Citroen 2CV6 (1974 - 1991)
MODELS COVERED: 2CV6 1991-1997: (602cc four door saloon [Club, Special, Charleston, James Bond, Beachcomber, Bamboo, Dolly]
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
Once the preserve of the tree-hugging liberal schoolteacher, the
Citroen 2CV6 has slipped surprisingly quickly from the collective subconscious. Part of this is probably due to the guilty realisation that the friends of the earth who drove the Citroen were churning more carbon dioxide from its agricultural 600cc engine than many modern executive saloons. Increasing safety provision in small cars has also served to make the 2CV6 seem something of a liability. Can a case be made, in this day and age, for buying a used Citroen 2CV6? Youll need to be aware of its shortcomings but the charm remains, although picking up a decent example is far from easy.
The 2CV6s key asset is its roll-back roof. With many cars nowadays plumping for hideously heavy and complex folding metal tops, its sometimes tempting to wonder where the advance is. The Citroens roof can be stowed back in seconds, costs next to nothing and doesnt add significantly to the weight of the car. Weight up high in a 2CV6 would be very interesting given its handling characteristics! Equipment is meagre whichever model you buy although the utilitarian nature of the windows and ventilation again draw admiration.
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Accommodation is good for four although performance and economy suffers markedly with a heavily loaded car.
Theres no shortage of rotten basket cases about but if youre after a well looked after 2CV6 Club, you can expect to pay from around £700. Charleston and Dolly special editions proved very popular and these are the easiest to track down in decent nick. Most vendors have caught on to the fact that many reasonably wealthy owners buy the 2CV6 for ironic or kitsch reasons and the cars are priced accordingly. Thus, a decent 1983 Charleston will change hands at anything up to £2,000.
A shiny rebuilt 2CV6 from Frome 2CV Centre will set you back around £7,000 plus donor car. Youve really got to want a 2CV to pay that.
Rust is the main enemy of the 2CV6 and it occurs in a number of places. The key place is where the floor meets the bulkheads ahead of the front seats but youll also need to look at all the sills, bulkheads, window surrounds, bonnet and boot hinges, front wing seams and the rear panel next to the rear lights. Believe it or not but some unscrupulous vendors will attempt to drive the asking price up by clocking the mileage back. Some cars will have ripped tops but replacements are fairly cheap but the plastic Targa
seat trim is susceptible to ripping.
The last of the 2CV6 models were built in Portugal and the fit and finish of these is noticeably poorer. You should also check to see if the underbonnet heater ducts are still attached. Youll want the heater working as cold air often blows through the rather loosely fitting doors.
Quoting prices for
Citroen 2CV6 used parts is probably a fatuous task. Many 2CV web rings have sprung up on the net and these are probably the best place to buy, sell or swap oily bits. Some parts, such as decent doors, are now getting rare.
The 2CV6 takes a bit of getting used to if youre used to modern cars. The gearchange is the first thing that will cause scratched heads. This push-me pull-you umbrella handled affair works well enough when youre used to it but its easy for a novice to engage reverse gear at traffic lights instead of first. The ride quality is also somewhat unusual.
Step into a 2CV and it will rock as you get in and it will lean even more alarmingly when you corner it. Despite the narrowness of the tyres however, the 2CV grips like a limpet and is genuinely good fun to drive. Fuel economy in the fifties is one upside of the low power output as are pocket money insurance premiums. Its probably not the car youd choose to have a crash in though.
If you can live with the lack of safety provision, the deathly performance and the lack of creature comforts, the 2CV6 makes an interesting buy. Its hard to see the prices of well looked after used cars getting much cheaper so if you resent paying through the nose on a depreciating asset, this quirky Citroen may be just the ticket.
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