cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
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Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 4
This is the final episode of my Citroen restoration story. Perhaps you are expecting a Pebble Beach restoration with medals and trophy - alas this was not that sort of soirée. And in fact, as we got to the end of our week, frantically chiding the women as they sewed up some seat covers, and cursing the parts counterman for not receiving our expected parts, it began to rain...
Here is the body shell with its new floor. It doesn't look brand new, does it? Good, that's intentional. All the parts are old; only the spot welds and sealant are new.
In a valiant effort, C begins painting primer on the body shell.
After the shell was completed, C moved on to do the seat frames. P gives advice and L flails away on the front grille.
I got involved with C and P in fitting the body panels. We sorted out the doors and moved the critical front fender/grille/bumper intersections.
And then "the skies opened" and a deluge began. After waiting out the rest of the day, we threw in the towel.
C conceded that we wouldn't get it done on time, and it was rolled back into the garage in primer, to wait for another year before its public debut as possibly the oldest 2CV registered and running.
I have searched mightily for the photos of the finished car, and can't find them. Maybe they will turn up and I can finish this report. In the interim, please let me finish with this.
POSTLUDE
I know B and C are still around, because we have camped with their families in various countries in Europe from Greece to Finland.
And even in the USA where one year a whole load of French folks and cars traversed the country. We met up in Las Vegas, and I led a convoy through Death Valley,
up to San Francisco and southward
to San Diego (we had to find a house nearby to contain them all!)
I hope that you enjoyed the story even though I have been unable to find good photos of the finished restoration. The last photo I have is one I just found when Bill inquired - the car is hiding under the cover behind C.
But it should look like this:
Cheers,
Cazalea
BTW - C is still messing with 2CVs in France ...
Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 1
Thanks everyone for your supportive comments regarding my Lotus restoration, As requested by a few PuristS, I am offering this next series of posts on restoring a 1949 Citroen 2CV. OVERVIEW This project dates back to the early 1990's when I was visiting F...
Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 2
Thanks for reading and/of commenting on part 1 of this Restoration report. Our goal was to coordinate the efforts of 6 workers from 3 countries to restore a 40+ year old car in one week - in order to present it at an important auto show in Paris. Let's pr...
Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 3
Thanks for following this rushed restoration - where 6 odd ducks try to get a Duckling ready for a car show in one week. Part 1 is the overview and Part 2 covers the body work. Here we dive into the mechanical bits. The 2CV is undergirded by a platform fr...
Hi Bill, no I never owned it. My friend C had it for many years
I don't know if he still does. Maybe I will send him this link and find out. Here's a picture of the car (under the covers) behind the Corvette I bought and shipped to France for him. That's another story ... as you know Corvettes aren't common in Paris! ...
Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 4
This is the final episode of my Citroen restoration story. Perhaps you are expecting a Pebble Beach restoration with medals and trophy - alas this was not that sort of soirée. And in fact, as we got to the end of our week, frantically chiding the women as...
Thank you for sharing this with us!
I throughly enjoyed your write up 😃 Here’s hoping that you’ll find photos of the finished car and update us.
Lovely report Mike 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Narrated in such a good humor, and full with memories and friendship. To be treasured! Any next series coming? Thanks for sharing your passion. René
Great series and resto log, Mike - thanks for posting!
Brings back 30+ yr old memories of a 2CV van driven from Maroc & across the Western Sahara & Mauritania - I had a pop-up tent on the roof to keep away from the scorpions. My pal slept in the back of the van on top of petrol & water containers, his 2 parag...
I can help renew those memories ... from the desert to the mountains to the sea
With the 1964 Belgian-origin Citroen Van (Citroën Belgium launched what was technically known as the 3CV AZAM6 which featured 602 cc Ami6 engine and the Ami's improved chassis). Hence the number plate 3CV VAN. Camping inside or in cabin Panamint Range nea...
Thanks Mike!! Great roadtrip there :-)
Ours was a 435cc from the mid 70's I recall - it had the luxury of an ash tray!
We will feature the van in another installment
I'm talking to the last owner (as I type) and he's sending me lots of pics. He says "Love at first sight" Factory where it was built ...
Whoop! Whoop!
I adore this series of posts! Will try to print it for my wife, who is still a big 2CV fan and still regrets selling hers some 25 years ago. Marcus
