Just after Michelin acquired Citroen in 1934, its first goal was to make Citroen profitable and to refine the Traction Avant, which had been released to public a few months before.

Two years later, Citroen had a much more stable future. Pierre Michelin, the sun of Edouard Michelin, and Pierre Boulanger, his trustworthy colleague, ask their studies department to make a little popular car, simple and economical.

Code named TPV (Toute Petite Voiture), it must offer not only the comfort of an american automobile, but also road handling and good braking. After several studies, the car is ready. It’s in aluminum, has magnesium suspension, has only one headlight up front, it’s windscreen wipers are manually activated by the driver, and it has a 2 cylinder engine, boxer type, cooled by water, which only starts with a handle. But the Second World War is eminent, and the 1939 Paris Show is canceled, and therefore the little Citroen can not be presented to public. Under occupation, Pierre Boulanger keeps working with his engineers, despite the lack of raw materials caused by the war.

The predictions of the post war period are that automobiles and fuel are going be scarce. The little Citroen becomes not only adequate to this period, but it also meets the original goals and the spirit of the TPV of the pre-war period. So the engine changes from being water cooled to being air cooled. The suspension and the body are no longer made of magnesium and aluminum, but are now made of steel. The headlights and the windscreen wipers grow in number to two, and the gearbox gains a new gear, the fourth.

Finally, it’s after 10 years of studies that Citroen presents it’s car to the public and starts to mass produce it.

It’s October 7^th 1948, and the 35th Paris Auto Show opens in the Grand Palais. That day, Pierre Boulanger – General Director of Citroen – presents the ultimate vehicle, the 2CV, to the french president, Vincent Auriol. The french drivers discover a new vehicle that doesn’t look like anything they’ve seen before. The little Citroen makes people laugh in sarcasm for it’s heavy look and sad grey color.

But the visitors of the Auto Show to which this car was designed don’t get fooled. Even without trying the car they immediately like the confort of the seats. However, they need to wait for the 1949 Paris Auto Show to find it’s mechanics, since the starter is not defenitive. Sold for about 185.000 francs, it is the cheapest car in the market. Many frenchmen now have the opportunity and hope to own a car. But it isn’t immediately available. A little brochure from Citroen says that the first units will be available in the current year of 1949, but still invites people to visit their local car dealer.

Throughout it’s career, the 2CV gains several enhancements to meet the clients’ needs. The model presented in the 1948 Paris Show is known as model A, and has a 375cc engine. After October 1954 a new model comes out, the AZ, with a 425cc engine and a centrifugal clutch. These two models gain 2 lights at the back, and blinkers. In December 1956, a luxury version, with aluminum friezes is presented, the AZL, while the little back window is replaced by a larger one. In Ocbober 1957, the license plate is now centered and a new version equiped with a trunk lid is presented, the AZLP. In November 1959, after 10 years of existence it’s finally available in another color other than the original grey: glacier blue. It also looses the 16" wheels, for smaller ones. In December 1960, the bonnet is replaced by a new one, which includes the license plate and a grille that can be taken appart.

In February 1961, the centrifugal clutch becomes an option. In March 1961, the 375cc engine is no longer produced. In October 1962, every model now has a trunk lid. In February 1963, bigger bumpers. In March 1963, new 2CV with better interiors called AZAM. New chrome bananas in the bumpers, AMI 6 type seats, new wheel covers, etc.. In March 1964, the lighting of the license plate is supressed. In December 1964, the front doors open the right way.

The 2CV immediately becomes a success in the market. There is so much demand for the car that sometimes you have to wait 5 years to get yours. A used 2CV available now is worth more than a new one available in a few years.

Ever since 1949, it’s production increases, till 1966, when the record of cars produced is set: 168.357. The 2CV now belongs to the French landscape. There is no road of a city or a village that doesn’t have one, with it’s curve lines and funny sounding engine.

It becomes a historical symbol of France, just like the red wine, the hats, the baguette bread, the Camembert cheese or the Eiffel Tower.

In the beginning, the 2CV is made to be able to cross all kinds of roads without any kind of trouble. The initial project demands that the car should be able to cross agricultural fields with a basket full of eggs, without breaking one single egg. But roads in bad condition do not have limits and the owners of the 2CV realize that very quickly. In the beginning, they are happy to cross France and to climb to the highest mountains without any difficulty, to prove the well engineered mechanics. Many people write about these adventures. Pierre Boulanger and his team are overwhelmed to see that many owners go on real expeditions. It’s little air cooled engine overcomes any obstacle that comes in it’s way. It doesn’t fear the heat of the deserts, nor the cold of the freezing winters. With it’s particular suspension, the 2CV makes it’s way on the ice and snow, on the mud and on the sand.

Among the most famous adventurers, are Michel Bernier and Jacques Huguier, who go around the Mediterranean in 1952 (15.000 Km). In the following year, Michel Bernier and Jacques Duvey go from Cidade do Cabo to Arguel (17.500 Km).

From 1953 to 1954, Jacques Cornet and Henri Lochon travel more than 52.000 Km across North and South Americas, Africa, Spain and France.

With Georges Khim, Jacques Cornet goes from Paris to Toquio in 1956 and 1957. In 1958, two students, Jean-Claude Baudot and Jacques Seguiela go around the world (more than 100.000 Km). And others follow. Citroen organizes the Raid Paris-Kaboul-Paris in 1970 (494 2CV, Dyane and Mehari; 1300 people; 16.500 Km), the Raid Paris-Persepolis-Paris in 1971 (467 2CV; 1300 people; 13.500 Km) and Raid Afrique in 1973 (60 2CV and Dyane from Abdijan/Marseille).

Nowadays, many years after the 2CV has ceased to be produced, it still crosses continents, thanks to it’s fans who wouldn’t exchange it for anything in this world, including another off-road vehicle.

In March 1958, Citroen invites the press to try out a new and strange 2CV, in Ermenonville, in the suburbs of Paris. The goal of this car is to solve the problems of transportation in very difficult terrains. It is equiped with 2 425cc engines, one for the front wheels and one for the back wheels. Thanks to it’s 155x400 Michelin X tyres, with a pressure of 0,7 Kg, it can roll without trouble in any kind of road, since it has a pressure to the ground smaller than the foot of a man.

The press release of this car says that it can climb sand roads of over 40% steepness. After only 693 cars built until 1966, the last one (694^th) is produced 5 years later in 1971.