Produced between 1948 and 1990, it travelled the roads of France in large numbers. TheCitroën Deux Chevaux was one of the 10 best-selling French cars in history, with more than 5.1 million units sold. Its rounded silhouette, its colours and its noisy engine propelled it into the hearts of fans and it never left them!
At home, she was affectionately known as the “deudeuche.” We always looked forward to climbing on the cloth bench and getting out of there in a hurry. The destination didn’t matter as long as the curves and holes in the road were there. Why did it matter? Because this great car would bounce for endless minutes after a hole in the road (a bit similar to a deranged grasshopper!) and bend incredibly in the turns, throwing us against each other with a burst of laughter. It was like experiencing all the spins of a carnival in a single ride!
Ultra-light, its most famous model was equipped with a canvas roof, which could be rolled up and held in place with straps. A very camping side finally!
HOW WAS IT BORN?
If it was high, it was because its creator Pierre-Jules Boulanger was tall and wanted to be able to go in wearing his hat. In his specifications, Boulanger described it as a “four-wheeler under an umbrella” with a suspension that would allow you to cross a freshly plowed field with a basket of eggs without breaking a single one. Above all, it had to be easy for a beginner to drive. Without knowing it, he was in the process of creating a legend…
The project was called TPV (the very small car). It had to have four seats, be able to carry 50 kg of luggage and simple to maintain.
After 35 different models, theCitroën Deux Chevaux did its time and on July 27, 1990, followed by a modest fanfare, the last deudeuche, reserved for the director, left the factory.
TODAY
There are 160 associations of his fans in France alone. But not only! It must be said that it represents a certain image of France in the company of the beret and the baguette… And if you pay attention, you will see some of them in Montreal. Notably in front of the city hall in summer, on wedding days or in the streets of Outremont where a Deux Chevaux Fourgonnette in the colours of a local business is often walking around…
To learn more, watch: 2 CV: a real passion on YouTube.
