Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Some nifty tech going on with this Morgan show car...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7265267.stm

R
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[47p2]

That does look interesting, I wouldn't mind a go in one.

The shape of things to come
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One of Britain's Fine Cars

[Old-Nail]

A green car that's fun to drive... look no further!

[Uncle Joe]

Though I'm not exactly known for my liking of french cars, one thought did hit me the other day. Surely a 2CV is the best car ever made for a family that lives in the city?

[Old-Nail]

Every household should have one UJ

The thing I like about them is that they show what can be done when a 'concept' car is actually produced without further dilution.

The tough design brief was met exactly, it is an absolute master class in lateral thinking relating to mechanical design, and they run perfectly happily in the polar circles or the Gobi desert without modification.

Simplicity in it's purest form becomes genius with these.

[Uncle Joe]

What made me think how good the 2CV is was actually looking at a Smart. Sure, that is a good city car, but it wont carry a family, doesnt have four doors, and probably isnt that much more economical either! Then I suppose there is the ''smile factor!''

Maybe the 2CV should be renamed Smart, and the Smart ''Dumb''????

[bob2]

Well I beleive the best city car to be the classic mini, seats 4, fun to drive, parking not a problem, the only downside is the suspension!!
much nicer to look at than any smart car!!

However I like 2cvs also, quite fun and with the full length sunroof are even greater fun during warmer months!!

[Old-Nail]

The 2cv has become a bit of a legend if only for it's adaptability to whatever it's owner required of it.

Originally designed as a 'peoples car' to mobilise the French peasants it had not only to provide adequate and economical transport for the family, but also carry out the role of the horse and cart it replaced!

Driven mostly on unmade country roads, and with minimal maintenance these cars proved themselves to be extremely rugged and adaptable, the nearest we Brits have had would perhaps be the series 1 Landrover.



In the 70's the car was still in service but often as a second vehicle as more alternatives had arrived, so while the 'main' car was used for the daily grind the little Citroen became the one to take on those pleasant everyday little jaunts.



The emphasis then was placed on fun, a truly versatile vehicle which is hugely enjoyable to drive!



Finally killed off in 1990 by the safety/emmisions/wrap people in cotton wool brigade there is now such a strong following that every single part can be found brand new from specialists and no car should ever need to be scrapped.

[Uncle Joe]

I suppose you know that Citroen have made a new concept car based on the 2CV?

[Old-Nail]

I've seen it - but you can't do it.

the New VW Beetle or Fiat 500 are pretty little retro styling exercises but I believe a car's design is a response to the era in which it is conceived.

The essence of the 2cv was bare bones simplicity, economy, low maintenance and running costs, and detachable everything to replace as necessary.

Any new car would have air con, electric windows, carpets as that is what people now expect. Imagine throwing your bale of hay and sack of cement in the new car before hosing out the interior and setting off back home again!

[Uncle Joe]

The same thing seems to be happening as well today with working vehicles, such as Pickups. Depending on the time of year, I want to be able to throw a bag of cement in the back, or maybe a newly shot elk, then just hose it down and not see any damage to worry about. Try doing that in some of the new ones!

[Old-Nail]

That's exactly it UJ, they are moving away from their original raison d'etre.

I have said before that of the 2cv's that I have owned which have ranged from the very scruffy to the immaculate, it is the scruffy ones that make the most sense.

I had an absolute beauty a couple of years back and I sold it on very quickly, simply because I didn't want to spoil it with use! The whole point of these things is that they are your 'all things to all men' inexpensive vehicle, to start mollycoddling them is pointless.

I've had everything in mine, remove the seats and pull back the roof and it's surprising what goes in...even a wardrobe and bunk beds!
Also when you think of the Paris culture of 'push parking' they were hardly ever seen intact when new.

Today we have Discoveries or Range Rovers that never leave suburbia and thus are as high spec interior as a Jaguar, in the days of the 2cv simplicity meant economy, and folk appreciated economy more back then than now it appears.

[pigtin]

All right I'm convinced, might even buy one, but had a Dyane once as a family runabout and it was a pig, some large cylindrical object, to do with the suspension, kept going chuff chuff! and there was terminal tinworm.
I was probably just unlucky.

Don.

[Uncle Joe]

The way I see things, I think ALL manufacturers have lost the plot with todays vehicles. Maybe one of the reasons we all like classics is that they are more practical than some of todays equivalents.

The thing that bothers me now, is that I'm beginning to like 2CV's....and they just wont work here in winter....

[Rick]