2CV Based Racer at Lane Motor Museum Harkens Back to De Pontac
The Lane Motor Museum in Nashville has a fascinating collection of Citroëns, certainly the vastest in North America with a few of them that are unique in the world. One such Citroën is this racer.
It was acquired for the Lane Motor Museum, over 10 years ago, by Erik DeWidt who saw it listed in a classified ad in one of the small-town papers in France.
Jeff Lane, who has a penchant for the unusual, was attracted to the racer because, as he says; “I was attracted to it because it looks nothing like anything I have ever seen before.”
Although equipped with a modern 602cc 2CV engine, the body of this racer is reminiscent of the little known DePontac variant of the 2CV from the mid-1950s.
The Marquis de Pontac had high hopes for his 2 seat racer in 1955 and by 1959 decided to produce a few cars for touring enthusiasts.
(You can read the article about De Pontac that we published in the Spring 2003 edition of the Citroen Autoclub Canada Newsletter, (available for download to Citroënvie paid Members here. Look for; “DePontac – Early 2CV Sports Car” in the Articles – General folder).
Erik did verify with the previous owner, at the time of purchase, that it was a homegrown project with no racing history. It was built just for fun. Was this unique 2CV based racer made in homage to the De Pontac? These pictures of DePontacs indeed indicate a similarity.
Also, check-out this article that we ran on Dec. 20, 2017 about rare French sports cars including the Umap, the Mismaque and De Pontac.
Visit the Lane Motor Museum:
702 Murfreesboro Pike,
Nashville, TN, 37210
PHONE: (615) 742-7445
https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/visit-lane-motor-museum/visit-lane-motor-museum
How about this 2CV variant as a modern race car?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzQnilglLzw/?igshid=lj471kiygzrz
When I saw it a few years ago at the museum I wondered how anyone with legs could drive it? But then I noticed the chevrons on the steering wheel were upside down. I’m pretty sure the bottom of the steering wheel was cut away so that legs can fit when it is rotated 180 degrees. Though it would jam into your thighs if attempting to corner. There could be an easy fix for the steering by fitting one of the small (35 cm) after-market steering wheels available for the 2CV. I have one on my Méhari and really improves leg clearance as I am 6’6” tall.
Assuming you are thin enough to fit into the car, your legs are presumably straight out for driving and the use of clutch, brakes and gas would be pretty much done by moving your ankles.