enjoying it is why we love your channel
it has also a huge open roof, you can convert it to a cabriolet.
in addition you have the option to crank the engine by hand.
I’m french and I laughed a lot watching you butcher my language ^^ thanks for trying this french legend, love your videos !
"We doubled the weight of this car by sitting in it". GOLD !
I had 3 of these and I'm English ! My first one was my first car, cheap and in the upper sixth I had a car ! The starting handle frequently came in handy (dodgy alternator) and obviously it was a convertible. You omitted to mention you can take the seats out for that picnic you mentioned and unbolt the body panels. My second one replaced a 205 GTI ... well I say replaced, the insurance money from the write replaced it and put a deposit down on my first flat. Who knew lift off oversteer was a thing with hot hatches eh ? I bought it new from Martin Brundle's dad's garage , so I guess I helped him on his way into F1 in a way ? But the crowning glory came with the 3rd 2CV (or deux chevaux as we enthusiasts call them) ... I had a 968 club sport in black (the best colour, recently renovated by OPC Leicester) no not lie cest errrr you lot and I needed a dump car .... turquoise 2CV anyone ? perfect. I always fancied but never got round to doing the old mondello park 24 hour in one, funny enough I could never find enough volunteers to join me in that.
You do know it has a 4th gear don't you ?
Can't wait to see you two in a Citroen DS