77 Years Ago, Citroën Unveiled the 2CV, the Car of the French People
This page is translated from the original post "Il y a 77 ans, Citroën dévoilait la 2CV, la voiture du peuple française" in French.
- 07/10/2025 9:38
On October 7, 1948, at the Grand Palais in Paris, Citroën unveiled a car that was destined to become a legend: the 2CV.
Citroën held the secret of a minimalist, rational yet profoundly bold car designed to motorize post-war France. Seventy-seven years later, it still embodies a certain idea of popular ingenuity and freedom.
The story of the 2CV begins before the war. In 1936, Pierre Boulanger, then head of Citroën, launched the “TPV” project, for Very Small Car. The specifications were clear: four seats, 60 km/h top speed, and… capable of crossing a field with a basket of eggs without breaking a single one! The war interrupted the project, but the idea survived in the drawers. From 1948, Citroën revived the project to meet the needs of a still largely rural France with limited motorization.
Citroën’s Magic
The public then discovered a true automotive UFO: undulating bodywork, removable canvas seats, fabric roof, and an air-cooled two-cylinder engine. The laughter at the exhibition didn’t prevent its success. A few years later, waitlists grew longer, and the 2CV became a symbol of a France moving towards modernity.
Its simplicity is its strength. Easy to repair, economical in use, adaptable to all terrains, the “Deuche” established itself in the countryside, then conquered the cities. It accompanied students during May 68, missionary priests in Africa, adventurers on desert trails. Produced in over 5 million units between 1948 and 1990, it crossed decades without losing its soul.
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Even today, the 2CV remains a monument of French industrial heritage. A true collector’s item, it attracts enthusiasts from around the world, symbolizing an era when the car was meant to be simple, ingenious, and accessible to all. At a time when the automotive industry is reinventing itself through electric and digital innovations, the 2CV reminds us of a timeless truth: innovation is not always about sophistication but often about simplicity.
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