Citroën Dyane: The Forgotten Sister of the 2CV
The Dyane was designed by the legendary Louis Bionier. Born in 1898, the son of a bicycle mechanic, he was exposed to technical environments from an early age. After finishing school, he is said to have apprenticed at the aircraft manufacturer Voisin. In 1915, he was hired by Panhard & Levassor as a toolmaker. The then Managing Director, Paul Panhard, recognized the young man’s talent, who was able to further his education through internal training programs and, after working in several departments, finally became head of chassis and body development in 1929. He was largely responsible for the Panhard Dynamic, launched in 1936, which revealed Bionier’s preference for aerodynamic body design, a principle he continued with the post-war models Dynavia, Dyna, and Panhard PL 17.
After significantly shaping the Panhard 24, the brand’s last passenger car model, he designed the Dyane model for Citroën, Panhard’s new owner.
At the age of 67 Bionier proposed the shape for the Dyane as Citroën wanted a more contemporary model than the 2CV to challenge its main competitor — the Renault 4. He was assisted in this work by René Ducassou-Pehau and Robert Opron. Louis Bionier died in 1973
Middleclassvroom are an automotive youtube channel intent on showcasing weird wonderful and interesting cars. Last month they stumbled upon a “daily driver” condition Dyane and interviewed the owner, Maxine. Along with telling a bit about it’s development, they took the Dyane for a drive to experience how it combines simplicity, charm, and ride entertainment — so much so that it left them wanting to buy one.
Check out their video here:
Trivia tidbit: Later Alpine Renault A110 models and Renault’s final Group B rally monster the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo used the Dyane’s front turn signals.