Sixty Years Of The Citroen 2CV 1937-1997

Some cars are designed to impress the neighbours. The Citroën 2CV was designed to carry a basket of eggs across a ploughed field without breaking a single one. One of those ambitions has aged rather better than the other. With its hammock-like seats, delightfully unconventional engineering and bodywork that seemed to regard straight lines as an unnecessary extravagance, the 2CV became one of the most beloved—and instantly recognisable—cars ever built. Sixty Years of the Citroën 2CV 1937–1997 is a fitting tribute to a machine that proved practicality and personality could happily occupy the same chassis.

John Reynolds charts the remarkable history of the "Deux Chevaux" from its secret pre-war development through its extraordinary post-war success and eventual status as a motoring icon. Conceived as simple, affordable transport for rural France, the 2CV went on to become a cultural phenomenon, adored by farmers, students, artists, eccentrics and anyone who valued ingenuity over extravagance. Few cars have inspired such fierce loyalty while simultaneously looking as though they were assembled from a handful of corrugated optimism and several very determined French engineers.

The book explores every stage of the 2CV’s evolution, examining the various models, mechanical developments and countless special editions that appeared during its astonishing six-decade lifespan. Along the way, Reynolds explains why so many of Citroën’s unconventional ideas turned out to be quietly brilliant, even if they occasionally caused rival manufacturers to scratch their heads in polite disbelief.

Illustrated throughout with a generous selection of colour and black-and-white photographs, the volume captures the 2CV in all its quirky charm. Whether photographed on sleepy French country lanes, bustling city streets or at classic car gatherings, the little Citroën somehow manages to appear permanently cheerful. It is one of those rare vehicles that seems incapable of looking aggressive, even when travelling downhill with a favourable tailwind.

Reynolds writes with genuine affection and considerable knowledge, balancing historical detail with an appreciation for the peculiar appeal that has kept the 2CV alive in the hearts of enthusiasts long after production finally ceased. It’s a fascinating account of a car that repeatedly ignored fashion, convention and common expectations, only to emerge as one of the twentieth century’s true automotive classics.

This copy is in Near Fine condition, with clean pages, a bright cover and only the lightest indications of previous ownership. It presents beautifully and would make an excellent addition to the library of Citroën enthusiasts, classic car collectors or anyone who appreciates engineering that dared to take an entirely different route.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where the name continues to promise a dusty pile of neglected paperbacks while quietly producing handsome motoring volumes like this instead. Unlike owning an actual 2CV, this book requires no annual battle with galvanised chassis inspections, canvas roof adjustments or enthusiastic strangers wandering over to tell you about the one their uncle drove across Europe in 1974. It simply celebrates one of the most charmingly unconventional cars ever to grace the world’s roads—a machine that cheerfully proved common sense and eccentricity can, occasionally, be exactly the same thing.

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