Incredible Hulk — Meet the Incredible Duck
Citroënvie member Pierre-francois Raimbault has spent the past eight years transforming a 1960 2CV that his father originally bought and used for many years in France. He imported it into Canada in 2016 and then began to consider his options in restoring it.
As the car was pretty well rotted through and he had a fancy for hot-rods, Pierre-francois figured that the 2CV’s body shell and doors could be saved and with some serious fender flaring, then fitted over the frame and engine of a 1996 Chevy S10 pick-up. To improve handling of the rear end and have inboard disc brakes at the back, he sourced a 2006 Jaguar Vanden Plas rear differential.
Pierre-francois learned about fiberglass from Noah’s Marine Supplies in Mississauga and built 4 wider fenders. He managed to fit the S10’s 2.2 L (134 cu in) 4 cylinder engine and automatic transmission where the 375 cc 2 cylinder engine and gearbox once was. He created a dashboard arrangement for the S10’s gauges and controls, and fitted 2 Acura TSX front seats. The car was finally ready for its first test drive in June 2024. (Test drive revealed a very stiff suspension; the heavy duty front coils from the pickup and the 4 Jag coils on the rear axle will have to be somewhat downsized during the winter 2024/25.)
Pierre-francois drove the finished result 125 kms from Saint Clements (northwest of Kitchener/Waterloo) , at 120 kms/hr along Ontario’s major highway (the 401) to Citroën Autoclub Canada’s monthly meeting last month in Toronto. For safety sake, given that the car has reverse opening front doors (let’s not call them suicide type), Pierre-francois fitted interior chains that hold them closed “at speed”.
Heads snapped, reacting to the throaty sound when it pulled into the lot and jaws dropped when it came into view. To say that members were surprised is an understatement. Here’s what they got to see:
