1986 | Citroën 2 CV 6

Cult classic on four wheels – the 1986 Tin Snail

Legend has it, Citroën director Pierre Boulanger came up with the idea for the 2CV on a market day in 1935. He tells his engineers that he wants to transport two boot-wearing farmers and a hundredweight of potatoes at a minimum speed of 60 km/h, consuming no more than three litres of fuel every 100 km. And yes, it doesn't matter what the car looks like.

By 1937, the first prototype is ready for testing. During the war, Boulanger struggles to keep the project a secret from the Germans. The model débuts in 1948 at the Paris Motor Show, to a slightly confused audience at first. The 2CV is a radically minimalist car. With its roll-up roof and removable seats, it is also a space-saving wonder. But the press and dealers turn out to be more critical than the customers – at the end of the 1940s, France is still going through a tough post-war era, and a functional yet inexpensive car is just what the people need. By 1950, there's a six-year waiting list. In 1953, the 2CV is also launched on the Swiss market for 4,490 francs – 1,000 less than the VW Beetle or Renault 4CV.

By the 1960s, young people are falling for this affordable, uncomplicated Citroën model and the 2CV becomes a cult classic. Quite a few set off in their pride and joy through the Sahara and into the Middle East. In 1970, the manufacturer even organises a 2CV rally from Paris to Kabul, Afghanistan. With the fuel crisis a few years later and the maximum speed reduced, the future of the 2CV is secured. "The time is ripe for the 2CV," writes the Swiss Citroën representative Hürzeler in a 1973 advertisement. Of course, the 2CV is more than just a sensible car, it stands for individualism, perhaps even an alternative counterculture.

Our auction piece has been family-owned since 1986 and was first registered in Switzerland. It has never missed a service and any minor restoration work has always been carried out promptly. This really is a beautiful specimen with a long family history. One special feature on this model is a side door painted by the French Pop Art artist Maxime Blachère. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly quirky. With one door in the original paintwork, it's a true classic. The 2CV is without doubt a car with cult status and this vehicle is sure to give any owner many years of enjoyment.