British-built 1955 2CV road test, in Tasmania, Australia! 425cc!
Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары
Hold on tight as I conduct my first ever road test in a really old Citroën 2CV! This Deux Chevaux was built in Slough, England in 1955 and features many differences to the French- and Belgian-built versions, including a Morris Minor bumper. It shares inboard front brakes, speedometer-driven wipers and seats and doors you can remove in seconds with no tools! It has a 425cc aircooled flat twin engine, producing a whopping 12bhp.
Many thanks to Glenn at Octane Collectables (octanecollectables.com) for letting me have this dream drive.
HubNut goodies can be purchased at hubnut.org where you'll also find support options. Or, support HubNut at / hubnut
Don't forget to like the video if you like it, and share with your friends if you really like it! Thank you all.
Пікірлер: 765
OMG! I am french and I didn't know about British-built 2 CV !! It is so special ! The front badge is incredible ! In France, fans would give a lot of money for this car.
@brunopitavy4818
10 күн бұрын
Il y en a une dans la collection Citroën. Et c'est une rareté
A marvellously unmolested example and running like a champ. The car is OK too.
This makes your average old tin watering can look quite complex 😂
@titanus49
4 жыл бұрын
That's why they are endearingly called "tin snails " By the way they are incredibly reliable, and the engine is tough as nails
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
@@titanus49 "tin snails" ? Did a Frenchman see it and declare "Es car go !" ?
@olivierlampire4594
4 жыл бұрын
@@millomweb No, Deuche or Deudeuche (Deux chevaux 2CV in a cuty way of saying), 2 pattes (two legs)
Only HubNut would sit in a 55 2CV and say " feels a bit sporty " lol. Brilliant car brilliant video . 👍
@andyjones7689
3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic little car and dare I say it's right about it being a bit sporty, 5:30 "This is an evolution of the original engine". So it's actually the 'evo' version with a full 50cc and 3hp more than the originals. How Hubnut is that?
@tomf3150
3 жыл бұрын
My mom's old peugeot 205 gl has only 54 cv. It does 70 mph, given enough time. But up to 70 km/h she's fine.
Farmers must have loved the ease and simplicity of maintaining these little cars. Nice video.
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
One could imagine the toolkit - simply 3 different sized hammers.
@HubNut
4 жыл бұрын
12mm and 19mm for most stuff on these I think.
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
@@HubNut That's quite close to half-inch and 3/4" for the French. Found the front wheelnuts on a Case digger were
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
@@HubNut What about the spark plugs ?
@HubNut
4 жыл бұрын
@@millomweb Piece of cake.
"(...) it could get a bit anorak-y." What do you think we're here for? :D
@colinjones2505
4 жыл бұрын
Precisely, and we all learn so much too.
@alisterbaker-lowe
3 жыл бұрын
That is why I love citroën - their cars.are quirky, but often innovative and brilliant.
I love this car, the absolute simplicity and the fact that it’s totally unrestored adds to the charm.
@ivorlewis3417
3 жыл бұрын
I had a pickup truck when i was a student at Portsmouth c of a . They were built for the navy wish I had it now! Ivor lewis.
why is it that whenever I watch a 2CV video I cant help smiling. Never driven one and if it brings a smile to your face just watching then it must be a joy to drive. On my bucket list. When I win the lottery, I will buy one!!
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
I rode in the back of one once (Mr teacher & his missus) & she said to him "you'll tip this over one day" as we went round a corner.
My slightly ropey maroon Dyane 4 had the later version of the 425cc engine when I bought it in September 1977. After a trip from Leeds to Bedford (not Bradford !) and back I'd had enough and I bought a 602cc engine out of an Ami from a Leeds scrapyard. I did the swap in the street and it made all the difference to driveability. I also had the alternator fail in Stockport on Xmas eve 77 and had to get back home on two candles as it went dark. That was a bit of a frightener. Otherwise it was great and quite a lot of fun to own and drive.
@julienbee3467
4 жыл бұрын
I like these stories ☺
What an utterly captivating, charismatic car. I’ve always had a soft spot for 2CVs, but this really reinforces why I love them. The most simplistic form of motoring and a wonderful antidote to modernity in my eyes which is becoming far too much. No wonder Chris Harris loves his early car so much. Superb video Ian and really felt like we were joining in.
Have a nice day all. Stay safe - SMILE. CHEERS from AUSTRALIA.
@graemew7001
4 жыл бұрын
You too from the UK, you guys have had enough to deal with already without this on top of it.
@geneva760
4 жыл бұрын
CHEERS Graeme.
Definitely fun to see Elly's British grandma enjoying her time out in Australia, shame they were not that popular at the time, but at least today we have a good appreciation of them, cos quirky cars are the best cars... :D
I had a Dyane 4. With 4 adults and towing a Townsend Thoresen trailer tent we toured Normandy, Paris and into Belgium. On our last day on the Continent we had to drive the main coastal route from Belgium to Calais. There was a gale blowing up the Channel and the car just would not go in fourth gear. The ferry crossing was horrendous. Great memories of my posh 2CV though, thank you.
@HubNut
4 жыл бұрын
Blimey! Just shows what a hammering these things can take.
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
Carlisle to Edinburgh - up the A 74 (>A702) Mk1 Granada 3 litre into a headwind topped 60 mph ! Without the headwind, it'd do 110.
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
@@RussEdgar445y7tlfj When engines start using oil, people tend to use cheap oil - and that makes things much worse. I've had people comment "what have you done to the engine as it's not using any oil". It had had an oil change - with good quality oil going in it. Was it petrol ? Injected or carburetted ? I knew a guy took his Metro for MOT and after that, it wouldn't go faster than 50 mph due to lack of fuel. Needed the carb readjusted back to where it should have been. #emissions test
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
@@RussEdgar445y7tlfj Much is said about 'cold'. Once the oil warning light has gone out, pretty much everything is being lubricated - perhaps not fully but enough. Pistons will be small - that'll allow more oil up to the rings but they'll be doing their job as a gas seal. TBH I think the real sufferer of cold are drive belts - quite possibly more brittle than normal but a cold belt run for a few minutes will soon warm up via its own stiffness. I'd agree that hammering things cold is not a good idea but I'm not convinced it's as bad as people make out. I'm all in favour of a tendency of high gear, low revs but I also believe a good thrash from time to time will have some benefits - like possibly on the exhaust.
Fantastic made me want one again 😍 Fantastic made me want to get one again it’s been too long I need one of those in my life not the same without the 2CV
Who needs multi colour ambient lighting in a modern car when you have a swivelling internal / instrument light
@peka4036
4 жыл бұрын
Very nice, i have to make my 61 belgian example ready, 12 hp too :-)
@philhealey449
4 жыл бұрын
We`ve had some new highs recently with stupendously noisy wiper motors and now, surely one of motoring's most inferior lights? The anti glare shield must make all the difference to the pilot's night vision. Dare we imagine the nocturnal gloom of the Brummie Pifco headlights, or was there an option for an auxiliary tyre driven Miller cycle lighting dynamo kit?
That engine sounds healthy, obviously needs to be revved pretty good! I like that 4th gear overdrive. It's all about driving experience, sound, body roll, gear shifts...so much fun. Perfect vehicle for farm use and small rural town roads.
Love it! A few months back when I was cruising on my scooter, I was surprised to see a 2CV in immaculately mint condition cruising around Dana Piont, California.
I'm not sure why I got videos from Hubnut, but I've started watching them and then watching more. His enthusiasm is infectious (can I say that word)!
Lunch: sandwiches, milk and a road test of a classic 2CV. Happy times. Edit: now I have watched this video with headphones on, it brings back memories of all the 2CVs I've been in as a child in the 1970s, my dad had one in 1974, other family members drove 2CV6s and (Aca)Dyanes. Many Citroën drivers in my family, my dad also drove DS23 Pallas and eventually a C5 Exclusive. Once again, happy times.
@peterriggall8409
4 жыл бұрын
Just started watching these videos with headphones. It transforms them and gives another dimension. iPads and even laptops have crap sound.
That bonnet emblem is a true work of art. The opening rear windows are a lovely add to the car I think. It is fascinating that it would have never been a factory mod or option or dealer-added extra. I think it looks very nice, especially when viewed from profile. The fuel cap is a nice addition. I really love the picknick conversion that came at a no-cost (hehe) option there. Oh yes this car is hiding intriguing bits and pieces what makes it so nice. The vintage stickers not to forget of course. Even the brakes aren’t that bad. I have a suggestion: not only test the wipers, also the horns, as you sometimes already do. I prefer the looks under the bonnet, especially when we have a look at it while it is idling! Also a suggestion. Lovely!
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
"Opening rear windows" - silly boy - they just put front doors on the back - left front = right rear and right front = left rear. So if you ever come across a 2CV with the only externally lockable door on the rear, they've mixed the doors up when putting them back on.
@Candisa
Жыл бұрын
@@millomweb Even a blind guy can see that's not true at all. The shape of the doors are very obviously different and the windows are different as well. With all parts of a 2CV readily available (except for a few things of the oldest models), don't you think you'd see more 2CVs with opening rear windows if the front ones would fit?
A brilliant little car. A few things : The elasticated clips on the hood are to hold the hood in position when it is rolled back, they aren’t a release mechanism (simply pull the hood forward to release). There is no cowling missing on the engine - that’s all you get! The red light on the dash is a fuel low light - there is no gauge - there is a dipstick inside the tank under that elegant fuel cap - otherwise the light comes on when the fuel is low - warning you when it’s probably a bit late! Emergency stopping without dipping the clutch - probably not recommended the centrifugal clutch disengages at low speed - Great video however!
@millomweb
4 жыл бұрын
Emergency stopping - only difference is that you're emergency slowing down the engine unnecessarily.
@unbalancedcrank
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for that extra knowledge. Today is a good day at school!
@kenhanna6834
4 жыл бұрын
Bertie, even the later 2CVs never had the sophistication of a 'low fuel' light so I very much doubt that a Slough-built version would have benefitted from such a device. Also, the dipstick you've mentioned was stored in the boot, not 'inside the tank'...
@chrishowe5206
Жыл бұрын
@@kenhanna6834 Hi Ken - There is a float and an equivalent of a 'sender' without a variable resistor in the tank which is just a switch that indicates low level - this lights up the dash light when fuel is low. Yes - can keep the dipstick in the boot but it sits nicely out of the way in the tank/filler too
Classic HubNut, I needed cheering up, stay safe young man
Lovely to see your true heartfelt passion for these cars coming through in this video😊
Magic! I am trying to imagine feeling you had that went with the grin that was on your face! Love it. Thankyou for sharing.
I'm lusting for this one! Best HubNut review ever.
I've added driving a 2CV to my bucket list, after watching you drive this and Elly they actually look great fun little cars.
Simply gorgeus, could quite easy live with one as an only car if I was living on my own in my retirement life. Another excellent vid Ian. What a place that meuseum is as well. Keep well, thank you for all these vids!
I couldn't help but smile throughout the video, absolutely brilliant! Another great vlog from HubNut, as it has made my day complete!
Hugely charming as you said, love that it's in a tired beige (perfect) and hath all the wear in the right places, plus later bits here and there. Rudimentary and beautiful with it! In your element with this one!
Super, the smile on your face when your driving this wonderful little honest car, is fantastic.
Wonderful quirky ride! Gotta love how the speedometer controls the windscreen wipers, and how the light switch wants to control the fuel gauge. Marvelous !!
@Candisa
Жыл бұрын
The lights acting on the fuel gauge is typical French electrics: bad mass-connections. This is very pronounced in these early 6V cars, but my 12V 1986 2CV6 does this as well (makes you think you'll run out of fuel in the middle of the night while there's almost half a tank left). You even see this on more modern French cars, like a 2000 Renault Clio I had: lights on + brakes + blinking = christmas tree in the back and the fog light dashboard light faintly glowing. The problem is every warning light, gauge, outside light... has its own plus-feed, but the negatives are tied together and connected to parts that sometimes aren't even part of the main body (the negative wire of the front blinkers of a late 2CV is simply sandwiched between the wing and the valence panel) with a piece of thin wire, a flimsy eyelet, and paint between the eyelet and the bodypart.
Watching you drive this thing just makes me smile. It's just wonderful.
Just shared it with fellow members of the Citroen Car Club of Tasmania. This will make a big hit on your stats. Ian. There are 35 memberships representing 70 members!
Great to see some 2CV action again, just like old times. Thanks for posting, stay safe.
I can’t think of any words to express quite how wonderful that car is! I could imagine myself bumbling around the country lanes in that quite well (if it is capable of propelling my 19st frame!!). Nailing it across that paddock may as well have been a main road! Thoroughly enjoyed this video! It’s the highlight of my day! Thank you👍
Well, it might be one of the least powerful cars - but it sure is the most powerful piece of modernist furniture you can drive - What an awesome design! Also - Funny how the speedometer starts to move to the motion of the windscreen wipers, when you switch them on :D
Dolly Wobbler IS happy! I never thought I'd ever like these cars quite as much as I do. When I was younger I was picked up from school sometimes by a friend of my Mum's who had a Dyane in a similar shade of hearing-aid-beige and it used to embarrass me. NOW however, I would dearly love to drive one. So charming and it's so interesting learning these nuggets of history about the more obscure parts of 2CV history. Whilst I knew about British built ones, I wasn't aware of the specifications (or lack of) of these early ones. Great video!
Driven those roads many a time, my family was originally from Westbury
This was very enjoyable! Thanks for posting, I always loved the 2CV. And it still moves pretty good for 12 hp...!!!
Now you're talking, I aspire to own and drive a shabby chic one just like this! It's beautiful.
A perfect stablemate for your own 2CV Mr. HubNut. Makes my 37bhp motor sound like a monster! Lovely car, Many thanks
You are perhaps the best reviewer I have ever seen on these quirky French voitures! I watched your DS this morning and just found this on the deux chavaux! Brilliant!
Cable operated manual starter also used right up to the end of Fiat 126 production, my wife owned 2 in succession, why the bloody hell did I trade one in for a 750 Fiat Panda, and what possessed me to get rid of that also, what a wonderful thing hindsight is.
@jamesknightreading
4 жыл бұрын
I had two Fiat 126's back in the 80's. Both rusted terribly, so you did not lose out much. My 1976 one was in the scrapyard by 1986, and the 1979 one was in the scrapyard by 92.
@rolandleusden
4 жыл бұрын
Cable-operated manual starters are very reliable, the later solenoid versions are more prone to failure. It's all part of the design of the 2CV, less is more because what you don't have can't fail. As Ian shows in the video, even if the cable would break you can still start the car.
@richardhalliday159
4 жыл бұрын
James Knight Absolutely, it’s a shame cars back in the 60s and 70s didn’t benefit from protection and build techniques manufacturers use today, gone are the days of rust buckets and bangers on the road.
Superb. Truly an agricultural implement that thinks it is a car... Love them. All three of mine have been powerhouse 2CV6s developing a blistering 29 hp. Less is more, more or less! Sooooo much fun... and your enthusiasm in your videos is addictive... thank you heaps
That 2CV definitely has parts from a Morris Minor on it (rear lights). So charming; my father owned a 425 2CV and loved it dearly...rebuilds of the engine are simple.
@gruntabro1
4 жыл бұрын
Beetle front guards ?
@HubNut
4 жыл бұрын
No, very different guards to a Beetle. Rear lights look Minor, but the lenses are unique to Citroen with the company logo on them! I'd never noticed the detail before this video.
Stunningly charming car. Patina, complete, original, working, running sweet, life's-history, lovely. Great video and commentary - kudos. Great driving. (Sorry - just wish you wouldn't 'rest' your foot on the clutch!). Best wishes. Many thanks.
@HubNut
4 жыл бұрын
My foot does not rest on the clutch! It often hovers above, but doesn't rest.
Wonderful review! Nice weather you had there too!
What a great day you had at Glenns place and what luxury, opening rear windows two sun visors and locking fuel cap what more could anyone want. Great stuff Ian.
What great fun! You have to love these old cars! Thanks for posting.
Charming and amazing piece of design the 2cv.
Fantastic car! Brilliant video! Thanks Mr HubNut!
One of my favourite of your videos. I adore that car :)
Excellent Mr. Hubnut. Learnt so much there. Had no idea about the clutchless stop and start and as for the speedo operated wipers.....multi function interior light.....incredible. So many smart ideas. This is the definition of patina. Delightful. 😄👍
Wow, Ian, what a simplefied piece of art, I love it!
brilliant video,thanks once again Ian
7:52 I am so loving that gear lever linkage arrangement. They're clever these French - one nearly expects to have to put your hand through a hole in the bulkhead to change gear.
Being a lover of all things quirky,I really love this car.Very appreciative of the unrestored condition and this video.
Watching this is a wonderful start to the day. I now want one! Thank you.
Craziest wiper demonstration you've ever done. I'm sure you're correct about clutchless gear changes. My first Fiat Panda was a 1987 750L. It had the hammock rear seat and ultra thin washable front ones but those lift in lift out jobs are so cool. Loved the Pandas cos they had character like 2CVs. I agree with your summary Ian. Skinny, Tinny cars are very Charming. Slough built too amazing.
It's good to see the look of glee when Ian's in a 2CV. That definitely looked like a box well ticked. Hope you're surviving lockdown OK. It's certainly more entertaining watching some HubNut goodness. Many Thanks.
Love the speedo reacting to the wipers when they are turned on! Pure french. Love the video.
Fantastic driving segue, it was a master class . Keep safe
There's dozens of vintage cars I really, really like but the 2CV somehow manages to hold a very special place in my heart! One of my aunts used to drive one (green and white I think) until I was about five, then she replaced it with a super-boring red MK 2 Golf. An acquaintance of my parents used to drive a black and red Charleston all the way to Italy several times every summer well into the second half of the 90s and that model's been my absolute dream car ever since! Oh and perhaps the weirdest story is from Switzerland in the late 80s. My parents used to attend workshops in a rather luxurious conference centre built in the early 1900s, a stunning example of alpine art nouveau architecture! The place was bloody expensive, this being Switzerland, and quite elegant, but the owners drove a red and black Charleston! Their previous car, also a 2CV, was parked next to the Charleston, no longer registered and road-legal, and only used to haul the garbage down into the village once a week or so! It always had one or two black bin bags in the boot. That always seemed like the quaintest thing to do to me! Perhaps one of the reasons why I love the 2CV so much is my fondness for purring small engines. The Citroen two-cylinder just has a unique ring to it!
@nygelmiller5293
Жыл бұрын
To Ragnar. You like the purring of the engine? You can only say that because this engine is a proper 4-Stroke! Like the first Honda's, the 2 - cylinder rival to the Mini, etc. .Honda also had the sense to make all it's pizza delivery bikes 4 - stroke as well. FIFTY years ago now, my school took us on a week's trip to Berlin - when the Berlin wall was still up! The wall had stopped Berliners having contact with friends and family on the other side - and people had risked being shot, trying to get to the other side, to visit them! So regulations were relaxed and even us tourist were allowed to the other side FOR ONE DAY. I remember my eyes smarte d and watered the whole day in East Berlin. (I had hay fever, as it was). But the 2 - Stroke exhausts of East German cars made it much worse! Apparently, they had such engines in ALL Soviet countries, causing the same irritation. Apart from this problem, the 2 - Stroke engines sound uneven, like some kind of joke till they get to about 30 MPH. Citroen wisely never did have have a 2 - Stroke setup! Incidentally, I heard the present Fiat 500, the version with the 2 - Cylinder engine. Modern development improved the 2 - Cylinder engine so much, it sounded quiet, refined, and CHARACTERFUL! If I bought a new car, I would consider one myself!
What a lovely unrestored example ,lovely sounding engine which likes plenty of revs, really enjoyed this road test Ian .
What a little beauty. Love the floaty ride and that bonnet emblem is fab. The clutch is a brilliant idea. Cheers.
One of the early reviews pointed out that the shift pattern was ideal for urban driving, as the 2-3 change was straight-through fore and aft without any twisting of the knob (so to speak).
U didnt put up any other road tests last week but this one was worth the wait . . One of the most interesting road tests you have done..
That looked so much fun! I envy you :)
Highly entertaining Ian plus it was great watching you have such a good time .
Brilliant as always Ian, that one goes rather well, they do differ quite alot from the early French 2cv's, What a lovely little car, i now have an overwhelming desire to go for a drive in my early 2cv 🙂
I grinned all the way through this... thanks Ian! one of my fave reviews, along with the steam engine ride in Wales, and the tractors.. my husband and I (who has already commented) had a Dyane for many years when first married circa 1986 and we went everywhere including our honeymoon, she felt like our "pet" more than just a car! Such fun! and up the Brummies! (ex Silhillian's living in Espana!)
Great test drive, 2cvs look so fun to drive hope to have a spin in one eventually very jealous!
@FATFLASH00
4 жыл бұрын
when we are able to move around a bit more your quite welcome to come to Rutland and try mine{86 2CV6}it is up fore sale but I dont see it going before the end of the summer.FOSSILIZEDMAN.
Very charming, characterful car. Love the elegant simplicity of the steering wheel. Wonderful.
Very cool engineering 😍 Ozzy Elly is great 😎 we have clutch less gear changes in our Saab 95 V4 (except 1st). Our Allegro Estate 1.3HL Automatic is a floaty little wafter. Happy days indeed
Very much enjoyed the operation of the wind screen wipers, always my favorite part. I have never seen any that operate like that. My Cushman Truckster also has a centrifugal clutch along with manual over ride for gear changes. Very nice in heavy traffic. I also find myself without a basket of eggs from time to time when motoring about in a field. Love your channel, keep up the good work.
I think this has to be my favourite HubNut video!
Ahh, 55, what a great year, wont say why, cos i'll be giving my age away:¬) Luv the patina inside, great stuff Ian!
@aircrashtupolov7895
4 жыл бұрын
My thoughts exactly!! 😁
@RWBHere
4 жыл бұрын
Same here, Golfist. 😉
THE best 2cv video ever. congrats
All of the cars you drive yet this one is one of my favourites. 2cv's are just hard to beat for pretty much anything.
Basic is not the word! Designed with picnics in mind I think. Nice film.
Thanks for the ride in the car. I’ve just gotten interested in these 2CV’s, and wondered what it was like to be inside one that’s actually out on the road, or in a field. It looked like great fun.
Wonderful patina!
Love it! The 2CV are great little cars, I drove several, always wanted one but never achieved it. Great post.
My father had a 3CV when I was a child in Buenos Aires... Of course, it had not luxury details at all, not all the equipment we have nowadays, not the new materials the industry uses today, but... as you showed in the video, those cars were fantastic... And yours is a real jewell! To me, is still the better car I've ever seen or drove!
That’s awesome. Brilliant, as usual.
It was lovely to see you enjoying yourself so much there.
I absolutely love the interior/speedometre light. To be honest i love everything about this car.
Just started work on my parents 1988 model, many similarities but the suicide doors, hamock seats, no rear quarter glass make these so much cooler. Don't think the video came over anoraky, but your enthusiasm and enjoyment was clear!
That was brilliant! What a fantastic little car. My favourite features are the starter mechanism, the dis-engageable centrifugal clutch, the suspension inertia dampers and the windscreen wipers. That dual-purpose interior light is just genius. Also like the removable seats, doors and panels. Shame about the canvas roof. Wow this is one of your best videos Ian and many thanks for showing and explaining the car's workings. Since before college, I've always appreciated simple but such clever mechanical engineering solutions. Kind of reminds me of that story (urban myth) about the million dollar space pen v the humble pencil, I'm sure you get my drift.
Excellent! That looked like a lot of fun. I must try and get a drive in a 2CV after that
Ian another brilliant video that car was beautiful loved it amazing cars Citroen
A utterly delightful little car. Less is indeed more, espeically when it comes to the interior! Note to self: when one obtains a driving license, get oneself a shot of a 2CV irrespective of the decade in which it was built.
We can tell you are loving this test drive. 👍
...and here we see the ever entertaining Mr Hubnut in his natural enviroment disecting a car as only he knows how to. Good Job Sir
What a great car. Fascinating to compare with the later "fire breathing" models. Basic doesn't have to be boring. Thanks very much.
Great fun little car that is. I bet this car will still be around when our cars will be long gone.
Been hoping for a ripple to show up .... excellent work of making the most of it
Never seen the controls of such an early 2cv. It's bloody brilliant.
Amazing! I used to work on the Slough Trading Estate round the corner from the old Mars factory, in the 70s, which makes this presentation all the more interesting.
Thanks for this great video! The traffic-clutch was never meant for clutchless gearchanges, just for driving off