I have fond memories of the 2CV, perhaps not what you are looking for but I'll tell you anyway.

I was hitch-hiking (autostop??) in France around Easter 1970 on my way down to see the Concorde in Toulouse and I was given a lift in the van version of the 2CV. The driver, a young man of about my age, 23, really didn't like driving and so I drove for the next 2-300 miles. I shudder to think what would have happened if we had an accident, I don't suppose his insurance would have covered me.

It was huge fun. I remembered an article I had read recently about the 2CV in "Small Car" magazine, in fact I remember much of it still, it said that it had a first gear suitable for pulling ten ton lorries up one-in-four hills and a top gear suitable for pulling ten ton lorries down one-in-four hills. It said it rolled like bitch on heat in corners, and that changing gear felt like stirring a cowpat with a walking-stick. And it said that the bodywork was made from ex-US Army dustbins. I think that I started to fall in love with the 2CV when I read that article, and I got to love it even more during the two days I drove it.

I remember vividly how it leaned over on the bends, happily it never actually rolled over and I'm sure it lifted a wheel- whether front or back I can't remember by now. I think it had Michelin X's on.

It was very comfortable, the seats were a very basic tubular frame laced with elastic cords, two single seats in the front that could be taken out and used as picnic chairs and which left the floor flat and unobstructed which was ideal for sleeping in the van. The canvas roof could be rolled back.

And I'm still a little in love with it forty years later.

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Johnef