1987 Citroën 2CV Special

This 1987 2CV daily driver has a clear New Mexico Title. Current mileage is 84,318 km (52,699 mi).

This 2CV was restored in Holland before it was shipped to the US and sold to New Mexico. During this past restoration it received many new parts:

  • New galvanized chassis
  • New floor panel on both sides
  • New rear inner fender on both sides
  • All new shock absorbers
  • New tires, including spare wheel
  • Nicely painted rims
  • New Carburetor
  • New starter motor
  • And many other new parts
Click picture for current photos of the car.

After the bodywork, the car was fresh painted in Bleue Celeste. However, the paint job wasn’t too great. After many years in New Mexico at a high altitude, the paint is oxidized. Being parked outside for some years, some rust has appeared. However, the car has absolutely no structural rust. There is some surface rust on the hood hinge and the corners outside from the taillights show some bubbles.


Some years ago in New Mexico, a mechanic trying to do good, replaced the LHM with fresh DOT brake fluid – subsequently destroying all rubber seals in the brake system. So I had to replace the entire brake system.

  • New master brake cylinder
  • Rebuilt calipers
  • New brake pads
  • New parking brake pads
  • New rear wheel brake cylinders
  • Fresh LHM

Another mechanic in New Mexico wrongly diagnosed starting problems with a hot engine as carburetor issues with the high altitude. In fact it was the classic coil problem. Based on his wrong diagnosis, he modified the carburetor and used a lot of fuel additives. Some years later, the result was that the gas tank, the fuel pump and the carburetor were totally gunked to the point where I had to replace all of it. The replacement carburetor was reconditioned with all jets and float level brought to factory specifications. Fuel system replaced:

  • Rebuilt carburetor
  • New fuel pump
  • Gas tank
  • New gas tank sender unit
  • New Fuel hoses
  • New fuel filter
  • And the underlying cause – new coil

Additionally I overhauled the engine. Both cylinder heads were pulled to replace the pushrod seals and the front crankshaft seal was replaced.

While the motor was out, I inspected the clutch – which was not slipping, but a visual inspection revealed that the clutch disk was showing some wear. So as a preventive measure, I replaced the clutch disk, the pressure plate, the throwout bearing and the pilot bearing with its oil seal.

The transmission received new stub axle bearings and new oil seals. The damaged dust boots on the drive shafts were replaced and secured with the correct Ligarex metal bands.

The steering arms were worn and their dust boots were ripped. So I replaced both steering arms with new dust boots and fresh synthetic grease. Finally the front wheel alignment was adjusted.

As for the maintenance work, the motor got fresh oil and a new oil filter, new spark plugs, the timing and the valves were adjusted acording to factory specifications.
Additionally other parts were replaced: The air hose from air filter to carburetor, the indicator lever, the flasher relay, the mechanical regulator was replaced with an electronic regulator, the windshield wipers were replaced, the heat deflection hoses were replaced, the nuts holding the fenders on the rocker sill were replaced with acorn nuts.

I did not address the rust issues, since it is mainly superficial and would require painting – which would boost the price for the 2CV into a much higher price segment. So the car will be sold as a daily driver – mechanically like a high-end 2CV but with some cosmetic flaws.

The price is $ 16,900 USD.

The car is located in Seattle, WA.

7 comments

  1. Hi I’m assuming this car is still available. I live in Coeur dA’lene and plan on being over in Seattle around Thanksgiving and would love to see it,. I had D Citroens on the 1970s and always wanted a 2CV. I would love to get a driver not a showcar. Yours sounds perfect with the new chassis and the rebuild work done in the Netherlands. You have gone through a lot getting all the problems sorted out and I appreciate the work done.
    Love to hear from you, Thanks Steve

    1. Hi Steve,
      Yes, the 2CV is available. It resides with many other 2CVs in our garage. When you are in Seattle, you are more than welcome to swing by. It sounds as if this 2CV would be the right car for you to have as a driver. See you soon.
      Axel

      1. Hi Axel, I am still very interested in the vehicle but our plans have changed for Thanksgiving but were are coming over for Xmas. I’m worried someone will swoop in a get it before then.
        I can make a special trip over before then if you can’t wait.
        Funny thing… I took my granddaughters, who live in Seward Park, to the Museum of Flight last month. I was totally amazed that is where you did the test drive video. Do you live near Boeing Field or closer to SeaTac? Excellent setting for a video and ending at the Concorde.

        1. Hi Steve,
          I will send you a personal email.
          In General, yes we live just between SEATAC Airport and Boeing Field, very near the Museum. So looking for a backdrop for the video, I just went down the hill to the Museum of Flight. Occasionally you can find one of our 2CVs in their parking lot when we take friends to the museum, or visit the museum ourselves.

  2. I WISH my wife would allow me to buy cars like this. It would be a fun car to drive, even in Seattle where we have a lot more “nice” (non rainy days) than we like people not from here to believe so more people DON’T move here. We’ve got too many people already causing house prices to be unaffordable unless your parents give you a lot of money, probably by getting another mortgage on _their_ house and then being nice and making payments on they kids house to get the house affordable for their kids.

    I have a garage that I could put it in. I’ve got a Tesla that I would drive most of the time but then pull this out when we weren’t going far.

    Which I think is hilarious to have an electric car for bad weather and long distances and the gas vehicle for shorter distances when it is nice outside.

    1. Hi Bill,
      I agree, the weather isn’t that bad here in Seattle. Coming from Germany I can assure you that the weather in the Pacific North West was certainly an improvement over the usual weather in Germany.
      Your comment about the use of the Tesla versus the 2CV is funny. We have a friend who does just that. The Tesla is the workhorse and the 2CV only comes out in good weather for short distances.
      If you are in the vicinity of SEATAC Airport, you are welcome to swing by and we can talk Citroen.

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