1967 Hoffman Citroën 2CV - Jay Leno's Garage
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- Опубликовано: 7 мар 2021
- This Citroen Deux Chevaux had its body modified by Wolfgang Hoffman and formerly belonged to an Ambassador to the United Nations.
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Hosted by legendary comedian and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, the series explores our obsession with all things automotive. From classic cars to supercars and everything in-between, Jay is hitting the road to discover the most exciting, weird and wonderful vehicles ever made and meet the passionate people behind their wheels. Each one-hour themed episode features a mix of stunts, challenges, reviews, and celebrity interviews that showcases the colorful history of the automobile. Whether he’s exploring the story of an iconic brand, road-testing the newest super car, or investigating the latest automotive innovations, there is no wheel Jay won’t get behind to tell the story of our love affair with the car.
About Jay Leno: Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist…it’s no wonder that Jay Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”
1967 Hoffman Citroën 2CV - Jay Leno's Garage
• 1967 Hoffman Citroën 2...
Jay Leno's Garage
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“Any car that makes me smile is good”. That says it all.
Love how he has nothing but genuine appreciation for it while there are a couple of Bugattis waiting their turn in the background, haha.
@@mopsnuf this is because he’s not a poser, he’s a real car enthusiast, he appreciates all, even the cheap ones, the odd ones, and the most ridiculous ones... not only the top ones, or fastest ones, or more expensive ones. This is one of the reasons why I like to watch him.
@@Spidouz Very well said.
I have a 1986 Excalibur that I drive occasionally. I have more fun watching peoples reactions than I do driving the car. It just brightens peoples days.
Other RUclipsrs are mortgaging their houses to buy used Lambos. Jay is showing off a free, unrestored Citroën and is happy as a clam. There’s a lesson in there, kids.
*coughHooviecough* ;)
@@billthompson2478 The Kanas COVID super-spreader?
@@olliewebbuk I don't know about the Covid angle, but he certainly has been buying the Lambos recently.
I can weigh in on this, I got a free unrestored abandoned Citroen only a couple of weeks ago.
It's not a 2CV, it's a rotten BX with a hydraullic leak, but still, I'm enjoying it. There's less of them left now than most supercars, and they're still so different from anything else. The hydraullics is a challenge but one that I think can be overcome.
@@olliewebbuk Thats definitely WatchJRGo. Dude never masks up.
I just love how the Citroen engineers were completely unbothered with how things were done in every other car in the world, and just found their own solutions.
That's what you call engineering
@@kieron82 There's a great old saying "The French copy no one and no one copies the French."
@@snowblindxxsupernaut Funny but wrong. Citroën iconic hydropneumatic suspension was licensed by Rolls-Royce, Audi, Mercedes among others.
@@babelbabel2419 "licensed" DOES NOT MEAN "invented". "Licensed" means "borrowed with permission (and a fee)".
@@arcanondrum6543 I guess you misunderstood my point. And the capitalization was a bit over-the-top. Citroen invented that suspension and was holding the ip. Therefore they could license it to other manufacturers, meaning Citroen could issue a license to those companies. Is it more clear now? Don't forget to breathe :)
Thanks for this pleasant report on this fantastic car. The 2CV was cheap and indestructible, really. There are still 2CV clubs in Europe, especially in the Netherlands where there are a lot of fans. Let me tell you a fun fact: some 20 years ago (I'm an old man now ...) I had sold a car a little too early while the next one was not yet available, so I had a problem. To fill the gap I bought a used 2CV (about 15 years old) and I paid 6000 FF (about 900€ today) for it (I'm French). I used it about 6 months, until I got my new car and then I went to a garage, specialized in 2CV, to see if they could come with a reasonable offer. They told me: well, we can sell it 12,000 FF and our commission will be 3000 FF.
Not cheap but I accepted. Within 1 month the car was sold as foreseen and I got 9000 FF so that I made a profit of 3000 FF! It's the only used car I ever had whose price increased by 50% in 6 months! But it was a 2CV ...
- By the way, 2CV has nothing to do with 2 cylinders: it's the abbreviation for "2 chevaux" which means "2 Horses" (understood 2HP) in reference to a tax which was depending on the size of the car, the power, etc ... Obviously it was not the actual power of the engine, but a "fiscal power" to calculate the tax. In fact the car was named after its tax level : 2HP, in French 2CV (the minimum). As an example the DS 21 (Citroën) was rated "9 CV" while the engine produced 109HP SAE.
- Regarding the rumors you mentioned about the basket of eggs: that's true, it was really part of the car specifications and it became a selling point later on.
- You didn't mentioned the ashtray this time: there is one in the 2CV (I'm kidding)
- The French just think differently ... Well it's fun and friendly and I wish it were true but I think Citroën was definitely thinking differently, not the French (although ...)
Best Regards
quand tu regardes tout ce qu'on construit ça peut aller de l'avion de chasse à la voiture on pense différemment ce n'est pas que dans l'automobile dans l'armement les américains font souvent la blague "les Français ne copient personne et personne ne copie les Français"
I think Jay you can stop apologizing - these episodes are fantastic
I agree 100%!
Totally agree, the episodes have a more personal feel
This is much better. We really don't care about the guests. No offense but that's the truth.
Jay Leno, like a good movie, doesn't need special effects.
"It puts a smile on my face" - mine to. Cheers J
"Any car that makes me smile is good." What great line and so true.
The way the suspension works is actually ingenious- it has rear trailing arms and front leading arms, so the front and back are basically mirrors of each other. The genius part is that they’re interconnected- as the front wheel hits a bump and the leading arm goes up, the shock and spring on the front stretch, but since they’re connected to the rear spring as a mirror, the canister with the springs is pushed towards the back, compressing the rear shock and spring, lifting the rear leading arm up and softening the rear wheel. The result is that when the front hits a bump, the rear wheel which will soon hit the same bump is predictively softened resulting in a almost completely smooth and totally level ride even over the roughest terrain. The soft suspension isn’t a handling or safety issue either- the unique setup made even the cargo versions impossible to roll in a corner. Add in the front wheel drive, and you’ve got a car that holds the road in corners on both pavement and snow BETTER the tighter the turn until it understeers gracefully. Fully loaded, the track got wider and actually made the ride even more comfortable. Truly one of the best examples of success through thinking outside the box.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us :)
I was educated a mechanic, in a Citroen garage in Denmark in the early 80ies, and my second car was a 1979 2CV Club, at that time, the engine produced a fierce 30 Horse power ;) But there was little ways of making tune ups, i.e. change the alternator to a Bosh, instead of the original, that saves around 2 -4 horsepower :)
The 2CV I had, was originally beige, but I took it apart and had it painted red like a firetruck, with white bumpers, wheels and white roof. BTW. Disassembling a 2CV into atoms takes about 4 hours for one person.
A sales gimmick in the early 80ies was The 2CV now comes with a cigarette lighter !! a Ronson lighter was laying in the glovecompartment, (read: an open shelf in the rh side of the dashboard ) when people bought a new 2CV ;))
As you mentioned in the video, all 4 wheels are independent suspended, but what you can't see in the video, above the frame, there is a "tube" that connects the suspension arms, one in the front, and one in the back, it holds the bearings for the wheel arms, and in side there is a torsion bar. The steering is rack and pinion. Even if it looks crazy, you can actually force the 2CV through corners so the inner tire lifts 30cm off the ground, but the car won't roll over.
I am babbling on here LOL once I get started I can't stop... I wish I never sold the one I had, finding a good 2CV now a days, is quite costly.. it has become a collectors item.
Thanks again for this wonderful video :)
Slipses, you were doing OK...
Until you mentioned torsion bars inside the axle tubes. ;)
Memories from England and Europe:
Yes the cornering was alarming to see but quite dependable and safe apparently. I never saw one spin out or rollover - unlike the dreaded Morris Marina!!
Great little car
It's considered a valuable car nowadays in the Netherlands.
@@ezandman6804 same in Denmark, they are hard to come by now a days
My father died a month ago. He had a Citroen Traction Avant for decades, his most treasured possession. He would have loved this film. Thank you Jay for bringing him back to me for a short while and thank you from him for the Traction always in the background.
He did a vid on the TA a few months ago.
I feel ya. Lost my own father last year... he adored French cars, and would have been thrilled to learn that Jay had owned a 404. My father owned a handful of Peugeots, including a couple of 404s.
A French friend of mine here is restoring one, which once belonged to his grandfather, a total restoration costing 25000 euros, can't wait to see it, I drove one in Australia when young!
Thank the lord that Jay has interesting, quirky cars, not just muscle cars and motorcycles.
It is refreshing that there are enthusiasts who like a variety of vehicles. I have enjoyed Jay's videos for many years.
Jay is exactly how i would be with millions. Odd cool cars. The young kids on youtube who become millionaires and buy ferrari's and lambos drive me crazy. They have no taste just they think they will appear cooler/higher class by buying hypercars. But in reality if you really love driving a hypercar is not the car you always want. Driving slow cars fast is more fun than driving fast cars fast. Plus a tesla puts ANY hypercar to shame as far as seat of the pants acceleration feel. Man wish i had money id have a collection like Jays rally cars, odd non desirable cars, just anything different or fun. But i will say my DREAM car is a type37 bugatti. Something ill likely never even get near let alone drive. Feŕrari's lambos eh ive been around/in/drove some and while yes they r amazing i like the old lambos and the 80s ferrari's.
Jay is the true car guy. He loves everything that's interesting. Not only super powerful or luxurious cars.
I love when he says stuff like “ there’s about 5 known to exist “ 👍🏼
Had 3 2cv's in my life. That driving experience is unique. You can drive it with the gas pedal floored all day long. People used to put a brick on it as a "cruise control" device when driving it on the long, lonely country roads here in Argentina. With the 602cc engine you could reach 70mph and keep it there for hours.
My mother used to have two 2CVs in Finland. This is the car I learned to drive with. It was a great car in summer and in winter! Perfect car to drive in snow with studded winter tires.
As a kid, my uncle had a red one (original 4 door one)... I remember going in it with the convertible top open in the late 90's... Then it just was parked and forgotten... But I could never forget about it, so when I got my license in 2012 I bought the Dyane-6 version of it, and have been daily driving it forever... Not just for going arround town, I've made long trips with it, gone to other countries, gone off roading, loaded it with a cast iron Torqueflite transmission and driven it in the highway with all that weight in it... It is a mostly trouble free car due to its simplicity, having a correct oil level and gas is all you need to go anywhere, I put an electronic ingnition to it and... There's nothing more reliable than my little car. Never the fastest, not an expensive car, not many things... But one of the very few classics you can daily drive or even use to work today, for very few money. I have many other cars, but if I had to choose one... This simple machine is the one that gives back the most.
I find the oddball cars much more interesting than the exotics. Thanks Jay.
Same here.
“Any ... that makes me smile is good” - Truer words never spoken!😀
I met Jay when I was in college back in the 90's at a small luxury hotel in Houston where I worked as valet and bell hop. He chatted with me and the other guys just like he presents himself in these videos. He's a very friendly, down-to-earth guy. Keep it up Jay, you're a legend.
The cars are great but the one true priceless thing is Jay Leno himself.. I wish he could live forever. 😪
You can stop touching yourself now
These videos will insure he does.
The new Peugeot is awesome!!! Jay Leno, you are a TRUE hero to me. I have watched you since I was young. I had a bad, Rough Childhood. I seen things most people only read about. You inspired me to stay motivated. That's why you are a HERO to me. I hope to meet you some day. Thank you very much for being who you are...The steam car you have "Howrd Hughes" had is my favorite....This one is just as rare....
You might want to write and ask him. I wrote him (snail mail then) back in '92 or '93, when he was hosting the Tonight Show, and asked for an autograph. He sent me an autographed 8" x 10" picture and a personal note. Hella nice of him. There are no guarantees, of course, but it costs nothing to ask. And considering what he did for that lying kid who wrote Jay asking for a ride to school in his Countach, he can be very generous.
We love Peugeot here in Northern Ireland - as a recovery operator I would have nothing to do if it weren't for Peugeot!
The car horn sounded like the road runner at the beginning of the video. LOL Meep Meep!
Ha ha. So true!
I have a 3cv sounds like you say the road runner.. 100%
We are begining to prefer these pandemic editions as they are so personal to Jay. The original 2CV was developed before the war. Prototypes were hidden from the Nazis in barns. Some were discovered many years afterwards.
Reminds me of what a pal said when he first rode in my ‘77 Mini: “Wow, it’s got a heater and everything.”
i love these ' pandemic editions' .. it really feels like Jay is saying ' hey check this vehicle out ' then giving you a one to one guided tour & history lesson
one day these videos will be standard for car history documentation.
The 2CV is better than most cars offroad and on snow. It can drive almost everywhere, slowly but everywhere.
A 2CV Charleston (Black and Burgundy) was my wedding car. I love it.
Jay is so nice and down to earth, doesn't get upset when people say hi to him on the road while he's trying to talk about the car
Really classy guy
i wouldn't mind, if jay kept the 'pandemic edition' after the restrictions are over...
@@ronvalley1973 I'll tell you when it's gonna be over, when the next elections are over. And if they lose in the next election it'll be the election after that. And if they lose in the election after the election it'll be the election after that. And if they lose in the election after the election after the election... well you get the idea.
@@mosipd yall gonna be real surprised when the pandemic is over in probably less than a year.
You can’t survive without feeling attacked.
@@cstrutherskgs Let's see how well this comment ages. I'm not the gambling sort but I'd be willing to wager you're wrong.
@@mosipd I’ll take that bet.
@Tim Rombouts moron? have you looked in the mirror little boy? here comes mother! get off her puter, now!
The 4x4 2CV with the front and rear engine was called the Sahara.
And is very expensive now
@@ForeverNeverwhere1 excellent
Citroën also made a Méhari. A utility body on a 2CV chassis, similar to VW's Thing and the Mini Moke.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_M%C3%A9hari
The Sahara sounds like one heck of a gay 4x4.
@@scott2296sounds French!
More Smiles Per Mile...
Joyous motoring.
As Jay says... It has everything you need and nothing you don't.
2023 is the 75th anniversary of the 2CV.
Over 45 years I have owned 3 new 2CVs which I brought home to Australia. Total 550,000 kms make friends every you go. Huge FUN.
My dad used to drive 2CV's. I love the distinctive sound of that engine. Very nostalgic for me.
True story. A friend of mine worked at a gasstation at a Ciroën dealership in the Netherlands. One day I wend to hang out a bit and walked through the showroom. There was a NEW 2CV there that had RUST on the ventilationpanel under the windshield! Rust was the killer of most 2CVs.
After a car is built its often stored outdoors both at the factory and in a port area in a foreign land. I have heard several stories of car being brand new and having rust when customers get them home.
We used to say in Germany "that model was still get rust in the advertising sheet"
Rust was an issue with Citroen up to the 70's. Only after Peugeot 's takeover Citroën could upgrade their factories with more modern rust-proofing techniques. You can easily tell it because for example CX model 1 are prone to rust but CX II are much less.
Obviously for the 2CV Peugeot didn't made the investment. In fact one of Peugeot's first move to sanitize Citroën's financial health was to try to clean the Citroen line-up that was cluttered with 2CV derivatives : The AMI series was axed in 1978, the Dyane which was intented as the 2CV replacement, axed in 1983. But despite Peugeot's best (worst?) efforts, the 2Cv was simply Citroen's breadwinner, until the introduction of the BX and the Visa (the BX wasn't a 2CV replacement but it raked a load of money).
Peugeot's own efforts, the LN and the LNA, which are pretty much a 104 with a 2CV engine, were respectable but certainly not the success they hoped.
But bottomline is : Peugeot could have avoided those nasty rust issues, at least from 1980 onward, but choose not to on purpose.
5:08 the Renault 4 and 5 also have this kind of shifter. It's called a "revolver shifter"
Or parachute shifter. If you turned it upside down, (the shifter) you could actually use the ashtray :-) .
In the Netherlands we call this an 'umbrella shifter'. How appropiate for a convertible 😀
Have driven a citroen 3cv, a renault 4, and a Citroen Ami 8. Funest cars ive driven
We called it umbrella shifter and my aunt insisted on that type of car ( Citroen 2Cv6 & Dyana, Renault R4 ) because she hanged her purse on that shifter to be close to her hand.
Great car! My first car was in 1969 when I was 17. I paid $75 for a 1959 Peugeot 403 that a soldier brought back to Amarillo from Viet Nam. I drove that car that golden summer and sold it for $110 when my family moved to Seattle.
When I was young (70s) my aunt drove a 2CV We would go out on tours and I can still remember the incredible lean in the corners and the specific 2 cylinder sound it made. This video took me back to very good times and fond memories. Thanks Jay!
Thank you again for the "pandemic edition" episodes. Immensely enjoyable to watch :). Any chance we could see an episode of the Panhard CD there in the background?
To be precise, it has an aircooled 2 cylinder 'flat twin' (boxer motor) with 600cc. As a young kid I always recognised the special sound it made when these things crossed my street in Antwerp, Belgium. Again, great job, Jay, I love to watch your programm!
Jay: A whole new series, ''what's out back''
A girlfriend in Germany had a standard 2CV and we drove it to Spain and Italy over the course of a year. The retractable top, fuel consumption and general fun in driving it made it a special experience. So light and off road worthy that I was able to push it out of as stream we got stuck in in Sardinia with minimal effort. A great memory and i loved it.
This is what cars should be about, inexpensive, good looks, easy to fix, fun to drive & it makes people SMILE. I'd love to have one.
I've seen this Hoffman in the background many times and as an owner of a regular 2CV, it was great to see it being featured - Thanks Jay
In Europe nobody ever did see Jay Leno on TV, but he is well known and respected as youtube-star. No snob, no Idiot like Jeremy Clarkson. Great Man!
The car doesn't need safety roll bars because it can't tip over! Genius suspension system. The designers focused on the eggs not breaking on a farm dirt road, they didn't care if the car's human passengers broke.
That is a beautiful car, I've never seen one.
I never owned a 2CV, but in The Netherlands I worked for a restaurant, my young supervisor had a 2CV and he would send me off to run errands all the time and let me drive his. They are so much fun to drive, they are like a four wheeled moped. In the Netherlands, circa 1978, if, after getting your driver's license, you had no money to buy a car, about $200 would get you a used 2CV and you'd be on wheels. They all came already damaged but you couldn't damage them more. It never reached the point that they wouldn't drive anymore, as far as that type of damage is concerned they are indestructible.
I live in England and had 2 of the 2CVs back in the 80s. Loved them. As you say fun to drive and so many inovations. The suspension is amazing, when you brake the car doesn't nose dive because the front pulls the back down with that quirky system of shockers and springs. Also it had driver adjustable head lights which was quite something for a 1930s design.
FYI, adjustable lights were (and still are, but those day it's automatic) a requirement in France, I don't know when it started. Probably afterward since older cars like the Traction have fixed headlights, even after war models if I recall right.
Also early 2CV prototypes only had one headlight (because oriiginally it was meant to be classified as a quad (as in a 4 wheeled motorbike). So while alot of the design is prewar, the headlights are post-war.
This is the reason why the headlights are affixed on a straight bar, instead of being bolted on the wings : you adjust both of them with a single and simple system, not need to have two wires to tilt both with all the possible issues with one headlight not being level with the other, etc... Another exemple of genius in simplicity.
Had to be rescued on the highway in Belgium, years ago, when the engine of my brother's 2CV conked out on me. As teenagers, we used to drive them really hard, the bodywork leaning over like crazy. the engine could usually take a lot of punishment.
Being only two cylinders, I bet if one cylinder quit firing, while driving, you would be in a situation where the remaining, firing cylinder would not suffice to make it back home. Interesting car though. Fred
@@electronicengineer But in this case you grab a Handful of simple Tools out of the trunk and fix Carb or Ignition right now cause this is all that can fail. While modern stuff still waits for a haul you´re back on the road in an instant.
@@derkameramann Yes, since the aircooled engine is "service friendly", I can appreciate an average guy rolling up his sleeves and swapping out a spark plug, or an ignition related component; ie: ignition wire, distributor cap, etc. It was a simpler time, when this car and the VW Beetle, come to think of it, was created. A typical handy guy, with some general knowledge about his car's engine, would be able to overcome such failures on the side of the road. I am not sure that today's, computer controlled engines offer anywhere near the level of "do it yourself" repair/maintenance opportunities. Forces me to consider that these days of "service friendly" vehicles are long gone and will not be coming back either. Thank you Camaraman, for the nice conversation! Guten tag! Fred
Oh yeah! I had destroyed 3 of those back in my youth! Broken chassis, engines, gearboxes....but I change everything by my self! Easy to work on!
@@electronicengineer Jep. Good old days. Not very friendly to the enviroment but serviceable. Have a good day too, Fred. :-)
It is with the "dodoche" of my grandfather that I learned to drive (even across the fields but completely involuntarily).
A slate blue 1956.
This car went everywhere, in the mud, the ruts, the snow of the Pyrenées mountains.
If you have the key to remove the wheels, know that you can completely disassemble the car with this single key.
I had 3 of them in Argentina. The engine is air cooled and if you put the heating on, what you doing is just channelling the the hot air inside the car. It has the best car heating system ever, you can travel across Patagonia in winter and you won't be cold.
Love the Citroën 2CV the "ugly duck"!
VW thing for me fits that description better, and I love it too.
Thank you, thank you! I was one of those "what's that sweet two-tone drop top?" folks. Interesting to compare it to VW chassis with different bodies. My first car was a Bug, and I still have a soft spot for little cars with little engines, like this one. Thanks again for making US smile!
This guy's so chilled and natural. Bet he was a great sales man in his early career. Love all things old Citroën.
Yes! A million thanks Jay, I can’t believe you made a video on this 2cv that was calling for attention for so many episodes! Vive la 2cv!!! Thank you 🙏🙏🙏
Yes, was very excited to see it. I've had three. Used to drive them around Europe, including over the Alps. Wonderful cars.
It has a unique sound. A car cannot be simpler, you needed that to keep the French farmers happy. But it has incredible road holding and indeed this means a different lifestyle. My daughter went into one recently and she loved it.
The headlights are attached to a horizontal bar. Can be tilted by a lever. Compensates for suspension under load.
Yes, and it is a need, because elsewhere the headlights light up the sky, under the load.
I had a Peugeot 1969 404 for 7 years. It brought me and my parents from Sydney to Adelaide, various trips from Adelaide to Melbourne, back to Sydney and many other places. Gave us no trouble at all, comfortable and reliable. One of the few cars that I have regretted parting with. We are now on our 10th Peugeot, but the later ones are not as comfortable as the older, rear wheel drive ones.
Never get wrapped up in spec sheets and performance drive it because it makes you smile, that goes for motorcycles as well!!
Citroën is one of my favourite car manufacturers. They always did things in their own, quirky, French way. Thanks for the spotlight on the weird puppy in the pack!😛
To say Jay loves cars is just a beginning.
Raise your hand if you're like me and think the only good thing about the continued lockdowns is Jay continues to put out this style of video. I actually hope he doesn't go back to the old style when this is all over.
I would buy this if offered like new, with two cylinders minimalist style. Citroen was always ahead in suspension work. Great video, love it.
Well... You really can... Each and every part of them is still being made, so you can buy a restored one that the only old thing in it would be the vin number... Chassis are being built, complete engines, each and every rubber part, full bodies, rims, suspension, glass, interiors, etc...
If they offered this complete new with a simple 4 banger for double horse power, simple automatic trans(older I get the less I want to drive stick), and good manual convertible top for those just in case moments it's too cold, or pop up thunderstorm, and then sell it for under say $15K I'd buy one in a minute for driving around town, groceries, etc..
heard that both cylinders fire at the same time for some strange French reason.
The suspension is great as long as you don't mind body roll. The weight transfer to the outside cornering wheels through one spring makes for terrifying moments for drivers following you because the 2CV always looks like it is threatening to tip over. In truth, the super narrow tyres will break traction & understeer before it will flop. This is not a performance car, but boy are they fun.
@@vk2aafhamradio Body roll is quite alarming on winding country roads, they can lean over a long way with all 4 wheels on the ground.
Jay I'll take a cheap weird car in the back of the garage over an expensive exotic any day because it's something unique that I could get.
I'm so glad you didn't restore this car and actually drive it. Cleaned, repaired, used. What vehicles like the 2CV were meant for. It isn't intuitive to shift but that's called character. Not a bad thing. "The cheap stuff is just as cool as the expensive stuff." Agreed. Fun is fun. This Hoffman is an oddity and it's awesome. On a separate note I love that you acknowledge fans honking and calling out to you while you drive around and actually put that into your videos.
Jay... YOU and the car are treasures. No posing, etc. you are what you are.
AND many times, you are US.
Merci Jay for posting this ....brought back some high school memories as my older brother and I had to share one of these for a few years...not that version just a simpler 2cv4 sedan from 1977 but what a great car it was.It took us everywhere in France including in the Alpes...there were no better cars on snow. Thanks again for sharing Mr Leno.
I like the episodes you do on your own. Feels more like a buddy showing around his cars.
Great to see such innovative engineering featured on the show, only two gears in the engine, freeze assembled crankshaft with no big end bolts, no distributor, one spark at TDC and exhaust, 4 wheel independent suspension, rack and pinion steering, inboard front wheel brakes, handbrake on front wheels, 4 wheel hydraulic brakes, removable seats for picnics, sun roof, camshaft drives contact breaker, oil pump and fuel pump, oil cooler, front wheel drive, no transmission tunnel, flat floor front and back etc etc...............all features launched 73 years ago in 1948!!!!!!
The British magazine, 'car', would consistently include this standard 4-dr, metal body, sedan 2CV, in its Top 10 cars on the market. Simple, comfy and _oozing_ with charm.
Story from the Netherlands: My father had a 2CV AZAM in the early seventies and drove it with my mother to her sisters wedding on a windy day. It did not have the power to keep the speed up against the wind on the motorway so they arrived late at the wedding. My grandfather did not appreciate this at all.
haha great history! the wind is a enemy for 2cv.
I've had it explained that the longitudinal spring transmitted the movement of the front wheel to the back wheel to even out the ride.
Correct, Jay doesn't mention, but you can see, the front and rear are interconnected.
This is true, but it rather assumed the back wheel was going to cross the same terrain as the front, which ain't necessarily so, you might hit a pothole or old brick with a front wheel mid bend but, in reality miss it with the rears.
Rear wheel however, reacts as if it had, so, didn't catch on lol....not a great aid to stability
The front leading and rear trailing arms actually pulled on the ends of a coil spring that was inside the steel cylinder he showed underneath on each side. It had great suspension travel and was a ball to drive off-road !!!
i want to see an explanitory diagram of this suspension . it seems like such a good idea
@@kellygable1668 Google 2CV suspension and you'll find varied resources, including diagrams. Due to the suspension design the car is impossible to roll, despite having massive roll.
I spent the summer of 72 in Central France, between HS and college. The family I stayed with owned an original bodied one and the two older brothers and I took twoctrips in it to go sight seeing and camping. We went to Esangesuw ( sp?, its been almost 50 yrs!l and to the shores of Lac Lemain ( Lake Geneva). I smacked my head on the roof and my but on the floorboards a couple of times! Never did figure out the shifting pattern watching them drive! Good memories! Thanks!
When I was young I learned to drive a Citroën 2 CV and my first car was a magnificent 1976 Pallas car, I regret them. thank you for this report
Vive la France et Paris
Thanks for finally reviewing a 2CV. I have a 1984 (her name is Marie Claire). She has the big engine 602cc with the 2 barrel carb. Likes to cruise at 50 to 55mph.
"Vive la France"indeed, mon ami, this 'duckling' is great!
Respek
🦆
12:36 “I mean it’s Not Fast...But it’s Not Slow” 🤣😂👍.
I was surprised he never called it a "duck", it seems like most people in Europe called them that. I don't know if the name stuck, after they were converted with that fancy kit body. ?
@@barrykaine6526 Here in the Netherlands we call the standard version a “lelijke eend “ which means an “ugly duck”. Never saw one of these before though.....
“ Duck “ is derived from the name “ Deuche” which was its French nickname. It was a shortening of the two words Deux Chevaux ( 2 HP )
I had two 2CV’s....great fun, dangerous, reliable , best holiday ever had driving from London to Venice and back. Great in snow too.
Brought back fond summer vacation memories riding in my grandfather's 2CV Fourgonnette panel van in the 60s as a child and teenager in the 70s. I had an international driver's license in 79 and scared my younger cousin as I could barely shift the gears and drove down one way streets in the wrong direction haha. My uncle had a DS in the late 60s and I can attest to its comfort... the smoothest ride.
Jay, you’re a saint. Just for the mice smell.
Movies to watch " Ernest & Celestine " , " The Tale of Despereaux " , " An American Tail "
Liquid Lysol goes a long way. Exchanging one obnoxious odor for another.
I am really glad you have taken the time to show case this little car. I bet it is a hoot to drive. The side profile with the nice two tone paint is great. This is really a fun show. Thank you for for going the extra mile and making the show happen without a crew. I look forward to it each week. Stay safe and take care. Beep Beep. That little horn made me laugh. But it fits the car.
I still own a couple of engines for 2cv 425 cc one with 12 HP and 435cc with 24 HP
and they even had as low as 9 HP one with 375 cc , and higher that was in my last 2CV 602cc with 29 HP
My late father was a fan , and all through his life he owned at least 1 drive-able as a second car throughout his life.
Sadly they are rust magnets . But they were a lovely thing to drive on B-roads and to enjoy the drive and look around.
Overtaking a lorry is a complete different thing, once You commit there is no turning back , and You had to have balls of steel.
I miss 2cv in my life almost as much as i miss my dad cause it reminds me of him , and his love towards the 2CV.
Absolutely love the 2CV . A delightful little runabout by the French. Back in the 70's and into the 80's I was a Technician at Grand Touring Automobiles the Rolls Royce & BMW dealership in Toronto. They later acquired the Citroen dealership as well as all the other exotic British & European Imports. Anyway, I was not too impressed with Citroen at first, they were just too darned different ! but then I had a closer look and discovered how incredibly smart the engineering was and the way they were put together. Reliability, Comfort, the Works - I was head over heels in love with Citroen. Back then it was the DS21 , 2CV and the SM. Honestly, you have not driven a comfortable automobile until you've driven a Citroen and that's coming from a Rolls Royce mechanic CHEERS ALL !!
Jay Leno is single handedly preserving the history of car culture as we know it. I feel like humans will have the opportunity to learn about their past from episodes about goofy little cars like this. Bravo, Jay!
Yep probably my favorite episode in a while I absolutely love those cars and the Peugeot 404! Couldn't stop smiling.
Never has there been a 2CV so desirable as the Hoffman. Thank you for sharing.
Like you, I just love how liberating the cheap stuff can be to own and drive.
I had a 2CV for a few months when I visited the UK around 1990. Cost me £400. Brilliant, brilliant car. Loved it.
The highlight of my Monday morning, what a great way to start the week... tks Jay!
Morning? late afternoon here.
The old Two Horse! Always makes me smile too.✌
Jay, no need for apology. I like both versions of your show. The "Pandemic Editions" are a unique piece of work. When you return to the full format, these shows will be looked back on for their historical value and the unique circumstances you made them in. I must also add that it is nice to have you on a one-on-one basis, almost like a conversation. Very enjoyable. Thank you for doing the community a large service in these troubled times.
Thank you from Canada
In 1981 I laid up my 1963 fintail Merc 190 and bought a new 2CV6 - In three years time I drove 140,000 kms. In a 2CV you're not just driving, but travelling, you'll experience the force of the weather elements, you really know when you're driving against the wind. Traction on snowy roads was marvellous. Rolled the roof up when it was sunny weather and avoided motorways. Holiday travels to Norway, Yugoslavia and naturally France are pleasant memories. Got a RHD Honda 1.8EXR in 1984 and sold the 2CV.
A timeless, classic French beauty.
I adore 2CVs and love the simple yet very thoughtful engineering. Such an antidote to modern cars
How could you not like driving that beauty on a nice sunny day. More often than not, simplicity will bring a smile to most people's faces.
What did Jay say? "Any car that makes you smile" I love it!.
This put a massive smile on my face, every time Jay gives us something French im all smiles from ear to ear.
Jay,,you hit the nail on the head when you described that the French made the most comfortable seats, we had a DS23 Pallas......wow what a fabulous auto. Viva La France true true!!
The two engined version of the saloon car was called the Sahara. There was also a jeep style version called the Mehari with just the one engine. The Safari was the estate version of their large cars (DS, CX etc.)
In the early 70's my dad bought a Citroen Mehari, a plastic bodied 2 cv. It was a 2 seat with a pickup bed in the back of the seats. It weighed about 1200 lbs. And was great off-road. I learned how to drive with it, great fun and great gas mileage.
"It's not fast, but it's not slow" HubNut could put that on a coffee mug.
I beg to differ, Mr. Leno; this particular version of the "Deuche" is every bit as exotic as many supercars.
Thumbs up for a fellow Hubnut fan.
It's interesting that Jay talks so enthusiastically of his enjoyment of simple cars and simple engineering, there's a beauty in the elegance of good design that you can't so easily see in more complicated, compromised and fancier cars.
Another HubNut fan here. I wonder if Ian has seen this yet
I've been waiting so long for this to be on your YT channel, this little Citroen has been sitting in the front view of all your videos, and it has final come onto the channel. 😊😁
haha,Jay rijdt in 'n Eend!!!! (thats Dutch,for Jay drives a 2cv Duck) I remember my dad telling me he once sold his to a fat guy...and the guy went through the rusty floor in the second corner.I myself mostly remember them for the epic cornering-always an adventure-,with 8 kids rolling around in the back of the 2cv- Van version,on our way to some kids birthday-party!no seatbelts...Completely insane and unsafe:fantastic!!...i loved the seventies!Thanks dad!🖐...and thank you Jay,for bringin back great memories!!Best wishes to you, from the Netherlands!🍹
Friend of mine had a 3-cly Citroen. All aluminum Eng and head, front wheel drive with paddle axels that fit crossways in a round rubber ball that spilt in half, one for eng./trans side output, the other on the axel!
We pulled the Eng. out by hand, no mechanical lift, and sat it on 2x4's. It needed a new clutch, fly wheel the works. It was the most fun Ever working on that car that I ever had.
Loving your eclectic collection and also your personal touch during these Pandemic Editions. Thank you. Please keep 'em coming :)
Jay is just a good guy concerned for “work for his crew”. He can already tell these editions with him and his cars are the best work he has done ..... Thanks Jay 👍
My dad use to own 2cv when i was kid,this video brings memories back😂❤
I love the 2CVs so much. Especially the original body, that largely comes apart without any real tools.
I love this car. I need one. Hell I really really want one now.