(*This is not a car, it is a way of life.)
(first posted 2/8/2015) Every car producing nation in Europe has a car which has a special place in the public memory. The German Beetle, the Italian Fiat 500, the British Mini and Morris Minor, the Dutch DAF 33, the Swedish Volvo PV444. In France, it is the 2CV, the Citroen Deux Chevaux.
The Citroen 2CV needs no introduction on CC – Paul Niedermeyer has previously covered 2CV’s history more than well enough to avoid any attempt at that here. Rather, I’d like to highlight and explore the place the 2CV has in France, and for the French.
There have been many great and influential French cars, some of which have been seen here and some of which are to come. Cars like the Citroen Traction Avant, the incomparable Citroen DS, the Renault 16, the Peugeot 404,504 and 205 and Renault 5 and Espace to name but a few.
But no matter how French these cars are, the one most associated with France, and especially rural France, is the humble 2CV.
For a car with an engine of 602 cc and some 29 hp, unless it happens to be one of the early 425 or 435 cc versions with 12 or 18 hp, and dating from a design of the 1930s, to be still in active use as a daily driver across France is quite something. Paul showed us a 1972 Beetle recently, noting that it is an 80 year old design. The 2CV is not far behind. And in Europe, except Germany, it is probably more numerous.
The history is well known – conceived before the war, expected to be in production in 1939, the prototypes hidden all over France in barns, cellars and goodness knows where else for the duration, introduced to the public as the most basic car of all in 1948, sold for over 40 years and with over 4 million examples built, it was aimed at the first time car buyer, the rural owner moving up from a horse and cart or bicycle in many cases, and with an economy of purchase and ownership which fitted so well with those straitened times.
The original cars were basic in the extreme, but fulfilled a definite need. The original specification called for a car that could drive over a ploughed field with a basket on eggs on the seats, all unbroken, so that the driver, wearing his hat of course, could sell them at market without delay. And it did that. The secret to that was the innovative torsion bar suspension – simple, and brilliant.
Of course, there were other design requirements. It had to carry four or five people, 100kg of potatoes, cases of wine and other assorted cargoes. It had to be drivable whilst wearing clogs. It had to be faultlessly reliable and unbelievably economical.
Early models had completely fold back, roll down roofs, with a roll up boot lid to match all the way from the rear bumper.
Later cars had a fixed boot lid and rear window, but all had the roll back roof. Great flexibility and versatility. Carry tall things? Carry long things? Enjoy that Languedoc sunshine?
Low maintenance came as standard with the flat twin, air cooled engine, mounted so forward that it could be removed and replaced very quickly if necessary. A 2CV could be maintained in a basic village garage, perhaps by the same person who looked after farming equipment or supplied spares for the local wine makers’ equipment. It was a car for people who perhaps had never seen, let alone used, an internal combustion engine before.
Photo from Hooniverse
Size wise, this was bigger than many economy cars, with a wheelbase of 95 inches, albeit comparatively narrow by the end of its run, with a flat floor adding to the spaciousness. Four seats were standard, all removable for carrying flexibility and al-fresco dining. That meant they had to be light, and they were – little more than deckchairs with bolts on the frames.
But this car was faster than you might think. The light weight (1200lb), front wheel drive and that astonishing suspension allowed more speed to be carried into a corner than you might consider even remotely sensible. Get behind a well driven, lightly laden 2CV on a bendy French D road and you may well find you have to be surprisingly alert and sure footed to get by. Even then, he’ll be behind you at the lights when you get into town. Hills were a bigger issue, though.
The big thing about the 2CV is its place in France’s social make-up. Outside Paris, France is pretty well not class conscious, and buying a new car every few years for the experience of the new is much less common than in, for example, the UK. French cars tend to get replaced when they need it, and people tend to buy what they need, not what they want. That’s why cars like the Renault 16, Scenic and Espace did so well.
Ignore the stereotype of the arm waving, shouting Frenchman – France is a relaxed country of relaxed people, not racing down autobahns or running for underground trains. It is a country that takes the time necessary to do things – be it the long lunches, the time taken to grow and harvest grapes to make and then age the wine, the care taken with the decoration of the patisserie or the lingering conversations around the street cafes.
Heck, even playing boules is allowed to take the time necessary, and a space is allocated in almost every town. The 2CV fits this nature so well, better than a Mini fits the British personality for example, that it could have been intended to do. Well, actually it was, and that is probably why it lasted for over 40 years. The Mini lasted for 40 years because BL couldn’t afford to replace it.
Citroen offered a range of variants – not only did the engine grow from 375cc to 602cc, but there vans, tall vans, vans with windows, pick-ups, and trim and equipment levels grew, a bit.
The van, or Fourgonnette, was a favourite with the PTT, the French post office, for many years and with local delivery users across France, from wine to bread and everything in between. Is there anything more French than a 2CV delivering fresh bread?
Ultimately, Citroen started to mimic the 1980s Mini, with a series of special editions with elaborate paint schemes, special interiors and no more power – this Charleston version is typical. But these moved away from the true 2CV, and are more likely to be seen in the UK or Germany than France. In France, it is the simple 2CV Special.
This tongue in cheek sense of humour effectively became one of the cars strengths – adverts like this were typical in the 1970s and 1980s, and it wasn’t just on the UK that the advertising took an unusual approach.
The car was also renowned for its basic interior. Need fresh air? Fold up the side windows, or roll back the roof.
There were no unnecessary features in a 2CV, as in many economy cars. The gear lever sprouted out of the dash, like an umbrella and controlled a linkage running over the top of the engine. Looking at this, I can see where Alec Issigonis took some inspiration, also.
And if the 2CV was too formal for you, there was always the Mehari. Actually derived from the Dyane, this had a GRP one piece body in a similar way to the VW Beach Buggy. Ideal if you lived on the Camargue.
There were competitors. The strongest was undoubtedly the Renault 4 – so close in many ways but with 12 years’ experience to make it better. A hatchback and more power, obviously, but somehow missing a lot of the charm and character. A practical, engineering led answer to the same question, also long lasting and commercially more successful. But not a 2CV.
2CV production ended in 1990. The later Dyane and Ami derivatives died in the late 1970s, superseded by cars like the Citroen LN and Visa.
But the 2CV, and the Dyane and Ami, is still seen every day in rural France, doing what it has always done – moving local people and the chattels from one place to another, not quickly but not holding up traffic either, with more capaciousness than a modern supermini, probably more ride comfort and certainly a more distinctive noise.
It is hard to get frustrated behind a 2CV. They make you smile, unless you’ve got a plane to catch. Somehow, you know the 2CV wasn’t made for people you had planes to catch, though. The most pressing engagement would be getting your produce to the market, on Wednesday, for about 8 am. Lunch at 12pm sharp in the square, with the other stall holders, and then some boules or a glass of Pastis at a street café. In winter, back home for a warming dinner, cooked and eaten with local wine. And a baguette, of course.
The Deux Chevaux is more than just France’s VW Beetle, or Fiat 500, or Morris Minor, or even Mini. It is all of them, and it is France’s Land Rover as well. It is, frankly, France on wheels, and that makes it something quite different to any other car, arguably unique and something that personifies its homeland, the people and their lifestyle.
“Ceci n’est pas une voiture….c’est un art de vivre”; it seems to catch it so well. You could only put that in a Citroen Deux Chevaux, where it unquestionably belongs.
More: CC 1969 Citroen 2CV – The Most Original Car Ever
C’est magnifique! Vive le difference!
Nice ;
They didn’t have torsion bars that I recall .
The speedo in the corner of the windshield on early models , also ran the wipers , they’d speed up as you did , clever , that .
Many little things made these pretty good cars , I had a ’59 AZ model with suicide doors and centrifugal clutch….
-Nate
I think the pre-war prototypes had torsion bars, but none of the production cars.
Peter Mayle’s humorous book “A Year in Provence,” which started the British craze for houses in the S. of France, featured the 2CV. It was prominent in the ca. 1990 A&E televised version as well; some of the French character actors in it were hilarious.
I saw some 2CVs in Bisbee, AZ.
Like many people, I’ve heard of the Citroen 2CV, I’ve seen at least one movie that featured a Citroen 2CV, but I’ve never ridden in one, nor have I driven one.
Wonderful cars and while they are so basic and in theory so outdated, they seem to be more relevant than a really old Beetle etc. for some reason. Probably because they seemed to change even less over the years.
I recall the Brits even had a spec 2CV racing series and recall at least one marathon drive in CAR magazine but know that there were quite a few reviews or features about 2CV’s in general. Always a pleasure to read about these and like the old Beetle, they had a very distinctive (but obviously different) noise that reminds me of years gone by.
My diecast 2CV collection….
2CV’s endearing qualities make them good character actors, too. Everyone of a certain age knows the British made Pink Panther comedies that made these Citroens into comedians.
In a disguise approaching the look of an impressionist painter, Clouseau nearly misses an accident with a yellow Rolls convert while driving a 2CV truck, finds the brake pedal inoperative, pulls out the gear shift by the roots and careers into the pool at a country estate garden party. As the truck sinks, we see that it bears the faux business name, “Acme Pool Service”. The joke is repeated with a Yellow Vespa Ape, in which he splashes into the pool as the 2CV is being craned out.
“Cato, warm up The Silver Hornet!”. Clouseau’s own Batmobile falls apart 50 feet away from the garage. The inspector exits with the steering wheel in his hand. Note the car’s windshield wipers waving gayly in thin air.
Oh man, those movies were good !
Another 2CV as a main character, in a Louis de Funes movie. It rolls over its roof and continues to drive.
Hahahah! Look at how burly the stunt driver is!
That nun is growing on me.
Louis de Funes was a French comedian. This is not 2CV related, but it is one of the funniest scenes I ever saw in a movie.
He’s a restaurant owner who tries to explain a recipe to a German guy. Then some shadow-playing follows….
Ha Ha HA!
HA! Note that she slides it into a Mehari at the end.
Yeah, way better than the Steve Martin remakes. These movies were great, always loved them.
“As many wheels as a Rolls Royce!” Love it!
Thank you Roger CC effect strikes again as a custard yellow 2CV is at the traffic lights
And CC effect strikes again, in the USA no less, as I saw a Charleston on the road here last week. As someone who’s been in France just enough times to see 2CV’s in their element (the first time in the 1960’s) the Charleston seems wrong. Like a Mayfair Mini, but even worse.
Lovely writeup of one of those cars that is instantly endearing to any gearhead. And it’s true–just. so. very. French! I’ve seen several in the USA–at least three different ones could be found in the North Carolina Research Triangle region, all of them “Charleston” versions. I’ve not seen one yet in Richmond but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before a “lemon” rolls by. Or would it be a snail? Haven’t had the pleasure to ride in one though. I’m sure it would be very elemental motoring!
A thought I had recently–why does no one make a 4-door 5-seat car with a sliding fabric roof anymore? The type was quite dead in this country at least, but then along came the Fiat Nuovo 500 and revived it. And it seems a popular option. Can someone make a 4-door equivalent? (I don’t think you can get it on a 500L and those are homely things anyway.) I’d even accept a support bar midway down the opening if required for rollover standards or somesuch, but if we can’t have 4-door convertibles anymore, how about an opening roof like the 2CV?
Great write-up, Roger, and a really accurate description of rural France. When I am travelling in France, I fastidiously avoid Paris and the other big cities. Meandering along secondary roads in rural France is such a wonderful experience, and yes, it is rather slow. The French have no place for a the rat race, yet the country is modern and has excellent government services. People are happy and do take the time to talk. In fact, I’ve been in such long and interesting conversations with French folk, we’ve been late to our destination on many occasions.
I also love the line about the French only buying the car they need. Having grown-up in a French environment myself, I can completely relate. No Frenchman is going to work overtime so he can save the money for a Corvette. He’d much rather go to the local cafe and have some fine cheese, bread and a bottle of pinard. The whole concept of buying stuff and comparing it is absent in France, and I love it. Instead of watching hockey, the French go to Mozart concerts. It’s my kind of place!
One caveat: if you don’t speak French, the aforementioned experiences won’t happen.
Excellent comment about the essence of life.
….no place for the rat race.
I rode my bike, fully loaded with tent and stuff, in southern France. i rode through a small town. There were about 5 older men sitting in a row next to the road. Just spending time together. They probably went to school together. They gave me a nod.
Another time I was riding a departmental road in Alsace. There was an older woman in traditional clothes walking along, with basket in one hand and a garden hoe over the shoulder….picture perfect and way to festive for field work.
The gendarme may be seen leaning over a railing and enjoying a Goloise.
My brother said he would like to live in France: “I’ve never seen anyone running there.”
Anyone traveling in France should consider staying at a ‘Ferme” (farm). You will stay with the family and be served food that is produced on the farm.
US version
James Thurber, it is said, hated birds. “They aren’t so bad from the sides, but have you ever seen one of those sonsabitches straight on from the front?” (paraphrased). These cars are ugly cute, and the joke of the headlights on stalks after the fenders get knocked off by the nun is inspired. Amazing that they didn’t do an airborne, Sally Field style joke, given the headware.
I have ridden in the back seat of both a @CV and an Ami, and it’s like being in an airplane being gently buffeted by the winds. Too fluid to feel mechanical.
I took a “drive” around Siena, Italy last week on Google Maps, searching out the apartment of the family I had stayed with during an exchange student homestay in 1971, and didn’t see any VW Beetles, but check out the car parked in front of the Hotel Minverva in this image from 2009.
Wonderful post, Roger.
Nice 2CV!
Beetles were never popular in Italy because they used too much gas. The same is true for France. both Italy and France made fuel super expensive by slapping huge taxes on the fuel. The French who rode with us in a Beetle called to “dur” (hard sprung). German things were not particularly loved anyway, understandably. But the few who liked German things were raving fans of them: BMW motorcycles, Hercules mopeds, Porsche, Mercedes Benz and so on.
The priest that Mitt Romney killed when driving a Citroen DS in rural France was driving a Mercedes sedan. Mitt probably passed on a curve but the whole thing was bought off and covered up by the Mormon hierarchy. So, rural French priest in the 60’s driving a German car. Mitt liked to talk about riding a bike around rural France trying to convert people, but spent most of his mission there in the top dog’s Paris mansion.
Unless you can back up your aspersions with facts, I’d prefer that comments like this are not made here. I’ve looked into this, and the NYT did a pretty thorough article on it, and although the police reports were long destroyed, it does rather seem like the Mercedes driver (the priest) was more likely at fault, and not Mitt. There’s no evidence to suggest otherwise.
Saying “Mitt probably passed on a curve” and claiming there was a paid-off cover-up is a bit much. Citations? Facts?
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/world/europe/24iht-24Romney.6300715.html
Accidents on rural roads and highways in France back then were extremely common. In fact, Romney’s party had just stopped at another accident to remove debris from the road very shortly before the crash happened.
We owned one for several years here in Maryland and used as a regular driver on non-snowy days. I took my son to school in it, drove the few miles to my office, did all our errands in it. I even made an 800-mile trip in the 2CV once. It was very reliable, frugal (45-52mpg), and surprisingly comfortable.
It also attracted a lot of attention; a guy in town had a yellow Lamborghini, but more people would stop to look at our 2CV.
Basically, it was all the car that most people need, so long as you stay off interstate highways and the like.
When I ran out of garage space I had to sell the 2CV or our VW bus. I now wish we’d sold the bus.
While I would never want to subject one to road salt, I bet a 2CV would do just great in the snow. With it’s light weight, low power, skinny tires and FWD, I bet it would pull like a little tractor.
I’d assume so. Since dealing with muddy dirt roads was part of the design brief, I imagine snow isn’t too much more of a challenge, although trying to go up a steep hill in the snow sounds like the premise of some slapstick comedy scene.
I would advise trying reverse.
That is absolutely correct, Gene. I drove a 2CV in snow and that is exactly how it worked.
I also drove a Citroen Visa, 2 cylinder engine and very narrow tires, in slush on the Autobahn. The traffic stayed in the right lane because of the slush free tracks. They were going about 80 km/h. I decided to try the left lane, added speed to about 110km/h without any problem. Hardly anyone else felt confident enough to follow suite.
Too cool, Wolfgang. 🙂
This is probably the only way you’ll ever get passed by a 2CV going uphill!
I took this pic in Denmark in June 1975, while we were touring the Funen (Fyn in Danish) countryside on our bikes.
An excellent and very entertaining writeup to read on a snowy Sunday afternoon. I’ve seen 2 or 3 around Toronto, and they’re another vehicle that would have a space in my imaginary garage. A simple, practical car with character in spades.
A phalanx of cops keeping order at an anti-war demo in Berkeley CA 2/12/08
They made it through
CJ’s Garage on Telegraph just south of Dwight Way in Berkeley sold Citroens in the 1960’s. Though that blue one seems too new to be a Berkeley “native”.
that’s not tall, this is tall
w’re first owner and driving 25 year, still having fun, just made 200 k miles.
Great example – If I’d had that photo, I would have used it!
Strange. Very strange.
I could spend some time in the world of the 2CV. Sort of reminds me of the slow pace we found in much of Central America. Also, I love donkeys (have five) and this sort of seems like the slow moving but strong donkey of the automotive world.
Even James Bond found the 2CV a useful conveyance.
Thank you. That was fun! Lightweight cars are amazing.
Thanks to James Bond, a Citroen saves yet another French icon, Carole Bouquet (in a recent photo:)
There was a 4 wheel drive version with 2 engines, back and front, that was used in the Sahara desert.
Called the Sahara…
The Mehari was also available from the factory with 4WD for a time. It was a very Jeep-like (and effective) system: selectable FWD or 4WD, a transfer case with both high and low ranges, and a lockable centre diff.
They’re distinguishable from the regular Mehari by having the spare set into the hood, two additional levers sprouting out of the dashboard either side of the gear lever for FWD/4WD and range selection, and the centre diff lock lever located between the front seats.
Good article. One correction, however: the Mehari’s body was not GRP as stated; it was ABS plastic, and the Mehari was the first mass-produced car to use that as a body material.
Most Meharis still surviving with their original bodies will exhibit tearing in the plastic, usually from where the panels mount to the tubular skeleton underneath. This was due to the lack of UV resistance in the material not being understood very well at the time, and is a common issue. Reproduction bodies use a different ABS formulation that holds up much better.
Here’s the Mehari showing up in a funny VW Sharan ad —
Excellent write up.
I couldn’t help but notice the wheels in the first pic. Anyone notice anything peculiar about those rims?
I’ll tell ya
There is no hole in the center of the rim. What is the significance of that?
I’ll tell ya
I once owned a small WW2 vintage military trailer. Military wheels of that vintage had the same “hole-less” centers as the wheels in that first pic. They are a MAJOR nuisance when it comes time to buy new tires. Why is that?
I’ll tell ya
You cannot use a machine to mount a tire on a rim with no hole in the center. The bead must be broken and tire removed BY HAND and the new tire slipped on and bead seated BY HAND! Trust me on this. You DO NOT want to ever own rims like that!
I couldn’t help but notice the wheels in the first pic. Anyone notice anything peculiar about those rims?
I’ll tell ya
There is no hole in the center of the rim. What is the significance of that?
I’ll tell ya
******one less hole to make x 5 wheels per car x millions of vehicles. That should save a centime or two.
I once owned a small WW2 vintage military trailer. Military wheels of that vintage had the same “hole-less” centers as the wheels in that first pic. They are a MAJOR nuisance when it comes time to buy new tires. Why is that?
I’ll tell ya
You cannot use a machine to mount a tire on a rim with no hole in the center. The bead must be broken and tire removed BY HAND and the new tire slipped on and bead seated BY HAND! Trust me on this. You DO NOT want to ever own rims like that!
********Why not? I have never mounted my own car tires.
My ’65 Cinquecento wheels have metal straps across their center holes to screw the hubcap bolts on. Specialized tire machine for them…
Any of those special tire machines in north america?
” Any of those special tire machines in north America? ”
Yes , most professional tire shops have them these days , they grip the rim from the inside diameter , this because alloy wheels shouldn’t be locked down via the center hole .
-Nate
They were very popular in Spain as well. As for the pop reference, there was a typical 60s Spanish film featuring the Dictatorship values (Church & Family) featuring a nun who didn’t know how to drive but had a huge heart. Her name: Sor Citroën
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkKKTCv6h60%5D
Hear the name in Spanish of the car: “dos caballos” (two horses) or “la burra” (the female donkey”
(BTW, the music is quite interesting)
They were doing the French autoroute also known as the Pëage.
The weather was beautiful, she and he were young enough to need a very, very small tent to spend the night, L’Amour would keep them warm.
Dutch licence on the 2 CV – we Dutch always regarded Citroën to be Dutch, because Andrë Citroëns parents were Dutch Jews who emigrated to France.
So I saw them both in the parkinglot near their 2CV, I was doing a 600 (400 Mile) trip to Le Havre, do work onboard a ship and returning the same evening, another 400 miles.
I talked to him and said, what are you doing here ?
He said a bit confused “whadda you mean ? ”
I said are you on business or holiday ?
Holiday, she replied.
I said : So what are you doing on the darn Péage in a car that was designed for the waving rural roads in France, a car perfect to cross the country, roll the roof down and enjoy the landscape, you ‘re on holiday, not in a hurry like moi !
He looked at me like he’d seen water burning, she took over and simply said yweah, you’re right, we’re still in the pace of the rat race.
I bet you they had a great holiday…..
My favorite video on the early 2CV, Chris Harris on cars.
Chris is a coinesseur who knows his fast and slow stuff, but somebody who really appreciates the virtues of each car :
Sad thing is because of its icon status, the 2CV is no longer a people’s car.
Even if there are still many of them on the road, 2 CVs in good shape easily reach 5.000 € prices and 7.500 to 9.000 € prices are not uncommon.
And with that kind one money, one can get a mint american V8 (well, an malaise-era V8 but a V8 anyhow).
Still, I wish I could drive a 2CV someday (I once drove a flat-twin Citroën LNA which is basically a Peugeot 104 with a 2CV engine – a Dyane one actually – and I still remember the experience).
Cute. Very cute car. First time I ever saw one was in San Francisco in 1970. Gray, of course. I stopped in my tracks and wondered what in the world was it? I think my buddies thought the same thing!
Also, “Curt” in “American Graffiti” drove one. Also gray, it could have been the same car, for all I know.
I’d love to drive and ride in one…
Great story, fun comments. And thanks for sharing this civilized message:
AIRE RESERVEE AUX BOULISTES
You may be in a hurry, but we are engaged in something more important.
I remember a first grade teacher at my school (circa 1965) drove a red one. It was so unusual that I never forgot it (I even remember her name and she was kind of hot). I actually got to drive one while in France (wife’s friend had one). It had an agricultural feel to it; not that there’s anything wrong with that!
Vachement chouette!
Wonderful photos. Great videos! And yes, it is quintessentially French. There’s one in Lexington Massachusetts, less than a mile from me:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/review-1975-citroen-2cv/
Bon travail, Jerome:
I used to ride in one regularly as a kid. It would just about nudge 70 mph on the flat…I can remember the driver pulling out to overtake a truck going uphill, and promptly losing all momentum the instant it emerged from the truck’s slipstream. Back behind the truck, then.
Bien sûr j’en ai un!
Plusieurs, en fait. Voici un “Dolly”.
As a long term 2CV owner (30 years this May) I always enjoy well written articles like this. One variation which is not well know is the commercial version which is in fact a hatch back. The actual body shell is the same but there is a frame which is hinged above the rear window and supports both the trunk lid and the window. In the sedan the support for the trunk lid is not part of the body, but a metal brace that comes as part of the roof and is bolted to the sides of the opening. This means that to convert to a hatch you don’t need to remove anything, just attach this brace to the frame for the hatchback. This means that any 2CV can be converted to a hatch. The original model was called “Mixte” or “ENAC” after the company that did the modifications. The ENAC version also had a cover over the spare tire well to produce a flat floor, a folding rear seat, and a bracket to mount the spare tire over the engine. As with all 2CV the rear seat can also be removed as shown in the photo. A friend of mine has one, and it is the only one I have seen in person, although I have seen them for sale. They all seem to be from the 60s. I don’t have a picture of my friend’s with the hatch open, so I found one that was for sale at Sander-Aalderink in the Netherlands. Their garage is worth a visit if you are interested in 2CVs.
I have shot a bunch of these. Searching my files, I found these three examples, two from car shows and one from a museum in England.
looks like the same one from a few years earlier…
lastly,
The 2CV suspension is more complex than it looks. There are ‘mass dampers’ attached solely to the hubs, that are essentially vertical tubes filled with lead(?) shot and oil. There are also friction dampers on the pivots of the suspension arms.
I think Citroen made a subtle change to the rook profile when the added the rear quarter window. On the early cars the roof was more of a semi-circle. I remember driving through France in the 60s seeing a lightly crashed one on its’ roof, and it looked rather like a see-saw….
Futuroscope, the video theme park in Poitiers, has a fantastic Simulator ride I saw in 1995 (I think).
Really it’s a glorified tourist film, but works well.
At one point there is the inevitable 2CV holding you up on the road.
Video doesn’t give the Simulator experience but you get the idea:
What a great presentation on the heart of France and its people!