Citroen 2cv pages • Hacker News Board

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#11

Post by TedDoesntTalk » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 7:51 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #8

ur-whale wrote: post #2

The Mehari [1] (red car on front page) was an amazing car (4 wheel drive), that was used by the French military for a while and later became very emblematic of the St-Tropez area of France in the 60's and vacationing there. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_M%C3%A9hari

They're still very much wanted and go for a large multiple of their original new price. They are also probably one of the lightest and most dangerous four wheeled production cars ever manufactured.

It reminds me of Volkswagen “Thing”.

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#12

Post by nwatson » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 7:56 PM UTC

Those 2CV are very light. My family were passengers in a drive from Santiago to Valparaiso (Chile) in someone's American station-wagon when a 2CV tried to cross in front of us. We hit them and a passenger from that other vehicle got pinned under the top-of-door frame when the 2CV toppled over. My one-armed dad managed to tilt the vehicle off them so they could be pulled out. She didn't seem extremely hurt.

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#13

Post by jonasdegendt » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 7:58 PM UTC

ur-whale wrote: post #2

The Mehari [1] (red car on front page) was an amazing car (4 wheel drive), that was used by the French military for a while and later became very emblematic of the St-Tropez area of France in the 60's and vacationing there. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_M%C3%A9hari

I just saw a yellow one today! The way they’re cambered makes them look so cool.

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#14

Post by jacquesm » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 8:02 PM UTC

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #11

jacquesm wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're still very much wanted and go for a large multiple of their original new price. They are also probably one of the lightest and most dangerous four wheeled production cars ever manufactured.

It reminds me of Volkswagen “Thing”.

Compared to the beetle it's a tent on wheels. The beetle is quite strong for a car designed in those days.

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#15

Post by Svip » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 8:02 PM UTC

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #10

jacquesm wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

2CV: 4500 dutch guilders, Dyane 4800, AMI 6250, GS 8000, D-Special 12000, DS 17000. For French Francs multiply by three or so, German Marks divide by 1.10. I was in a crash in a 2CV, it was my first car and after that never got into another one. The damage was incredible given the kind of accident it was.

The 2CV always seemed like a death trap to me. It could not get approved in the USA for import; I’m guessing because of safety regulations…although no Citroen cars were available in the US at all.

Citroën sold cars in the US till around 1975, when the US introduced regulations that essentially prohibited the hydropneumatic suspension. Citroën even had US spec versions of the DS and the SM for the US market.

I am not sure whether the 2CV was ever sold in the USA, but it has definitely been imported. I think in the US, the limit is 25 years before you can import a foreign car. I've encountered plenty of 2CVs and Méharis in North America.

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#16

Post by jansan » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 8:03 PM UTC

Did the 2CV have a nickname in other countries? Here in Germany it was called "the duck" ("die Ente"). Oooh, that suspension, great memories :)

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#17

Post by jacquesm » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 8:03 PM UTC

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #10

jacquesm wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

2CV: 4500 dutch guilders, Dyane 4800, AMI 6250, GS 8000, D-Special 12000, DS 17000. For French Francs multiply by three or so, German Marks divide by 1.10. I was in a crash in a 2CV, it was my first car and after that never got into another one. The damage was incredible given the kind of accident it was.

The 2CV always seemed like a death trap to me. It could not get approved in the USA for import; I’m guessing because of safety regulations…although no Citroen cars were available in the US at all.

In US traffic an accident between your average 60's US built car and a 2CV would amount to a death sentence for the occupants of the 2CV.

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#18

Post by jacquesm » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 8:04 PM UTC

Svip wrote: post #15

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The 2CV always seemed like a death trap to me. It could not get approved in the USA for import; I’m guessing because of safety regulations…although no Citroen cars were available in the US at all.

Citroën sold cars in the US till around 1975, when the US introduced regulations that essentially prohibited the hydropneumatic suspension. Citroën even had US spec versions of the DS and the SM for the US market. I am not sure whether the 2CV was ever sold in the USA, but it has definitely been imported. I think in the US, the limit is 25 years before you can import a foreign car. I've encountered plenty of 2CVs and…

I've seen a DS in Canada, but only once. (Toronto)

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#19

Post by jacquesm » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 8:06 PM UTC

jansan wrote: post #16

Did the 2CV have a nickname in other countries? Here in Germany it was called "the duck" ("die Ente"). Oooh, that suspension, great memories :)

Same here in NL 'de eend'. There's a whole raft of wordplay jokes on that name.

As for the suspension, it's the only car that you can scrape the mirrors with while it's still on all four wheels ;)

Re: Citroen 2cv pages

#20

Post by m2fkxy » Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 8:08 PM UTC

jansan wrote: post #16

Did the 2CV have a nickname in other countries? Here in Germany it was called "the duck" ("die Ente"). Oooh, that suspension, great memories :)

in French, "la Deudeuche" [de-duhsh], for a very roughly approximated anglicised pronunciation ([dø.døʃ] is the proper IPA, but I feel like it wouldn't resonate with everyone... at least I would have no idea).

short for "deux chevaux", i.e. ... 2CV.