- 6,629
- Portugal
The Citroen 2CV is France’s VW Beetle – it was a ubiquitous, go-anywhere economy car, built for decades, and found all over the world. It also featured seemingly dozens of variants.
A special version of the 2CV was the Sahara (later called bimoteur 2 CV), for difficult off-road driving.
Built from December 1960 to 1971, The Sahara had an extra engine mounted in the rear compartment and both front and rear-wheel drive.
The target markets for these cars were French oil companies, the military, and the police.
This Sahara has an additional engine-transmission unit in the rear, mounted the other way around and drives the rear wheels. For the second engine so it could operate as four-wheel drive, or just as front wheel-drive with the rear engine disengaged, of course there was a separate push-button starter and choke. With a stick shift between the front seats both transmissions were operated simultaneously.
For the two separate engines (air-cooled two-cylinder engine making a robust 13.5 horsepower), there are separate gasoline tanks, under the front seats. Two ignition switches were provided. The filler neck sat in the front doors. Both engines (and hence axles) could be operated independently). The spare wheel was mounted on the hood. The car had, thanks to the all-wheel drive, enormous off-road capability, but at twice the price of the standard 2CV.
It was built until 1968 only 693 produced. 1971 one other. It goes without saying that they are extremely rare, but there are a few ways to spot one. First, is the spare wheel strapped to the hood, like some splendid french Land Rover. The next (and quite obvious) is the fan at the rear of the Sahara to cool its second engine. Many were used by the Swiss Post as a delivery vehicle.
Today they are highly collectible.
Overview
Manufacturer: Citroën
Production: 1948–1990[1]
Designer: André Lefèbvre, Flaminio Bertoni, Walter Becchia, Marcel Chinon
Assembly:
Forest/Vorst, Belgium
Liège, Belgium
Slough, UK
Jeppener, Argentina (1960–1962),
Buenos Aires, Argentina (1962–1980)
Montevideo, Uruguay (Panel van & pick-up)
Arica, Chile
Mangualde, Portugal
Paris, France
Vigo, Spain
Koper, Slovenia
Body and chassis
Class: Economy car
Body style: 4-door landaulet, 2-door panel van, 2-door coupé utility (pickup)
Layout: Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Related: Citroën Dyane, Citroën FAF, Citroën Méhari, Citroën Ami, Citroën Bijou
Powertrain
Engine:
375 cc (23CID) H2 air-cooled 9hp.
425 cc H2 air-cooled 12hp.
435 cc H2 air-cooled 18hp.
602 cc H2 air-cooled 29hp.
Transmission4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 2.40 metres (94.5 in)
Length: 3.86 metres (152.0 in)
Width: 1.48 metres (58.3 in)
Height: 1.60 metres (63.0 in)
Curb weight: 600 kg (1,300 lb)
THE OTHER CITROEN IS HERE:
Last edited:
haha
