Since its early days of transporting produce to market, the budget Citroen has made great strides.
The prices for the beloved 2CV have been rising over the past few years with some highly sought-after examples. A 1949 Type A car from France was sold for more than five times its estimated value at Fontainebleau’s Osenat auction house, south of Paris.
It was expected to fetch between $14,000- $18,500. However, there was a bidding war that saw the price rise to just over $86,500. The Dutch museum won the bid and set a new record for standard 2CV models.
You’ll probably guess that this is the Citroen 2CV’s very first example – it was presented by Citroen on the 7th of October 1948 at Paris Motor Show. However, production didn’t start until 1949.
This vehicle was one of the 876 2CVs produced in the first year. It can be identified as the 458th model of the nearly-900 2CVs. It is easy to see how one of 500 2CVs that were produced from more than 5 million units would make collectors’ heads.
It’s funny that the Type A 2CV’s price was increasing in 1949. This was because there was a shortage in steel. There was a long waiting list for one, which stretched to three to five years. This created a lucrative market where 2CVs were being sold at higher prices than new.
The chassis number #000458 was assigned to the specimen that was sent to auction. It will be restarted but Osenat describes it as being in good general condition.
Osenat also sold three more 2CVs at its auction. All of them were from the same collection. The 2CV is a popular choice, but the high prices are not common. Only a few very rare specimens can reach such lofty levels. Nearly $8,500 was paid for a 1966 Citroen van model 2CV that needed restoration. It was estimated that it cost between $3,500 to $5,000. Another 1951 2CV Type A, chassis #19018, was sold for over $21,000, slightly higher than its high estimate of $18,500.
A fourth 2CV was sold for over $25,500. This 1950 Type A 2CV allows Jean Federspiel, an engineer, to create the first active suspension system known as the “Federspiel-servo-brake”. The Dutch museum also purchased this car at record prices.