Citroën

In the 1930s France still had a large rural population which could not afford cars. Pierre-Jules Boulanger, vice-president of Citroën, realised the potential and sent a brief to his design team for a low-priced, rugged car that would enable four people to transport 50 kg of farm goods to the market at 50 km/h. One design parameter required that customers be able to transport eggs across a freshly ploughed field without breakage. The car received approval for the French market in August 1939 and was to be presented at the Mondial de l'automobile de Paris in October 1939. However, on September 3, France declared war on Germany which led to the cancellation of the 1939 motor show. The launch of the 2CV was postponed indefinitely.

After the war, resources were scarce and rationed, so it took until 1949 before Citroën was able to commence production. The 2CV was finally unveiled at the Mondial de l'automobile de Paris on 7 October 1948. The car on display was nearly identical to the 2CV that would be sold the next year, but it lacked an electric starter, the addition of which was decided the day before the opening of the Salon, replacing the pull cord starter. The canvas roof could be rolled completely open. The 2CV was fitted with an air-cooled, two-cylinder 375 cc engine, had one stop light and was only available in grey. Despite critics, Citroën was flooded with customer orders at the show. The 2CV was a commercial success: within months of it going on sale, there was a three-year waiting list, which soon increased to five years. In 1951, the Fourgonnette panel van was introduced.

In 1955, a 425 cc engine became available and as of 1957 a heating and ventilation system was installed. In 1960, the production of the 375 cc engine ended. The corrugated metal bonnet was replaced by a five-rib glossy cover. Simultaneously, the grille was slightly modified. The 2CV Sahara appeared in December 1960. This had an additional engine-transmission unit in the rear, mounted the other way around and driving the rear wheels. The car had ample off-road capability, but at twice the price of the standard 2CV. 694 units were produced until 1968 and one more in 1971.

1963

1964

1965

In 1965 the suicide doors were replaced with front hinged doors. In February 1965, Citroën Belgium introduced the AZAM 6 which featured the 602 cc Ami 6 engine and the Ami's improved chassis. This version was manufactured until October 1967 and was also exported to a number of other countries, although it was never offered in France.

1965

1966

1967

1968

1970

The last factory-issued brochure specifically for the 2CV was issued in 1973, as of 1974 only brochures of the whole two-cylinder range were published, see Model range two-cylinders.

1975