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Haha I imagine I am one of the few that frequent this site that have actually rebuilt a couple of these - happened back in the 80’s when I worked at a transmiss

Haha I imagine I am one of the few that frequent this site that have actually rebuilt a couple of these - happened back in the 80’s when I worked at a transmission shop. Even then it was an odd duck. Definitely brings back some fond memories of a simpler time with a whole lot less responsibilities.

narag 3y ago
Not sure if it was one of those, but we had a Citroën 2CV with a funny clutch mod. It still had a stick, but you could release the clutch careless or even just stop using it. One night I took a shortcut through a neighboring field. When I realized the rain had swamped it completely it was too late to stop. I was sure that the car would stall in a few meters, so it was a huge surprise that it just skated over 100 m of mud. Somehow the device drifted internally instead of letting the wheels spin on the mud. People was very happy with Land Rovers for the difficult country paths, but 2CV were superior and that one was superb.
- louky 3y ago
  Wasn't one of the design parameters for the 2CV being able to cross a field while not breaking eggs in a basket in the seat? Yep! https://silodrome.com/citroen-2cv-history/ https://silodrome.com/citroen-2cv-history/ and here's a clip from new-new Top Gear, I think I saw Jeremy or May do one years ago but can't find it sadly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTgwJ6pLHE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTgwJ6pLHE Not surprised yours skated across a muddy field.
  - narag 3y ago
    Not surprised yours skated across a muddy field. My father loved going hunting. The 2CVs were his secret weapon to reach very inaccessible places and he owned a handful over the years. But, trust me, none of them, except the modded one, would have passed that field.
- psd1 3y ago
  For those who've never experienced one: Navigating ploughed fields was part of the design brief for the 2CV (note for Americans: it's pronounced "der shev-VOH", not "2 C. V.") The light weight was the biggest factor in their performance in the mud. Those skinny wheels put a lot of circumference down. And the suspension travel was generous. On the road, the 2CV was a bouncy ride. I would not describe it as comfortable, but it was certainly not harsh - a 2CV will bounce you about but never jolt you. Dignity without gravitas, perhaps. If you ever meet an owner, ask for a ride. It's an experience. I adore them and would love to own one, although note that I'm not in the dating scene any more. And yes, Jay Leno has one.
  - narag 3y ago
    For "dating" it has a major caveat: the back seat has a metal bar in the middle that will make a fifth passenger feel very unconfortable during long travels. Also hard for... horizontal uses, but when there's a will, there's a way. Source: we owned three or four 2CV in my twenties (+ a Dyan 6 and a Mehari in my teens) so plenty of stress testing. The light weight was of course the key, but also the suspension. For countryside roads, the bouncing was actually pleasing, very much like sailing.

narag 3y ago

Not sure if it was one of those, but we had a Citroën 2CV with a funny clutch mod. It still had a stick, but you could release the clutch careless or even just stop using it. One night I took a shortcut through a neighboring field. When I realized the rain had swamped it completely it was too late to stop. I was sure that the car would stall in a few meters, so it was a huge surprise that it just skated over 100 m of mud. Somehow the device drifted internally instead of letting the wheels spin on the mud. People was very happy with Land Rovers for the difficult country paths, but 2CV were superior and that one was superb.

louky 3y ago
Wasn't one of the design parameters for the 2CV being able to cross a field while not breaking eggs in a basket in the seat? Yep! https://silodrome.com/citroen-2cv-history/ https://silodrome.com/citroen-2cv-history/ and here's a clip from new-new Top Gear, I think I saw Jeremy or May do one years ago but can't find it sadly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTgwJ6pLHE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTgwJ6pLHE Not surprised yours skated across a muddy field.
- narag 3y ago
  Not surprised yours skated across a muddy field. My father loved going hunting. The 2CVs were his secret weapon to reach very inaccessible places and he owned a handful over the years. But, trust me, none of them, except the modded one, would have passed that field.
psd1 3y ago
For those who've never experienced one: Navigating ploughed fields was part of the design brief for the 2CV (note for Americans: it's pronounced "der shev-VOH", not "2 C. V.") The light weight was the biggest factor in their performance in the mud. Those skinny wheels put a lot of circumference down. And the suspension travel was generous. On the road, the 2CV was a bouncy ride. I would not describe it as comfortable, but it was certainly not harsh - a 2CV will bounce you about but never jolt you. Dignity without gravitas, perhaps. If you ever meet an owner, ask for a ride. It's an experience. I adore them and would love to own one, although note that I'm not in the dating scene any more. And yes, Jay Leno has one.
- narag 3y ago
  For "dating" it has a major caveat: the back seat has a metal bar in the middle that will make a fifth passenger feel very unconfortable during long travels. Also hard for... horizontal uses, but when there's a will, there's a way. Source: we owned three or four 2CV in my twenties (+ a Dyan 6 and a Mehari in my teens) so plenty of stress testing. The light weight was of course the key, but also the suspension. For countryside roads, the bouncing was actually pleasing, very much like sailing.