Citroen: Cars 1934-1986, 2CV Complete Catalogue & How To Restore 3 Book Set

Of all the French car manufacturers, Citroën has the most enthusiastic following. During the half-century covered by this book, it produced the most technologically advanced cars of the time, including the Traction Avant, 2CV, DS and SM.

This handy full-colour guide has individual chapters devoted to each of these models, together with the Ami, GS, CX, BX and the first models produced under Peugeot’s ownership. UK-built models and car-derived vans are included.

Each chapter provides an introduction to the design and evolution of each model, as well as detailed technical information. Production numbers and dates are given, and there are details of special coachbuilt versions and limited editions. The guide is illustrated in full colour, with recent and archive photographs. Dashboard instrument layouts and gearchange patterns are also shown.

Julian Parish is an experienced professional author and translator who has written on many makes of car, but his first car was a Citroën Dyane. He has lived in France for 25 years and has followed the marque at car shows and museums throughout the country.
 

The Citroën 2CV was designed to bring affordable motoring to rural communities in France, but during a production run that spanned more than four decades it achieved far more than that. When already 25 years old, it presented an affordable solution to increasing fuel costs after the first Oil Crisis, and gained a legion of new devotees as a result. To help maintain its sales in this era, Citroën created a number of colourful special editions, which in some cases were specific to just one country, and in others differed between one country and the next.

Along the way, the 2CV also became the foundation for a whole family of other small Citroëns, which were known collectively as the A-series models. The Ami, the Dyane and the Méhari provided simple and affordable passenger transport, and both these and the 2CV itself were further developed to provide light commercial vehicles as well. Meanwhile, licensed overseas assembly plants developed their own derivatives, which added further colour and interest to the 2CV story.

There were far more varieties of these cheap and cheerful Citroëns than most people realise, and this book aims to catalogue them in an easily accessible format. It begins with an examination of the 2CV’s origins in the 1930s and then follows the evolution of the production cars before going on to look at the Ami, Dyane and Méhari models, in every case detailing the multiple special editions as well as the mainstream types. There are special chapters on the commercial derivatives, on the less well-known variants that were built in Europe, and on those created far from the car’s French home. The book closes with a look at the aftermarket conversions and accessories that became an important part of the 2CV story from the earliest times.

For all those who love the A-series Citroëns as the factory or its outposts made them, this will be both an essential reference book and a constant source of fascination.

All the information needed to rebuild your 2CV in step-by-step detail, supported by over 1500, mainly colour illustrations. Covers body, trim and mechanical restoration, and gives advice on what to look for when buying a car or van, and originality guidance (colour schemes and production changes).

Independent Reviews 

Considering the number of A series cars that Citroen managed to sell over the years, it was about time that someone came up with a restoration book for their enormous number of devoted fans around the world. The possibility of disappointment was always there of course, but thankfully, Lindsay Porter, the author, is adept at both choosing the most pertinent points and explaining them in a down to earth manner that encourages even the mechanically inept to delve deeper into the mechanical mysteries that combine to make the allure of the Deuche what it is.

This softback book has 272 pages crammed with over 1400 illustrations, which are a mix of line drawings and clear, well lit colour photographs, that address areas often ignored by a traditional workshop manual, hence gems like gearbox unwinding, its prevention and cure, plus an emergency tip too, should it strike in the middle of nowhere.

There is the expected re chassising and engine work, but also weekend projects like fitting electronic ignition ( 2 types) or changing kingpins. Fitting a new hood or seat covers for example, may be a moments work to the experienced, but could seem daunting for the first timer, but the procedures are laid out in a clear, easy to follow manner. For the more adventurous, there is a full body tub restoration to get your teeth into.

There is something to interest owners, both current and would be, expert and novice, on every page and this new volume is an essential addition to any 2cv lovers book shelf.