1964 - Citroën 2CV Sahara - Lot 10

1964 - Citroën 2CV Sahara The most legendary off-roader in French motoring history French registration Chassis n°0000678 Bodywork n°0005000028 Front engine n°05300029 Rear engine n°05300022 - Twin-engined 4X4 version of the iconic 2CV - One of only 694 produced - Rare spray-green paintwork, original engines and gearboxes - Well-known history and family car since 1978 - Recently restored by a model specialist - Very good overall condition, with original backrest and accessories A symbol of the French automobile, the 2CV is a particularly endearing car, as its long career can testify. The genesis of this venerable popular car is now the stuff of legend. Its prototypes were hidden in an attic during the Occupation. Once the war was over, studies resumed to take account of the scarcity of certain materials, and the 2-hp was presented to the public in 1948 at the Paris Motor Show. Enthusiasm was not immediate, however, as the car's extreme economy and design were criticized: no door lock, no fuel gauge, only one color... The car was clearly aimed at a rural audience. Particularly as certain materials, such as steel, were not so easy to find in the late '40s, leading to delivery delays. The reputation of the "ugly duckling" was established. Nonetheless, Citroën believed in its concept and, in the end, orders continued to flow in. It must be said that the decision to prioritize deliveries to country doctors and priests cleverly helped spread the word about this strange, high-set car: everyone wanted the "two-legged one"! A van was even presented in 1951, and was officially selected by the postal service to deliver mail. However, the 2 CV was still very rustic and uncomfortable. Improvements came with the new AZ version, featuring a 425 cm3, 12 hp engine, enabling the little car to cruise at 70 km/h. A "Luxe" version was even launched in 1956. It featured windshield defrosting, chrome parts, speedometer illumination and a larger soft-top window. This made the car better suited to urban traffic. It was a real success, and the car was produced for almost 10 years. However, this was only the beginning of a constant evolution that lasted until 1990, with almost 5 million units produced. It was in this context that, in the mid-1950s, Citroën became interested in the prototype of an industrialist from Normandy who, looking for a light all-terrain vehicle, had the idea of modifying a 2CV by fitting a second engine at the rear to make a four-wheel drive. The brand then improved the design with a view to mass production, with the prospect of outlets in the Sahara desert for the exploration and exploitation of oil deposits, which were booming at the time. The 2CV Sahara was born! Its all-wheel drive, combined with the 2CV's original qualities, gave it surprisingly good cross-country capabilities. Two 425 cm3 engines developing a total of 26 hp compensate for the extra weight of this model compared with the basic one. It's easily recognizable by the spare wheel on the hood, the fuel filler caps in the doors, the scalloped rear fenders, the stamped rear trunk and the air vents on the rear quarter windows, all of which give it a distinctive identity. However, its price was more than double that of an AZLP, so only 694 examples were produced. It is therefore a model as rare as it is legendary and sought-after. All the more so given that less than a hundred of them are thought to have survived. Our 2CV is an exceptional 4x4 "Sahara", launched on January 14, 1964. It is a mid-production model, still fitted with front suicide doors that open in the opposite direction to the direction of travel. It was delivered new by a Citroën agent in the Lozère département, before being acquired in 1977 by the Ricoux dealership in Grenoble, then sold to the grandfather of the current owners, who registered it in his own name in the same département of Isère in 1982. That's why it still bears its old registration number. After using it for several years on his travels as mayor of a small commune and career manager, when he died, the car remained in the family but was put away. This Sahara is not