In the framework of the Paris Motor Show Citroen company said the 60-th birthday of one of its best models - 2CV. As a birthday gift was presented in an exclusive design from the company Hermes, who gave 2CV noble traits and aristocracy. The history of creating a car Citroen 2CV in the summer of 1935, when the Managing Director Marco Pierre Jules Boulanger, was forced to stay on the road because of the large cluster of peasants. The villagers gathered in the town of Auvergne on holiday and closed the road carts and trolleys. While waiting for Boulanger, he was released to travel, he wondered why the farmers are not buying more convenient to use cars, and use outdated means to transport goods and supplies. With this question he turned to his staff, who, in turn, conducted a study of this problem. It turned out, the car is too expensive for farmers. In addition, they did not trust this unreliable technology, fearing that the car will not sustain a "bounce" on country roads. Another reason - the difficulty in control, women would be difficult to adapt to it. But the main argument against buying a car was a small capacity and the inability to drive cattle. The following year, the European car market was supplemented by several inexpensive models - Peugeot 202 with engine capacity of 30 liters. with., Opel Olimpia with monocoque body and the Italian Fiat Topolino. But the villagers have ignored them because of cost. After the analysis of farmers' queries were designed "Snipe", which caused a great sensation. Pierre Jules Boulanger, set a task to his engineers: build a car which could accommodate at least two passengers and a few sacks of potatoes. The machine should reach speeds of up to 60 km / h and overcome the difficult places on the roads. Consumption of gasoline should not exceed 3 liters per 100 kilometers, and cost of such a "popular" car should not cost more than a third Citroen 7. His appearance must correspond to the trip to the market, and in the church. And finally, Boulanger wished that the car owner could ride behind the wheel, his hat on. Was the project manager Andre Lefebvre, who had previously engaged in the creation of front-wheel drive models Traction Avant, a body responsible for the part he was appointed Flaminio Bertoni. The first "Snipe" was ready for testing as early as 1937, it was front wheel drive car with a body of canvas on lightweight frame with independent torsion bar suspension, wheels made of magnesium alloy and the engine of the motorcycle BMW. Designer actively tested, even Boulanger repeatedly sat at his wheel, he checks to see if the hat falls off during the ride. If she flew from his head, body altered. The outcome of many tests and vybrakovok was the prototype of a 2-cylinder engine capacity of 375 cu. see The car was a removable cloth roof, one lamp, one windscreen. The seats were a stretched fabric on the roll cage and luggage combined with the salon, so the car was more compact, and load capacity is increased. Suspension arms are made of light alloy steering rack made, installed hydraulic brakes front and rear - mechanical. There was even a idea instead of an electric ignition to make a special cable in the cabin, for which it was necessary to gently pull (both outboard motors). But this idea was abandoned, as during testing of the rope women drivers nine out of ten were broken nails. All of these solutions helped to significantly reduce the cost of the car. Premiere of a new model of Citroen was to be held at the Paris Motor Show in 1939, the company managed to produce a pilot series of 250 cars. But France was occupied, and the company management decided to destroy all copies. "Survived" only two - one hidden in a barn, while the other was disguised as a pickup razvoznoy working at the plant of Michelin. Testing continued through the war years, during this time have been identified shortcomings: it was abolished system of water cooling the engine, suspension, too, has undergone strong changes. By order of the Boulanger work it was supposed to lead to ensure that the car could be transported without breaking a basket of eggs across a plowed field. The design of suspension springs for added longitudinal damping. The box came fourth, increasing the transmission. Alloy metals had to be replaced, since this material is considerably more expensive. Shock absorbers are inertial, while the front brakes were removed from the wheels to the main transmission. And yet, were added to the second headlamp and wiper. Thus, the prime minister Citroen 2CV was moved to 9 years, she held only in 1948. The car was a pretty sorry sight: the body is painted in gray, the doors were kept on loops from the piano, the window lifter could only dream of. Over the wretched appearance of the press dubbed the newcomer "ugly duckling" as the logo Citroen at the time was portrayed swan. But the villagers have appreciated this car - its length was 3.9 m, it weighed 570 kg, speed reached 60 km / h and 100 km of track took just 4.5 liters of gasoline. Citroen 2CV sales began in late September 1949, demand was so great that the queue of those wishing to buy this car lasted for 6 years ahead. Model name - 2CV - comes from the abbreviation of the index of tax capacity. CV was called the value of state tax for the vehicle. The figure before the index corresponded to its value. After the war, petrol in France was expensive, the cheapest cars match 04/05 tax capacity. Among them dvuhloshadny Citroen came out of the ordinary. Low cost "de shvo (two-horse power tax power) was attributed to ease of repair - virtually all the body parts could be repaired in any smithy door and the seat was easily removed, and the roof for a few seconds, rolled for transport of oversized cargo. Fuel level scanned probe. Washing machine does not deliver too much hassle owner, for it was enough to lift the roof and the seat and wash your body with water from a hose or bucket. For many years, "de shvo" was a bestseller, this was due to its cost, practicality and reliability. Therefore, for many years of production, he practically has not been modified. Color gamut body replenished only in 1960, to Gray added blue and beige. In 1961, was reshaped hood, and in 1965 the doors were hung on the rear instead of front hinge. Since 1966, there were mounted on the 2CV CV joints in front wheel drive and hydraulic shock absorbers rear wheels at the back there were two side windows. Lights got a rectangular shape. 2CV production in full swing, under license from the model produced in fifteen countries. For a long time issue Citroen 2CV were other modifications of the model. Version of "de luxe" was decorated with a fanged bumper moldings and wheel caps, seats were adjusted, and the cushions were made of sponge rubber. The steering wheel had a single needle, as a symbol brand Citroen. The cargo version was released in 1950, the payload was 250 kg. The van was equipped with 375-cc engine was accelerated to 6 mph, and fuel consumption was 5 liters per 100 kilometers. Wheel drive version 2CV Sahara was released in March 1958, it differed original design, a spare wheel mounted on the hood. The car was equipped with two engines of a total capacity of 24 liters. with. Sahara was issued before the end of 1960, only 694 copies were produced. In 1976 he went off the assembly line in 1800 limited edition Citroen 2CV Spot. In 1983, there is another limited edition 2CV France 3 in the amount of 2,000 pieces. Last restricted party was in March 1985, auto enlarged 3000 version of the car 2CV Dolly. In 1980, Citroen has released a limited version of the 2CV Sharleston. Her body was painted in two colors and the lights were round. It was assumed that will be released only 8,000 copies, but due to high demand, Charleston became an independent model. Engine line updated several times, buyers are offered a 13-horsepower engine capacity 423 cm3 (1954), 18-hp engine with 425 cm3 (1963), a 24-strong volume 435 cm 3 and 28.5-strong volume 602 cm3 (1969 ). In 1970 the car got a new motor - 602-cc 24-strong, which aggregated four-gear, which allowed to accelerate to 106 km / h. The company declared an end to the production of "de shvo in 1984, but demand for large upward leap, which allowed to extend the issue for another 4 years. In Portugal, the production of this model continued until 1990. Total for 1942 was issued more than 5.5 million Citroen 2CV.
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