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You misspelled 'iconic'.



JonasM

 

Citroen makes AWESOME cars. When I was in France, got to ride in one of the models, don't remember which one, the thing was unbelievable. Power and handling top notch.

 

^^ I agree. I remember, too, seeing those Traction Avant Citroens all over Europe. I think that was the world's first front wheel drive car, even before the American Cord. (Or maybe Alvis beat them by a year or two.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42057291@N00/...n/pool-views400

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwEIs...eature=related

 

Used a friends 2CV in France for about a week, it was a forgettable experience driving wise. It's 375cc motor actually needed to be pushed in order to start on steep inclines. It was noisy, cramped and leaked when it rained. The only thing remarkable was the retractable roof (when it wasn't raining) and a very soft suspension which helped mask the lack of power.
The 2CV motor can best be described as a frustrated lawnmower HP wise, a bare bones no frills means of transportation. Thinking back on the 2CV, I enjoyed the car because it was so different from any American car I'd driven before or since.

 

Back in the mid-'70s, I was at a meeting in the hills of central Italy, and a colleague rented a car for a day to take a bunch of to a park where there was hiking. As I recall, the car turned out to be one of these little guys.

At a stop sign, at the top of a hill, it wouldn't go (4 adult occupants) -- no how much engine gunning and clutch slipping, it just wouldn't go.

We had to get out and push.

It gave us lots of opportunities to make jokes about European cars. HPH

 

I lived in Morocco for 5 1/2 years, I saw them everyday! I actually considered purchasing one for my wife, but instead I bought a "bright yellow" VW bug.

 

I saw and passed a lot of them back in the 70s. The Germans used to call them "Student Cars."

 

In Morocco they were called the "Deux Chavaux." (two horses)

 

I'm glad that some of you had actual experience with these little guys.

I recall seeing Citroens at various auto shows in my youth....probably late 50s/ early 60s. They were pretty voluptuous in design, with a weird single-spoke steering wheel and adjustable air suspension. I think the model designations were something like DSM-50, 60, 70....but there was also the SM or SSM series (supercharged)