2CVGB News April 24

2CVGB NEWS

Celebrating 50 years since Citroën re-introduced the 2cv to Great Britain.

Sunday 26th May 2024. Make a Bank Holiday weekend of it! Camping is available on site from 12pm, Friday 24th until 12pm, Monday 27th May.

Organised by The Bath Tub Club on behalf of 2CVGB—The Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain Limited.

BONJOURÀTOUS

Hello and welcome to this month’s magazine. From a flying 2CV to a 2CV that flew its coop, but found its way back (that would be a clever joke in French, where voler means fly and volé means stolen), to a look back at an old 2CVGB News and a look forward to the new camping season full of events, we have it all.

Talking of looking back, I don’t think I’ve ever visited a 2CV museum. I know of one or two, but I wonder how many there are. If you know of one, let me know, with photos and a write up if you’ve visited them already. We could feature them on the club website and spread the word. See you in a field somewhere.

Saturday.

• Scenic drive

• Bar and discothèque

• Party like it’s 1974!

• 2cv Coffee Van on site

• Flea market/autojumble

Registers Day (Sunday).

• Concours d’élégance

• 2CVGB archive displays

• Voting and trophies!

Booking information. To book, email Conrad at 2cvbathtubclub@gmail.com for bank details, or you can pay on the gate.

Registers Day with camping: Car + driver: £25.00

Car + passengers: £35.00

Registers Day only (Sunday): Car + passengers: £10.00

• Wal's Raffle

• Trade stands

• Flea market/autojumble

Free entry for children under 17 years with a paying adult.

Dogs are welcome.

Martha’s Down Campsite, Hindon, Wiltshire. SP3 5SU

Six Figure Grid Reference: ST912344

What Three Words: cackling.lollipop.dried

Membership of 2CVGB is by annual subscription: UK £34, Europe £80 (£34 with E-magazine), Worldwide £100 (£34 with E-magazine). First time application subject to one-off joining fee (non-UK only). You can join or renew online at www.2cvgb.co.uk where you can also download the membership application form. If you do not have access to the internet please forward membership enquiries to the membership secretary (contact details on p60).

content in this magazine. You are responsible for checking any applicable manufacturers’ instructions, safety manuals or any other relevant instructions before undertaking any alterations to your vehicle. In particular, the Club does not give any warranty, representation or undertaking:

• that the Technical Information can be freely exploited in all or any parts of the world; and/or

implied, that the content in this magazine is accurate, complete or up to date. The content in this magazine is provided for general information purposes only. It is not intended to be advice on which you should rely. You must either satisfy yourself as to the accuracy and completeness of the content and/or obtain specialist technical advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the

• as to the efficacy, usefulness, safety or commercial or technical viability of the technical information (“Technical Information”) and/or any products made or processes carried out using the Technical Information;

• as to the volumes or quality of the products which may be manufactured through the use of the Technical Information;

• that any of the Technical Information is or will be valid;

• that the Technical Information will not infringe the intellectual property or other rights of any third party. The views or opinions expressed by our contributing writers should not be interpreted as the views and opinions of the Club.

GLOUCESTERLEMONS,W.A.S.P.SANDTHEHEREFORDSHIREWYE

KNOTSDRIVE-ITDAY.Eachgroupwillmeetattheirrespectivevenues anddriveouttoCastlemortonCommon.Formoredetails,pleasecontact thelocalleaderorseethelocalgroup’sFacebookpage HUDDERSFIELDTWINHOTPOTS/AIRECOOLEDALLEYCATS/ CHESHIREDRAGONSDRIVE-IT-DAYThisyear’soutingforthenorthern basedclan(othersfurtherawayarevery,verywelcome)istotheCrich TramwayMuseum,NearMatlockDerbyshire(DE45DP).Yorkshiregroups aremeetingatTheOldeMustardPotpub,nearLangsett,S364GWfrom about9.15amtodepartat10.Travellingoverthe`Strines`,viaLadybower toarriveatCrichatapproximately11.30am.ParkingisinsidetheCrich museum(drivergetsinfreebutpassengerspayonentry).

LECLUBCLOUSSEAUDRIVE-ITDAYMeetatCrossbushServices, Lyminster,Littlehampton,WestSussex,BN177QQ.EntranceonA284,just offA27slightlyEastofArundel,forascenicroutetoFindonValeGarden Centre,Worthing.BN140RE.FormoreinformationcontactBobon07799 280940oratbobbrotherhood@gmail.com

SURREYMADHATTERS/BERKSHIREROYALSDRIVEITDAYFrom Sainsbury'sCarparkStainesuponThamesTW183APtotheChiltern OpenAirMuseumatChalfontStGiles,Bucks.Meetat0930todepartat 10.00amorapproximately11.00amatBeaconsfieldServices,M40Jct2. FurtherDetailsBillandGillon01784453919orat billandgillharwood@yahoo.com

YORKHISTORICVEHICLEGROUP/TROYDRIVE-ITDAYMeetatthe Knavesmire,York,YO231EXat9:30amfora10amstarttofinishat SherburnAeroClub,LS256JE

APRIL

6TH 2CV HIGHLAND RAID HELMSDALE 2024. Contact Jesse Wigman for further info: jessewigman@live.co.uk or 07867932241

7TH 2CV HIGHLAND RAID LOCH NESS 2024. Contact Jesse Wigman for further info

7TH CHESHIRE DRAGONS TRIP TO THE BRITISH IRONWORK CENTRE, Oswestry. Sculpture park, animal friends, walking trails, cafe and dogs welcome apart from carpeted areas. Free entry for arranged groups

7TH MANCHESTER DUCKS VISIT TO THE BRITISH COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

MUSEUM. Admission is £10 (£9 if ten or more, £7.50 if 20 or more). Further details can be found on our website

7TH 2CVGB COMMITTEE MEETING 11am, The Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP. For further information please contact the Secretary

21ST GLOUCESTER LEMONS, W.A.S.P.S AND THE HEREFORDSHIRE WYE

KNOTS DRIVE-IT DAY. Each group will meet at their respective venues and drive out to Castlemorton Common. For more details, please contact the local leader or see the localgroup’s Facebookpage

21ST HUDDERSFIELD TWIN HOT POTS/AIRE COOLED ALLEY CATS/CHESHIRE

DRAGONS DRIVE-IT-DAY. This year’s outing for the northern based clan (others further away are very, very welcome) is to the Crich Tramway Museum, Near Matlock Derbyshire (DE4 5DP). Yorkshire groups are meeting at The Olde Mustard Pot pub, near Langsett, S36 4GW from about 9.15am to depart at 10. Travelling over the `Strines`, via Ladybower to arrive at Crich at approximately 11.30am. Parking is inside the Crich museum (driver gets in free but passengers pay on entry).

21ST LE CLUB CLOUSSEAU DRIVE-IT DAY. Meet at Crossbush Services, Lyminster, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7QQ. Entrance on A284, just off A27 slightly East of Arundel, for a scenic route to Findon Vale Garden Centre, Worthing. BN14 0RE. For more information contact Bob on 07799 280940 or at bobbrotherhood@gmail.com

21ST SURREY MADHATTERS/ BERKSHIRE ROYALS DRIVE IT DAY. From Sainsbury's Car park Staines upon Thames TW18 3AP to the Chiltern Open Air Museum at Chalfont St Giles, Bucks. Meet at 0930 to depart at 10.00am or approximately 11.00am at Beaconsfield Services, M40 Jct 2. Further Details Bill and Gill on 01784 453919 or at billandgillharwood@yahoo.com

21ST YORK HISTORIC VEHICLE GROUP/TROY DRIVE-IT DAY. Meet at the Knavesmire, York, YO23 1EX at 9:30am for a 10am start to finish at Sherburn Aero Club, LS25 6JE

27–28TH 2CV RACING CADWELL PARK (LINCOLNSHIRE). Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2024 2CVParts.com Championship. Two 15 minute sprint races. Other racing series will also be present over the weekend. For more information visitwww.2cvracing.org.uk. For circuit or camping enquiries please visit www.cadwellpark.co.uk. Any other enquiries to Matthew Hollis, 07969 590705, hollis_motorsport@hotmail.com

28TH HUDDERSFIELD TWIN POTS BI-MONTHLY BREAKFAST & BANTER. The Oil Can Café at The Carding Shed, Washpit Mills, Green Lane, Holmfirth HD9 2RD

MAY

1–5TH 47TH INTERNATIONAL WAGGELMEETING (WAGGEL-2024) by the CCNL in Tienhoven aan de Lek, Lekdijk 47, Camping de Koekoek. Netherlands 4235 VM

8–12TH FRENCH NATIONAL

The biggest annual event in the 2CV calendar. This year it takes place at Brazey-en-Plaine, not far from Dijon. For more information, please refer to https://www.deuchenbrazey.com

9–12TH TROY BREIGHTON RIVERSIDE CAMP, Breighton Ferry Inn, YO8 6DH. Four days of relaxed camping at a site on the banks of the river Derwent near historic Howden. Riverside pitches, toilets, shower block, play area, all on site for just over a tenner per unit! Booking essential - Details from David Eden on 01405 813640 or at davideden1951@gmail.com

12TH CHESHIRE DRAGONS TRIP TO THE WIRRAL CLASSIC CAR SHOW, Claremont Farm, Wirral. If we would like to show our cars rather than just visit we have to complete the entry form before 30th April

18–19TH 2CV RACING CROFT (YORKSHIRE). Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2024 2CVParts. com Championship. Two 15 minute sprint races. Other racing series will also be present over the weekend

24– 27TH REGISTERS DAY. Martha's Down Campsite, Hindon, Wiltshire. Fromnoon on Friday 24th May to noon on Monday 27th May. To pre-book, email Conrad at 2cvbathtubclub@gmail.com and he will book you in. 23RD 2CV RACING Lydden Hill (Kent). Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2024 2CVParts.com Championship. Two 15 minute sprint races forming part of the unique Historics On The Hill event. Up to two spectators arriving in any pre-1990 car can get half price entry. Other racing series will also be present over the weekend.

JUNE

2ND CHESHIRE DRAGONS VISIT TO BODNANT GARDENS, North Wales (National Trust) to see the lovely laburnum arch and stunning gardens. Cafes on site or picnic if preferred. It will get busy so it’s preferable to book sooner rather than later. Admission is £16 per person unless you are

National Trust member

16TH POMPEY PUDDLEDUCKS VISIT TO HOLLYCOMBE STEAM MUSEUM CLASSIC CAR DAY. (Father’s Day), Iron Hill, Midhurst Road, Liphook, Hampshire. GU30 7LP (https://www.hollycombe.co.uk/events/classic-cargathering). Join us in your Classic vehicle to exhibit for £10 per car. Price includes token cards for all car occupants to use on the rides as they wish.

23RD 2CV RACING LYDDEN HILL (KENT). Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2024 2CVParts.com Championship. Two 15 minute sprint races forming part of the unique Historics On The Hill event. Up to two spectators arriving in any pre-1990 car can get half

price entry. Other racing series will also be present over the weekend.

JULY

5–7TH CHESHIRE DRAGONS 9TH CARROG CAMP at Carrog near Corwen, North Wales. This coincides with the Llangollen Transport Festival incorporating the Glyndyfrdwy car show 2 miles from Carrog. There will also be a drive to Pontcysllte Aqueduct through the beautiful North Wales countryside for lunch

12–14TH CITRÖEN FESTIVAL 2024. Abbots Ripton Village Hall, The Green, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, PE28 2PF. For more details please refer to their website - https://citroencarclub.org.uk/

26–28TH SOUWESCARGOTS DARTMOOR CAMP at Martins Park, Whiddon Down, EX20 2QL. There will be a Devon flag outside. Camping available from Thursday to Monday. To book please contact either Justin on 07891274547, justinjamesrowe@aol.com or Ant on 07890 950290, awallis@email.com. Further details can be found on our website

31–4TH DET2024. 10th German International in Gedern. For more information, please refer to https://www.det-2024.de/texte/seite.php?id=660591&lang=en

AUGUST

4TH CHESHIRE DRAGONS TRIP TO CROSBY BEACH to see Antony Gormley’s Another Place followed by lunch at the Bus Yard pop up bar

14–18TH ICCCR Torun, Poland. For full details please refer to their website - https:// icccr2024.pl/en/

15–18TH BRITISH MOTOR SHOW Come and display your A series on the 2CVGB stand which will be part of the award winning Citröen Village created in conjunction with CCC and TOC where we will be celebrating 90 Years of Citröen Front Wheel Drive. All models and conditions welcomed! For more details contact Jim Gibson on 07594 232602

22–27TH NORTH SOMERSET TIN SNAILS NSTS CAMP on a site near Wells with views across the levels to Glastonbury Tor. The campsite has toilets and showers and is within walking distance of three pubs, village shop & cafe. Scenic drive on Saturday and a camp tea party on the Sunday.

23–25TH 2CV RACING SNETTERTON (NORFOLK). Round 7 of the 2024 2CVParts. com Championship, the legendary 2CV 24 hour race. Come along and experience this amazing round the clock event, as 2CVs battle it out with the equally impressive Mini Grands. The 24 hour race begins on Saturday 24th .

30–1ST 2CVGB NATIONAL The Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. Please note pre-booking only

SEPTEMBER

1ST CHESHIRE DRAGONS NORTH WALES CASTLE TRIP AND LUNCH. Further details to follow.

5– 8TH LANCASTER BOMBERS SILLOTH CAMP (No beer festival). To book

camping (tent/caravan/motorhome) go to cove.co.uk/Solway or phone 01697 331236 (no need to mention the 2cv camp). Mourn the end of the beer festival!

20–22ND POMPEY PUDDLEDUCKS “CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY” CAMP. Wicks Farm Holiday Park, Redlands Lane, West Wittering, Chichester. PO20 8QE. Full details can be found on our website

OCTOBER

12TH CHESHIRE DRAGONS VISIT TO OULTON PARK

12TH 2CV RACING OULTON PARK (CHESHIRE). Rounds 8 and 9 of the 2024 2CVParts.com Championship. Two 15 minute sprint races. Other racing series will also be present over the weekend

27TH HUDDERSFIELD TWIN POTS BIMONTHLY BREAKFAST & BANTER at The Oil Can Café.

NOVEMBER

3RD CHESHIRE DRAGONS LUNCH AT THE DRUID INN, Llanferres, North Wales

DECEMBER

7TH CHESHIRE DRAGONS BAR SKITTLES AND CHRISTMAS DINNER at the Bickerton Poacher, near Malpas, Cheshire. The skittles alley is booked for 5.30pm and the Carvery dinner for 7.15pm

29TH HUDDERSFIELD TWIN POTS BIMONTHLY BREAKFAST & BANTER at The Oil Can Café.

PLEASE SEND ALL YOUR EVENTS INFO TO: events@2cvgb.com

BEFORE THE DEADLINE OF THE 5TH OF THE MONTH

2CVGBCLUBSHOP

2CVGB has a new online club shop. It has changed to incorporate a self service element so you can now order and pay for your items whenever you need something.

There are plenty of clothing items, bags, caps and beanies to choose from. Not only that but you can choose the colour you want it to come in, and the colour of the car on the logo. You will find a size guide so you can select the correct size required.

Please check for sizing before ordering as everything is embroidered to order.

Have a look through what’s on offer at https://logothat-polo.co.uk/store/ c2cv/

We hope you enjoy all the different lines that have been included for our members to choose from in our new club shop.

MEMBERSHIP CARD COMPETITION

You may remember that we’ve been running a competition to find a new photo for the membership card. We were sent some really good photos and it was a difficult choice to narrow it down. We eventually managed it and the winner is … this photo from Neal Humphrey showing his lovely 1954 AZ.

Congratulations to Neal and special mention must go to Andrew Robson, Colin McDonald, John Newbutt and Miles Wybourn for their photos, all of which would have made great membership cards as well. Their photos may well appear in 2CVGB News on random occasions.

Hi all, our new website has had a further update which makes it much better and user friendly, thanks to a tremendous amount of work from Dave our Web Manager.

To make full use of it and to access your own member section where you can change address, add family members, enter your car details etc., please make sure I have your correct email address. If you are trying to access

the Members Area and are having issues, most of the time it is because either you haven’t an email address on file or it is an old one. If there are any issues after that, then Dave will be able to help you. Contact me in the first instance to check your email, and if no joy then I’ll let Dave know.

That’s it for now, have fun and take care out there

The new cards will start to be issued in May so, depending when your renewal date is, you either don’t have long to wait or, as in the case of your editor, you may have to wait another 11 months for your new card.

Thank you to everyone who took part.

NOTICEBOARD

YES!it’sthe2024 TROY Breighton Riverside Camp

Thursday9th –Sunday12th May

Fourdaysofspringcampingatarelaxedcampsiteonthebanksof the Derwent near historic Howden. Riverside pitches, toilets,showerblock,playarea,andtheBreightonFerryInn(Y086DH), all onsite for justover atenner! Bookingessential-DetailsfromDavidEden on01405813640ordavideden1951@gmail.com

TROY–TheRidingsOfYorkshire

Happy ever after!

I had always thought restoration was not to be that difficult, but then I have never learnt French either.

In the March issue, the editor wisely commented on making available to members a list of experts, to advise members attempting a rebuild.

My restoration lasted four years to which point having it ready for the road and insured June last year, I was keen on the car being checked over by a very competent engineer, before driving into the setting sun. But who to seek out, I asked myself!

William Waldron of Cambridge2CV entered stage right, agreeing to check it over completely during the month of February this year. I had detailed to him my misgivings on things that did not seem to align in the true French fashion. To the extent I had removed the dried hanging garlic from inside, so placed as to avoid spider webs.

After full inspection, Will fortuitously changed the gearbox with proper Dyane gear ratios, stripped the engine strip and added a heavier clutch and

flywheel plus inspected the electrics including adding 123 ignition plus coil and carb adjustments, then all four corners of the undercarriage. I am indebted to him as he missed nothing. The Citroën runs sweetly, no hunting, no smoke, gentle purr like a cat. It is now truly a Dyane with no incorrect parts, so it does pay to have an expert on board.

As I drive, I cannot stop smiling. My wife says, don’t worry, it’s a 2cvgb thing. All members seem to have the same affliction, she says. It’s not contagious.

I have driven thousands of miles across UK, Southern Ireland, France, Spainand Portugalwithout any incidents or breakdowns, but I never ever smiled. Only once I remember, when driving a TVO Standard Fordson Tractor when I was seven years old. It seems I have at last reclaimed that total control, a touchy, feely driver thing of yesteryear, with a basic mechanical machine, smoother road comfort and a Dyane’s individualistic motion, all with superb comfort even with double spinal fractures, I am without pain, so hence my smile or you might see it as ‘a 2cvgb grin’.

Long may these cars last.

P.S. I am based in Bourne, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire. I chose Cambridge 2cv as I heard he was good with old Citroëns and possibly old drivers, plus free advice given at all times. Build details published in August 2022 No 523.

FLYING 2CV

Members might be interested in a bit of the background/history of the “flying” 2cv in the correspondence pages of the February 2024 magazine.

The car was designed by Gary, a (sadly departed) friend in San Diego. It was built at the Forged Metals company in

Fontana, California, for a trade stand at the 1999 Paris Air Show. It went on to appear at three more biennial shows until 2003 in several different guises including a stealth bomber! The car was never intended to fly - just look the part. It was basically an exhibition stand

attraction (pics show some of the associated promotional material - card model kits and T-shirts) and a grown man’s toy! It could, however, be driven

and was street legal (but only when the removable wings were carried on a purpose built trailer!

It wasn’t thrown together in a home

garage, but built to exacting specifications in a well equipped fabrication workshop. Some of the other pics show this (and show the REAL Lycoming pusher engine installed for authenticity in the back.

The interior was also non functional but had a great looking overhead console and hand grip steering.

If anyone is passing through, the car is now preserved at the San Diego Air and Space Museum at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, near San Diego.

That’s not all there is to the story though! You might have noticed that the car was built from a bright pink donor 2cv. This was an earlier custom, a surfer’s “Woody Wagon"!).

When the Woody was dismantled for the conversion, the custom wooden panels were stashed away in a garage and eventually fitted to friend Michael’s standard grey car! There they remain to this day together with a very appropriate personal registration.

Many thanks to Michael Roeder in San Diego who provided most of the photos.

As members will be aware, the club has long wanted to find a solution to the challenges faced by young members looking to insure their cars at a reasonable cost. We are therefore delighted to announce that we have partnered with Peter James Insurance to design and launch a brand-new exclusive insurance offering packed with lots of great benefits. We hope that you’ll give it a try when your own policy is due for renewal. In making our decision, we were struck by the extent to which the team at Peter James Insurance live and breathe the historic vehicle world, just like we do. They understand how much our cars means to us and the huge amount of time, money, and effort we have invested in them. They also understand that our vehicles are likely to be a well-loved extra member of the family!

The new scheme offers members access to a range of benefits that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. In addition to the usual Peter James policy benefits it also offers:

● Exclusive rates for 2CVGB members

● UK and EU breakdown cover –included with all policies at no additional charge.

● Free agreed value – a free and simple agreed value process.

● Legal expenses cover – included at no additional charge.

● Member to member cover – this provides fully comprehensive cover allowing any paid club member that takes out a policy to drive another club members’ classic car

● Free salvage retention – in the event of a total loss/write off, the scheme will pay out the full agreed value of the car (minus any excess) and return the salvage to you free of charge.

● Spare parts cover – Up to £3,000 cover for spare parts and tools.

● Self-repair – the option to undertake your own repairs and receive an equivalent cash settlement.

For our young members, Peter James has developed a range of options that we believe will be affordable and accessible, including:

● Accompanied driver cover –allowing the young enthusiast to drive a classic Citroen owned by a parent or grandparent whilst accompanied.

● Unaccompanied driver cover –providing the ability for the young enthusiast to use a classic owned by a family member without supervision.

● Own vehicle – cover for young members that own their own A-series Citroen.

Multi-vehicle policies are also available, offering the convenience of single renewal date for those that are lucky enough to have a collection of classics So why not give the scheme a try when your insurance is next due. Peter James Insurance doesn’t operate a callcentre, just a small, friendly team who are ready to speak to you.

Visit to the AGM of the Amicale Citroën Internationale

Five am is, for most people, an unusually early hour to start the day, but I knew that after I had completed my 90 mile drive I would be chauffeured the rest of the way to Paris. We travelled via the Dover to Calais ferry and but for the activities of French farmers we would have arrived in Paris on schedule. As it was we were a couple of hours later than intended but still had time to find a nice restaurant to help us recover from the day’s journey.

My chauffeur for the day had been Bernie Shaw and we were travelling to Paris because he and I are the UK’s delegates to the Amicale Citroën Internationale and we were in Paris for its AGM.

The ACI board had very obligingly timed the AGM to coincide with Retromobile which we visited on the Friday. Neither of us are as young as we used to be but despite ageing skeletons and aching joints we managed to endure a few hours of browsing before fatigue set in. Sadly the Citroën presence was very limited. A short rest and a trip on the metro to Bernie’s favourite Parisian restaurant rounded off the day.

The main event, the purpose of our journey, was on Saturday, the venue was the Citroën Conservatoire at Aulnay.

The Conservatoire is Citroën’s heritage collection of about 200 vehicles,

including many prototypes, and the couple of hours that we had to browse, study and just soak up the atmosphere was a real treat. We were then provided with lunch in a nearby restaurant (more food!) before the business meeting.

As the name states, the Amicale is an international organisation to which any country can nominate two delegates. It was formed in 2004 and at the moment there are delegates from 42 countries.

The Amicale is essentially a friendship organisation providing a link between all Citroën clubs worldwide, supporting them and sharing information. It liaises with the Federation Internationale Vehicles Anciens (FIVA) and is involved in promoting the interests of the classic vehicle movement and responding to proposed governmental or European directives which might result in restrictions on the way in which we can use our vehicles. Amicale also provides a link between the clubs (that is you and I, the enthusiasts) and the Citroën company. Citroën provides financial support to the ACI and that helps to provide seed money to the organisers of the main international meetings through the mechanism of the ‘event of the year’ (EOTY). The Amicale has supported 21

major events in this way since 2004.

The guest speaker was Loic de la Roche who is head of L’Aventure Peugeot/ Citroën/DS. He talked about the hope that the Conservatoire can be developed and expanded, possibly on a new site away from Aulnay. He also recognised that a big challenge for the classic car movement is to keep young people

interested in old vehicles.

There was a brief report on last summer’s 2CV world meeting at Delémont in Switzerland. There had been 9000 participants in 3700 cars of which 154 were from the UK. 84% had pre-booked. There had been 15,000 other visitors which seems to suggest a good deal of interest in older vehicles

among the population generally. There was a presentation by our Polish colleagues who are organising the ICCCR in Torun this summer from 14th - 18th August. This meeting was originally scheduled for 2020 but was cancelled because of Covid and a proposed new date of 2022 was also abandoned because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the very uncertain economic situation. Let us hope that they can at last have a successful meeting in 2024.

Luke Stare, the Slovenian delegate updated the meeting on plans for the 2CV world meeting in Slovenia in 2025. The meeting approved an application by the Netherlands for EOTY status for its 2CV world meeting in 2027. Prebooking will open next year at the Slovenia world meeting. Visit 2cv2027.

nl for up to date information.

The meeting voted in a new board with all members re-standing except Laurent Moret de Rocheprise who has been treasurer for many years. Patricio Cardemil Gálvez, delegate from Chile, was voted onto the board. Twenty delegates attended with several others taking part via Zoom. Bernie and I travelled home the following day without any delays. It was only the second AGM that I had attended but I enjoyed the experience and was pleased to have the opportunity to meet members of the Amicale board and fellow delegates. You can learn more about the work of the Amicale by visiting its very informative web site Amicale-CitroënInternationale.org

LOSTANDFOUND

The first Saturday in March I had the most sickening feeling any 2CV owner can have (other than finding out your chassis is rotten) - opening the curtains one morning and seeing an empty space where my ’87 Charleston should have been. I grew up with A-series Citroëns. My grandfather had a Dyane that he passed on to my father, who painted it brown and orange in an attempt to mimic the paintwork of the posher “Dolly” 2CVs that he subsequently went on to own. I’ve always loved their simplicity, their unique smell, the way the engine firing up sounds

like a load of chickens being chased down an alleyway, the purity of purpose that actually hides an astonishingly clever design - so when I turned 50, in a fit of nostalgia I rather self-indulgently bought one for myself. In five months of ownership my Charleston put a smile on my face every day, and I never tired of the delight at driving what was in effect a 70 year old design among modern traffic. I had met up with a local 2CV club, had just bought some new seat covers and a soft top, and was looking forward to fitting them. And now it was gone.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I actually cried. Having lived in London and Montenegro for 25 years before moving back to my hometown of Norwich, I’d had vehicles stolen before and each incident had the same outcome - I’d never seen them again. But this wasn’t some anonymous family hatchback. This was my car. I was heart-broken.

While I was moping boredly in a Stansted hotel room that evening (I had an early morning flight the next day), though, an extraordinary mobilisation was already under way. Members of my local 2CV club, the Broadland Ducks, had circulated my brief WhatsApp post lament to their wider social media groups with the challenge to get my car found, and it was starting to gain traction. Before long I got a call from one of their number who had seen my car being driven by some hooligan near the university student campus. It was still in the city! Other 2CV club members had gone out looking out for it; meanwhile we passed this new information over to the police. I went to sleep a little overwhelmed by the reaction, but finally feeling like there might be some hope. After all, such a distinctive (and, let’s be honest, cheap) car was unlikely to have been bundled into the back of a van like an E-

type by some professional gang.

Half an hour after I landed the following morning I fielded another call, this time directly from a lovely police officer who told me that not only had the car been found abandoned in an alleyway but that other than the mess from the hot-wiring, it appeared undamaged – and barely 24 hours after the theft itself they had already made an arrest!

I still feel quite undeserving of such support, most of it from people who had only met me once – and some not at all. My appeal had been shared across all sorts of Facebook timelines and groupseven reaching the likes of Practical Classics – and the police confirmed that the rapid result was almost entirely down to the efforts of the 2CV and classic car community and their tip-offs.

So thank you, everyone. You’re all amazing, and you have restored my faith in people in general. Those new vinyl seats are going to look smashing.

Whilst it could be argued that the magazine cover was interesting, such was the gravitas of the photograph, showing three prototypes, it appears it was deemed wholly unnecessary to feature the magazine title or any mention of the club or the date of publication.

Five lines into her editorial, the editor announces her imminent breakdown!!!

The reason: a list of previously published technical articles was featured in the February magazine along with a bold statement from the editor offering to photocopy and send any articles out to members. You can only imagine the

number of requests she had!

The breaking news in this issue was that the club announced its very own landline telephone number and that a duty rota of committee members would be on hand to ensure it was always answered!

A mixed mailbag from members featured in this issue including technical enquiries about greasing knife edges, charging batteries, high bulb usage and why some wipers park on the left and some on the right. The light bulb issue prompted the writer to say "As we are keeping our present 2CV - now 8 years old - the cost of bulbs could outweigh

that of the vehicle”. One member questioned the very existence of the Disk Brake register which he felt wasn't needed 'because there are so many about'.

A staple of magazine content is articles from members about experiences with their cars and this issue featured a tale of Bryan the 2CV towing a stricken Hvan (Uncle Hugo) visiting from Spain, who they discovered broken down in a car park on a snowy Christmas night. The story

goes on to mention Doctor Kevin who came out the next day to fix Hugo. Well done!

The trade ads reveal a range of replacement chassis which would cost around £300 to buy or £650 including fitting, galvanising, car collection and delivery, new brake pipes and a bulkhead repair.

My bargain of the month in the smalls was a 1989 2CV with a supercharged 1015Ami engine. Over £9000 had been spent on the car and it was for sale for just £600

NITS FEBRUARY RUN

On Saturday 17th February the Northern Ireland Tin Snails met at Sprucefield. We had a run up to Templepatrick to Coleman's Garden Centre where we all had lunch and a catch up. Even though the weather wasn't great, that didn't stop us from having a great day out.

How to create chaos in one easy lesson?

A 2cv Ecosse welcome to French fans on the streets of Edinburgh!

The Six Nations Rugby, Scotland v France at Murrayfield, February 10th. There might be snow!

This fixture means only one thing for 2cv Ecosse, a most welcome organising email from great, enthusiastic expert and Citroën 2cv fan, James Storrar, from the Kingdom of Fife.

Who’s coming? We all are! What a brilliant idea! Snow is forecast! Who cares?

How much fun we had filling the busy streets with our motley group of brightly coloured 2cvs, giving delight and enjoyment to our enthusiastic French rugby friends. They were seeing their iconic, very French, “Deux Chevaux” noisily parading the streets of Edinburgh, horns tooting, headlamps ablaze, “Look at us” screaming out, “Welcome to you all!”

“The Steading” hostelry was a warm, dry, hospitable place to meet, for the eighth time. OK, seventh, as one had to be cancelled at the very last minute because of Covid! That is 16 years of careful planning, organisation, time, effort, route planning, and endeavour by James, who provided a thorough briefing to all, the emphasis on caring for everybody, with more wellchosen words of welcome and encouragement from our equally enthusiastic, 2cv Ecosse founder, Joe Cent and his wife Zara.

Fine coffee by the cup-full with biscuits aplenty, were most welcome after our trip north from our home in Kelso, over Sutra, where there was snow, but nothing to really mention. We were catching up with old friends as well as making new ones there. Everybody is most welcome in the default 2cvGB way! Is there any other?

Everybody had the route plan, but keeping together was a key to the success of this 2cv raid on

Setting off from The Stables

In the Grassmarket with Edinburgh

Castle in the background

Meetup before the start

Heading into Edinburgh

Enthusiastic French supporters

Edinburgh, no easy task through the heavy traffic of a capital city centre, with many roadworks, not breaking down, keeping in touch, not knocking over the bravely piloted scooters and decorated mopeds of our 2cv associates.

Hundreds, nay thousands of mobile phone photographers/ videoers were on the roadside all the way along the route to the Grassmarket and beyond, waving and pointing as we filled the boulevards from the city centre to the famous Murrayfield Rugby stadium.

The cheers, waves, shouts of delight from our French friends was most evident all the way along the route, even “Frenchican” waves from the crowded pavements full of blue, white and red coloured supporters on their way to the big game.

What wonderful impression we must have made upon our French friends along the route, where even the Scottish fans were cheering us, before leaving the throngs for an organised park up, chin wag, lunch together before heading off to all points north, south, east and west, some to watch the game live, others to watching from the comfort of their own homes.

What a wonderful day was enjoyed by so many throughout Edinburgh, with huge thanks to James Storrar, Joe Cent and 2cv Ecosse.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAN SIMPSON, JOHN LITTLEWOOD & DOT MORAN

Lucy Cutler 59 Roundle Ave, Felpham, West Sussex PO22 8LJ 07787511877

49-60register@2cvgb.com

POSITION VACANT

Please contact registrarscoordinator @2cvgb.com for information

Will Waldron 31 Chequer Street, Fenstanton, Cambs PE28 9JQ drumbrake@2cvgb.com

Simon Mackett 19 Railway Road, Wisbech, Cambs PE13 2QA discbrake@2cvgb.com

Mark Dunmore

The Moorings, Cross Keys Lane, Coningsby, Lincs, LN4 4RT 01526 342246 dyane@2cvgb.com

Moss Foster 59 Haysman Close, Letchworth SG6 1UD 07914155917 ami@2cvgb.com

Mike Good 37 Rupert Avenue, High Wycombe, Bucks

HP12 3NG 07375 852546 vans@2cvgb.com

Paul Brice

Lower Barn, Rockfield, Monmouth NP25 5QD 01600 715810 and 07887 845810 mehari@2cvgb.com

Andrew Teverson 19 Prestwood Road, Weoley Castle, Birmingham B29 5EB 07899 076018 modcon@2cvgb.com

Alan Lloyd

The Willows, Horsham Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 5LF hvan@2cvgb.com

Garry Whelan

Killiney House, 108 Sandy Lane, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 7GP 01159 536716 or 07814321556 bijou@2cvgb.com

James Storrar leads the way

A “Frenchican” wave

All the supporters are pleased to see us

fun was had by all

RIPPLE RAMBLINGS

Hi Guys! In response to my plea last month for photos etc of your own ripples, Alan Lloyd has kindly sent in some old photos and details of the 1952, 375cc Type A (chassis No 23735) which he acquired back in 2006. I had a dig around in the Ripple Register archives and did find some information about this car which would seem to have been previously registered in the Cantal department in deepest France.

would probably have been replaced by a modern galvanised one without another thought. Alan however, understanding the importance of the original chassis, managed to save it with extensive repairs. Alan tells us: “The first pictures show the car 'as found' (who could resist!) which sadly was so rotten that it had to be rebuilt. The pictures show the dismantling, and later rebuilding of the car. Of course, it had a 375cc engine with the first type of drive shafts, so was pretty awful to

The vehicle was imported into the UK by Michael Cederkreutz as a ‘sortie de grange’ barn find in January 1996, and shortly afterwards was passed on to

Dave Middleton of Wolverhampton, whose intention was to restore it to its original condition. Fast forward ten years to December 2006 when Alan, who used to write this column of course, bought the more or less untouched car from Dave. The bodyshell was quite badly rusted and needed extensive repairs, with new sills, floors, and lower bulkhead etc. The chassis in particular was very bad and for any other 2cv

Almost complete

Alan’s ’52 Type A arrives

Dismantling begins

Dismantling

Repairs to the bodyshell

drive if I am being totally honest, but I loved the whole process. It was rebuilt bodily somewhere in the Cotswolds and Rick Pembro kindly helped me to collect it. I honestly can't remember where or to whom I sold it, but I imagine that you will probably know precisely! I must just add that finding, restoring, and bringing vehicles back from the dead has always been the most fun for me - once they are finished, I want to move on to the next.”

I fully understand Alan’s comments about the car being awful to drive with its simple universal jointed drive shafts. Driving a 2cv Type A or AU for that matter, with its puny 9HP engine, does indeed require a fair degree of patience and understanding, and I suppose that you have to be a bit of a masochist to want to drive one at all! Alan eventually sold the car in order to move on to other Citroën projects and as far as I know, the Type A went to Northern Ireland, via Pete Sparrow’s workshop where it had a larger engine fitted in order to make the car ‘more useable’. At this point and sadly as with so many cars, 23735 dropped off the Ripple Register radar. So, if any of you can help to fill in the gaps please get in touch.

Ok, going slightly off piste now, but I’m sure that this will chime with quite a few of you. Once you have your ripple nicely restored and fully operational, or perhaps conserved in its well-used look, then that’s the time when you start to look around for suitable period accessories to go with it. A couple of old French road maps to put on the parcel shelf, one of the spare light bulb kits that you find at the flea markets, or

perhaps just a nice 1950s keyring. We’ve all done it and the motoring accessories of the time certainly do look good in a car of the same era. Well, how about this for the ultimate 2cv accessory? An Ailette caravan. So light that it can easily be towed behind even a 425cc ripple, and very handy for sleeping in or just showing off at 2cv camps. The downside (there’s always a downside) is that they only made about 100 I think, and are highly sought after by owners of small classic cars throughout Europe. As a result, they fetch extremely high prices, about €8,000 in this case. One can dream I suppose!

That’s it for now gang. See you next month, and please keep the reports and news coming in!

Ailette caravan anybody?

DRUM BRAKE NEWS

Hi there drumbrakers! Hopefully by the time you read this spring will have well and truly sprung, and we are all out enjoying our cars in the sunshine.

As you may have already heard, this year's Registers Day is marking a subtle but very important milestone in the 2cv's history. 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the 2cv to the UK in 'official' RHD form. (Maybe I should say reintroduction as 2cvs were of course built in Slough and sold in the UK in the 1950s.)

Whichever, 1974 therefore allowed the UK market access once again to the delights of the 2cv. The new 'modern' 2cv6 was met with critical acclaim and sold well from the word go, the previously conservative

British buying public now seemingly a lot more receptive to the 2cv's charms.

Any 2cvs since the late ‘50s that were sold in the UK prior to 1974 were imports, largely LHD but occasionally the odd curiosity such as Swedish market RHD AZAMs that found their way here.

This milestone does of course fall right in the middle of the era of 2cv production that the '70-'81 Drum Brake register caters for, so naturally I'm very excited that Registers Day is devoting its theme to the occasion.

So, for Registers Day I would like to encourage as many drumbrake 2cvs to attend as possible, in particular any from 1974 & 1975 (N and P reg) which would be right at the very beginning of UK sales. There are a handful on the register, many of which are known to be on the road and fully usable.

Hopefully we will have a separate

display area as well as plentiful information on the history and details of these early UK 2cvs.

Registers weekend is being held from Friday 24thMonday 27th May, with the big day itself on Sunday 26th. See the inside front cover of this issue for more info!

If you have a Drumbrake 2cv and are planning on attending then it would be great if you could drop me a message and let me know, so I can get an idea of what we can do and what space we may need. It'd be marvellous to get the largest turnout of '70-81 2cvs ever!

Next month I'll be doing a summary of what a 1974 UK market 2cv6 is, its tech spec, and what differentiates one from other 2cvs. They are a special thing for sure!

Until then….

DISC-USSIONS

Hello all. Not been at all busy on the registration or correspondence front this month. Just as well with life and illness getting in the way, as it does sometimes. After the interminable drag of January, followed by the shortest February I can ever remember, leap-year notwithstanding, I couldn’t believe it was time to write another article! Is there some reason why I am getting so few registrations? Could it be the difficulty in navigating our new improved website? If so, somebody in charge needs to know.

This month’s topic for discussion: With the large number of over-powered, bloated and hideously expensive electric (and ICE) cars being built these days, do you agree that enough is enough and what the world needs is lightweight, economical and efficient vehicles for personal transport? If someone in a thirtyseven-year-old 2cv with maybe 29 bhp to play with finds themselves being held up by slower moving traffic on our crowded roads, and I do, constantly, does anybody really need these 300-500bhp monsters? Where can you use their prodigious performance and keep your licence? The release of the electric Dacia Spring in RHD form and the new and quite pretty Renault 5 are, I suppose, a step in the

Condition D and says the next time he goes to where it is stored, he will take some better pictures of it than the featured home-printed shot. From the known history, he supplied, which seems to stop in 2002, it might have been off the road for quite a while. Looks to me like a good find and a very suitable candidate for restoration.

UPDATES/EMAILTRAFFIC

right direction. Neither are as expensive as most of the competition, especially the Spring, which is not performance-based (and all the better for it) because it has a modest-sized motor and a small battery. It achieves a minor miracle in today’s electric vehicles by weighing under a ton and having a useful range as well as charging relatively quickly.

Secondly, if 95% of the world’s cars spend 95% of their lives parked, why do we bother having so many of them? It seems to me to be a vast waste of dwindling resources…

NEWENTRIES

Not much this month. Our only new addition is Alasdair Layland’s 1986 blue Spécial, D209 OGK, which he bought in September 2022. It is needing the usual new floors, sills and chassis and Alasdair is currently deciding who to entrust the restoration to. He describes it as

Robert Willis, who added his 1988 red Spécial named “Noddy” in 1995, a car he has owned since May 1989 when it was nine-months-old, had let his membership lapse. Happily, he has rejoined, still has the same car and has just given the engine a 652cc upgradeas he said, why not? It is also on its original chassis because in 1989 he filled all the box-sections (ie all of it) with a mixture of Waxoyl and diesel, which strikes me as a capital idea and I wish everyone had tried it when the cars were new. I have updated all his contact details.

Paul Dyson asked if anyone has any knowledge of B192 GFE, a blue Spécial which he bought new for his wife. It’s never been added to the register, so I can’t help him. Currently on SORN and last changed owner in 2006, according to the DVLA database. Paul wondered, as it wasn’t in use, whether he might be able to have it back for a donation? Please get in contact with me if you can help, even with an emphatic no!

I have had two replies on the fuel consumption Alec Knight’s blue Spécial, Celeste, had been returning; by his calculations it was between 58-80mpg.

Leo Quinn has been averaging 53mpg on the 10,600 miles he has covered on European road trips since 2018 in his 1986 Spécial with one passenger and a suitcase. Pretty good going, but I imagine quite typical for anyone not flat-out all the time and relatively lightly laden. I had been pondering what Alec had said he was getting on a long run too. Celeste was imported to Florida from France because Alec wanted a LHD 2cv for the USA. If so, has she still got a Km speedo/ odometer fitted? That would skew the figures significantly. Paul Dimond also thought the same and being better with figures than me, reckoned that if so, 58mpg would be nearer 36mpg for short journeys and 80mpg would be about 50mpg on a long trip. I think I will email Alec before this appears in print.

Too late for inclusion in last month’s mag, Ahmed Abdeldayem sent in some

Alasdair Layland’s 1986 blue Spécial

Ahmed Abdeldayem’s Colorado Beige 2cv6 Club

more pictures of his lovely original Colorado Beige 2cv6 Club. The interior metalwork is in just stunning condition and the engine bay has come up well after a good clean during the recommissioning process. Seeing as we are very short on photos this month, I am very grateful for these!

FLEETNEWS/OTHERSTUFF

Well after what seems like forever, I actually did some tinkering. The first momentous occasion was one bright but cold day in February, the second yesterday. Last month Delilah got her first wash for a long time. It was seeing moss growing out of a window rubber that forced my hand. My word she was grubby. After several damp hours and many buckets of shampoo

she looked a bit more presentable, unlike me. To dry myself out I decided to make a start on removing the old stickers from her boot lid, almost all of which had faded to white, as in this old picture from 2022, but even worse. Out with a long extension lead and heat gun and I gave it a go with moderate success, until the looming black clouds marked the end of doing anything outside. To be fair, I was totally knackered and needed to stop anyway. The icy wind blowing down the road didn’t help with warming the old vinyl, it went brittle when too cold and made a hell of a mess. What would be better would be having the boot lid in the back garden, laid flat on top of the wheelie bins and out of the breeze. When we next had a dry day, I fitted my spare boot lid so Delilah wasn’t sitting wide open in the street and had another go at the maroon one. I made a better job on my second attempt, although it took a bit of practice to get the heat right and not scrape the old paint off as well. With all the vinyl removed. I started removing the sticky residue, first with white spirit, then meths and finished off removing the most stubborn traces of adhesive with Sticky Stuff Remover. I then washed it and went over it by hand with rubbing compound, not that you’d notice; it is well beyond polishing. The Delage Red has crazed in places due to shoddy preparation and turned a nasty shade of brown.

weathered and shiny maroon patches where the stickers were. Plus a few bare bits and some of the original red. It certainly has ‘patina’ as does the vent flap, the only other panel with original paint from her restoration in 2002. It’s quite rusty too and will need replacing, as will all four wings, the bumpers, wheels and roof. It’s going to get expensive

Happily, the lid itself is still in good condition, no rust worth worrying about and has a good hinge and should look OK with some fresh paint on it. It looks awful now with a mosaic of discoloured,

She still starts and runs well and last Sunday we used her to take us to an evening hospital appointment a drama free round trip, although I thought I noticed a smell of burning oil now and again. I have finally found the source of her oil leak! I left her running while I put some more air in her tyres yesterday and she left a puddle on the road, a worryingly large one for the ten minutes she was

Ahmed Abdeldayem’s Colorado Beige 2cv6 Club

Faded boot lid stickers

Boot lid after de-stickering

ticking over. One of the easiest way to kill your 602 is to ignore oil leaks, with the pressure it runs at it doesn’t take long to pump all of its tiny sump out. I needed to urgently address this issue, but first I had to find where it was coming from. Easier said than done. The fan tends to blow leaking oil backwards and a fair bit of cleaning was needed initially. She only loses oil when running and has been a wee bit incontinent for years, but nothing like this, I’d always presumed it was a weeping nearside pushrod tube seal so the engine was filthy. Off with the wing, out with the Hyper Clean in a spray bottle and I cleaned the sump and took the fan and rubber splash guard off so I could do the front of the engine and check it wasn’t the oil cooler or cylinder head oil pipes. I hoped not, I’ve replaced both in the past and if I never have to do either again with the engine still in the car, it will be too soon. It took ages to get it clean and dry enough to find the leak. I don’t suppose anyone who has had this happen will be surprised to read that the oil pressure switch was the culprit. I’ve added changing that to the list of jobs I hope I never have to do again with the engine in situ. Irritatingly, it is so easy on an engine that is on the bench. In the end I managed to get the metal tube that the brake cooling duct used to be fitted to off the back of the front cowling. Blood was spilt, but worth it because it made enough room to feed a 22mm socket and a long extension bar in to get at the rogue switch. I must purchase a long-reach socket for this job. It is possible with a normal one, but there is a risk of snapping off the wiring connector. In my workshop/shed is a spares engine, many of its moving parts have gone into keeping my other 2cv

going, and now it has donated an oil pressure switch. It seems to be holding too, fingers crossed it continues to do so, but I’ll get a new one, just in case.

Nothing is ever simple, is it? After I’d cleaned the oil off the road and finished buttoning her all up, I closed the bonnet and it wouldn’t latch. Odd I thought, it was fine earlier. The spring in the catch had rusted right through and fallen in half. Gosh, that would have been ‘fun’ if it had gone on the dual carriageway at 70 mph last night… I ordered two new springs (I think I will always keep a spare from now on) and a new roof. The old yellow hood is leaking like a sieve and the poor old car is quite rusty enough without getting water over her floor every time it rains. I like the new dark red hood, she came with one this colour when we bought her in 2006. And that is it for this month. I will be very interested to learn why all the registrations have dried up. Should we still be supplying paper forms? The numbers have noticeably dropped ever since they stopped being added to renewal letters and the new membership packs.

Spring should be almost upon us, so get out there and start using your cars again, I need something to write about!

FOURGONNE CONCLUSIONS

Vans at work and play

REGISTERSDAY

Hello all, welcome to April. No fooling this month - let’s get straight in.

NEWREGISTRATIONSANDUPDATES

This spot needs your contributions. Send some pictures of your van or the van you once owned otherwise it could get sublet to the Disc Brake column or annexed by Méhari Missive. Use it or lose it!

COLCHESTERCATCHUP

There’s some news from Liz and Doug Cunningham, well known to 2Cvers in the Colchester area. After many years of servicing and repairing 2CVs and Dyanes Doug has now more or less retired. Liz has been sorting things out and kindly sent a pack of van related items amongst which are these postcards showing vans at work and play. There will be more later as some are seasonal related. We wish Doug a happy and healthy retirement.

If you’ve been thinking that some of the categories could do with a tweak you’re not alone. Event organiser Gary Dicks has suggested having separate ‘Best 2CV Van’ and ‘Best Acadiane’ categories. In his opinion they are two different beasts, both to live with and to restore. Well, he should know. I think he’s right and also they seem to attract slightly different people. For starters, taller people simply don’t fit in an AZU without considerable folding. More than that though there are differing attractions to each van. If you want a sleeker, roomier, almost normal looking van for travelling then an Acadiane would be the choice, If however you prefer the more rustic, iconically picturesque image of France on wheels then a 2CV van is the one. Whatever, although they have more similarities than differences they deserve their own

New roof

categories and it means an extra person will go home happy with a prize. Maybe we could also reintroduce runner up prizes? There’s always something deserving that just misses out. My HY once won 2nd prize which was a sponge with 2nd prize written on it. Only a sponge but really makes you feel like it was worth the effort.

AKATHEAK500

In case anyone doesn’t know, the Acadiane was first built in 1977 (141 made) and became available to buy in 1978. Production was at Vigo in Spain and the van was named the Dyane 6/400 in Spain or the Acadiane in other markets. The name was a play on words as ‘AK Dyane’ is pronounced ‘Acadiane’ in French. Another possible name for it could have been the AK500 if Citroën had continued with their previous naming system of calling vans after their carrying capacity. The new name was probably an attempt to distance it from what had gone before and encourage buyers to think they

available and it didn’t have any heavy accessories added during its production run. Some extra soundproofing was installed from 1979 but not enough to rob it of 4 mph, possibly by 1984 the advertising just had to be more honest.

The continental practice of producing estate cars from vans resulted in the weekend version named the Mixta or Mixte depending on whether you bought it in Spain or Belgium. This had sliding side windows in the cargo area and a folding rear seat and footrest.

2CV and Dyane were made simultaneously whereas the Acadiane totally replaced our beloved 2CV vans and also the Ami 8 service van.

were getting something new. Also they may not have wanted owners thinking it could actually cope with carrying 500 kg. Reports say that such a load had an adverse effect on handling and the actual payload was 475 kg. Despite the name in Spain being 400 it did have that extra 75 kg increase in capacity which was enabled by its wheelbase being 12.5 cm longer than an AKS400.

The engine used was the 602cc Type AM2A which produced 31 bhp DIN@ 5750 rpm. Driver comfort was slightly improved and the cab had a useful overhead shelf made possible by its increased headroom. Wind down windows also improved security. The spare wheel moved to a new position under the bonnet which freed up the side compartment for storage. Not much value for van users but really helpful for anyone converting a van to a camper as it provided space for a camping battery or water storage etc. In 1978 the top speed of the new van was stated to be 64 mph while in 1987 it was given as 60 mph. What slowed it down? No explanation is

The Acadiane had a short life by Citroën standards. Production peaked at 49,679 in 1979 and then steadily declined until, in 1987 only 3,936 were made. Total production was 253,393. For comparison production of 2CV vans was1,246,306 over 27 years. Like the Dyane, the Acadiane was a budget conscious way of producing a modernised 2CV variant. The difference was that the

The modernisation was considered necessary to try to counter the dominance of the Renault 4 vans until July ‘85 and then the Renault 5 based Express. However the Acadiane wasn’t really much more than a styling exercise. Underneath, the mechanical changes were marginal and the replacement by the Visa based C15 was long overdue in commercial terms. The Renaults came with a wide range of engines, the only option offered for the Acadiane was to take it or leave it. Sadly for enthusiasts it was the end of the era of lovable looking vans, the C15 was a proper modern workhorse, capable and successful but not much pleasure to be had from driving long distances to sit in a field of them.

2CV lights on top of an Acadiane’s wings

I once saw a C15 with a 2CV bonnet attached over the existing one. A bold attempt by the driver to recapture the halcyon days of the 2CV. Likewise it’s not unusual to see an Acadiane with the bonnet and front wings replaced with those from a 2CV. Here though is a different idea - simply bolt some 2CV

Acadiane

lights on top of the wings, from the driver’s seat it would give an impression of 2CV-ness. More complicated is the side door where the petrol tank would normally be.

PICTUREPERFECT

Obviously 2CV vans are perfect in every way and need no changes, but here’s one that’s been altered the opposite way to give Acadiane-like proportions. If pictures of altered vans cause you distress it’s worth pausing for a closer look before going for a lie down in a darkened room. The internet has many images such as this chopped orange and black van. However, look closely and you find it’s only a photoshopped creation. The real van is alive and well. The give away is the identical background and the two heads. Also the clever creator helpfully explained what had been done in an accompanying caption. A vehicle that is real is the tin snail which should have been built on a 2CV but wasn’t.

Some 2CV owners also have a VW camper and if you’re one then why not adopt this handy method to save room in your

drive? Or maybe not, you might love curry and also custard but you wouldn’t mix the two, some things are best enjoyed separately. Another extended van and another question. What’s the point of pegging your van to the ground? You sacrifice mobility just to save a few minutes of tent erecting. Good idea if you’re camping amongst snakes and bears but on a British campsite it won’t even save you from spiders.

Let’s conclude what has become a potentially controversial column filler with some less disturbing images. The tractor servicing van demonstrates how commercial vans could be so much more colourful than 2CVs of the grey years. More colour provided ironically by a drab camouflage finish. This van is accurately painted and marked but I’m sure that 2CVs were not used by the

Extended van

2CV/VW mashup

A tin snail which should have been built on a 2CV Here

A 2CV with Acadiane proportions

military. Some specialised derivatives and mechanical parts saw service but not standard vans. However, when working in the MOD I saw the army using Austin Maxis as a cheap alternative to Land Rovers so maybe in some far flung corner of a French dominion there were a few. Finally an AZU demonstrating that here is a van with soul, or in this case soles.

GUESSTHEGUEST

This month it’s one that makes the Reliant Robin look ludicrously over equipped, it’s the Sipani Badal. Badal being almost an anagram of ‘all bad’ seems appropriate. Inspired by the Reliant, this was built in India in the 70’s. Equipped with only three wheels and a fibre glass body, it was said to be known for its ability to roll over with ease. How it got up enough speed to roll is a

An AZU with soles

van

mystery given that its two stroke petrol engine had a capacity of only 198cc.

HOMENEWS

Biggest news is the imminent arrival of this year’s Drive it Day. The Berkshire Royals will again be joining the Surrey Madhatters and others for a scenic drive, this time to the Chiltern Open Air Museum. Whatever you have planned, have a memorable day and send in some pictures of your van.

MÊHARI MISSIVE

Greetings to you all. It’s April. Writing articles for 2cvGB News is an interesting task. Each month, there’s a blank Word document page on my PC, glaring at me, challenging me to write something hopefully entertaining for you to read. It might even be about Méharis. . .

I was talking to someone the other day about work. He lives in Colchester and has commuted to the City of London every day, five days a week, for goodness only knows how many years. Every day, that’s at least two hours on the train. I work that out to be around 460 hours, which is more than 55, eight hour days spent on the train every year. I told him that I was impressed with his staying power.

I only managed to cope with commuting for a while, when I worked in London for three years in the mid 1980s, living in Finchley and working in the West End. My office was in a Grade 1 Listed, Robert Adam designed Georgian terrace. The building eventually became Griff Rhys Jones’ house, until he sold it to Tracy Emin. . .

I used to travel on the Northern Line tube, in the same red, 1938 stock underground trains, with slatted timber floors, that were in operation during the Blitz. At introduction, these were the most advanced electric trains in the world, but this was nearly 50 years later. . . It was lovely to work in London, of course, but the commute was crowded and grim.

I moved to Monmouth in 1987 and worked in an practice for a while, in an office in town, but have been happily working at home, as a sole practitioner, since 1990. My commute is now measured in seconds, rather than hours. . When I set out to work on my own, I

was worried where work would come from. It was tough at first, but I worked, amongst other jobs, in a joinery shop, making windows, doors and kitchens for eighteen months and as a site carpenter for two years, doing architecture in the evenings and weekends and building it during the week. Eventually, more than 35 years later, I no longer worry about where work is going to come from. It just seems to turn up. I’m designing houses for the grandchildren of my original clients these days.

Being self employed means that I am in a position to take my architectural hat off and put my Méhari hat on when someone rings about Méharis or when the deadline approaches for one of these Missives. In the now eight years I’ve been doing it, I now tend to sit at the desk, stare at the blank screen and just start writing, like I just have.

It turns out that I’d much prefer to spend my time talking or writing about Méharis than sitting in the car or on the train to work. . .

MÉHARINEWS

Larry Griffiths. I received an email recently, from Larry Griffiths. Thank you for taking the time to contact me, Larry.

Larry wrote: ”Hi Paul, I read your

Camouflage

1938 stock, red painted London Underground Train

Mehari column in 2cvGB News. I think your idea about helping elderly club members is very good.

“It could perhaps could be extended to the club in some way helping ‘re-home’ their cars after members pass away. I’ve thought a bit about this recently as I am now the wrong side of 80.

“I don’t think my family would want the two cars I have and I’d like to think they could be passed on to sympathetic owners to continue to use and preserve them.

“I wondered about leaving them to 2cvGB in my will, but this might be complicated. Certainly a contact to assist in saving and re-homing all the 2CV bits and pieces, cars, old paperwork etc. would be a good idea. Best regards, Larry Griffiths (very old 2CVGB member no.

006810)”

Thanks, Larry. It’s so easy for young and fit classic car owners to not be preoccupied with issues that seem so far into the future. It is very sobering to see the years flashing by accelerating exponentially by

as the time passes.

Please get in touch with me if you wish to comment on this issue. Please also lobby the 2cvGB committee members in your local groups.

Nigel Brown. Nigel Brown and his wife live in Georgeham, near Braunton, North West Devon. Nigel is a recently retired VW garagiste, in the village, where he specialised in VW cars, vans and campers, which are very popular

How do you carry a Méhari body tub on a Honda Accord?

with the surfing fraternity in the area.

Nigel is now taking his cue from near neighbour, Dave Smith, in a retirement project of the construction of a Méhari. He was short of a second hand body tub, which I was able to supply from my extensive stock of old body panels (which languish under the trees at our place, covered with leaf mould). . .

We decided to make a tub carrying frame, out of 95x45mm C24 softwood, to fit to Tom’s Honda roof bars with M8 bolts and old, half 49mm exhaust brackets, so that we could screw the tub, upside down, using about 30, 50x5mm woodscrews and penny washers, to the roof to successfully drive it to Nigel’s house.

Tom and I suspected that we were probably the only people in the world who were carrying a Méhari tub on top of a car at the time. . .

Eddie Wells. Eddie and I have been in correspondence for a while. He originally got in touch because he’d bought a 2CV and wanted to make it into a Méhari. It was too late for me to suggest that it’s easier and much cheaper to make an MSO (Méhari Shaped Object)

into a Méhari than it is to convert a 2CV, so I’ve been helping Eddie and he’s finally finished the project. He’s made a lovely Méhari and he’s a lovely man.

There are a great many 2cv parts that just don’t fit a Méhari. The late LHD steering rack, the rolling chassis, suspension and wheels are generally common, but the 2CV/Dyane rear chassis legs need to be cut shorter for a Méhari. The engine, fuel system (apart from the filler neck), suspension, braking system, cooling, heating, exhaust system and gearbox are pretty much the same as a 2CV/Dyane, but the headlights are Dyane, not 2CV, and the airbox, gearstick and gearslide are specifically Méhari.

We could check on the tub by looking t hrough the sun roof

There are some, small 2CV parts, such as early round indicators and rear running lights, early door handles and early speedo head and steering lock that fit a Méhari, but the steering column is Méhari specific. From then on, it’s pretty much all Méhari specific. The tubular frame, wiring loom, body panels, windscreen, seats, seat fittings, fittings, fixings, hood sticks, hood panels and doors are all uniquely Méhari.

The new Méhari parts are all available, of course, though fundamentally much less easily and much more expensively than before Brexit. There are actually very few Méhari parts that are stocked in the UK and the parts that can be ordered

Eddie’s rolling chassis

Eddie’s donor 2CV

from here are subject to import taxes and apparently there is substantially more complicated import paperwork that needs to be carried out.

Eddie has done a great job upgrading the 2CV into a lovely, yellow Méhari in his lock up garage. He will admit that it has cost much more in parts than he was expecting and he’s also realised that Méharis don’t just fit together like a car normally does. He’s looking forward to a great summer. Be warned; building a Méhari, new parts and all, is much more like crafting a one off, bespoke chest of drawers than bolting together an Ikea Billy bookcase. .

Denis Costello. Denis posted again. He wrote: “Hi Paul, Thank you for including me in last months missive… it’s a thrill to see my Méhari on your pages.

“I like the quirky way that Citroën decided to go with non self-cancelling indicators… “While I’m a big fan of keeping things original, I’ve been known to forget to do any cancelling!

“So I’ve got these 2 (one for each side) flashing warning lights, to remind me if I forget to self cancel…

“Keep up the good work, Denis”

Gary from Abersoch. Gary recently sent in a photo and a cryptic note, which merely read, ‘Zoom in’. I did as I was asked and noted a Méhari shirt, which Gary was modelling for us…

Julian Taylor. As if that were not enough excitement, Julian posted a photo of his lower, not better half.

Julian wrote: “Mehari shorts in full deployment in Tenerife. . .”

Giles Owen. Carrying on with a theme here, we see a lot of Giles in his yellow Méhari. We don’t normally see this much, though. Giles wrote: “Was a glorious day yesterday..”

Thanks, Giles. Your speedo clearly indicates that you very sensibly were not driving when you took this photo. The road at the left is obviously naturally quite blurry.

John Chaplin and Jim Kerr. John wrote in. He wrote: “Great to see you back, Paul. I always enjoy your Missives. I have had ‘A’ Series cars, but alas no Méhari, for the best part of 50 years. . . your writings fill that gap.” I replied, “Thank you for your kind words, John.

“It's nice to be back in the seat. Just finished writing the March Missive.“Collar me at a meeting. You can have a drive of Rufus, if you're interested?Cheers, Paul”

John wrote again: “Many thanks Paul, will certainly do.“Our local group, South Downs Escargots, held their post Christmas Dinner a couple of weeks ago. “A newish member rocked up in his Mehari.“I attach a photo.Best wishes, John”

That was Jim Kerr, John, in his lovely, blue, WWT. Thanks for writing in.

FAMOUSPEOPLE IN,ON ANDAROUND MÉHARIS

This is yet another in the series of photos of people of lesser and lesser note, who happen to be standing next to Méharis.

This month, it’s Jessica Mercedes. Born in April 1993, in

Julian’s Meharvellously understated shorts

Denis Costello’s Méhari non-selfcancelling-indicators-tell-taleindicator-reminders

Eddie Wells Ready for summer

Gary in his Meharvellously understated shirt

Giles’ Meharvellously underclad legs in his Meharvellously understated Méhari

Germany, from where she moved to Poland. She’s a ‘fashion blogger’, who was named ‘Woman of the Year’ in 2016, by ‘Glamor’ magazine.

She recently got into trouble for apparently putting inaccurate fabric origin and manufacturing base information on the labels of her swimwear and clothing. Properly scraping the Méhari tub, now. As ever, send stuff in or there are plenty more where they came from. . .

ANDFINALLY

In my opinion, the Méhari is unusual in being a derivation model, the design of which has stood the test of time. I am amazed at how good the essentially ‘man in the street’ Méhari design (well, maybe more of a ‘man in a château’, but I hope you get my drift) still looks. It’s a clever, form follows function (as long as you’re not servicing it) essay in late 1960’s chic.

To illustrate my point, there are a number of ‘interesting’ designs that came from a similar brief, which are not as successful in

design terms. These include the ‘Bedouin’, Renault ‘Rodeo’, and this Fiat offering, which I found the other day.

It’s a Fiat Moretti 500 Minimaxi, based on a late 1960’s Fiat 500.

Whatever you drive, don’t forget to get out in your Classic Car, on Drive it Day, on the 21st of April.

Let’s also try to get as many Méharis as possible to line up Registers Day, on Sunday 26th of May, at Martha’s Down Campsite, Hindon, Wiltshire, SP3 5SU. I intend to see you there in Rufus. Cheers, a bientôt. . .

HY THERE!

Another month, another step closer to Summer! There must be something in the air because I have done a quick

long wheel base pick up standard van

Spring clean, two cars sold, but stupidly perhaps, two purchased! Oh dear, what happened to lowering the number of cars in the garages?

Jim Kerr’s lovely, blue Méhari

Jessica Mercedes, leaning on a Méhari

Fiat Moretti 500 Minimaxi

Both from the South of France, and neither repatriated yet, I have bought a very late (1979) long wheel base (5.2m) H van in its original grey, and a totally original, one owner, 1960 2cv AZU van with all its original paperwork including its original invoice! I just couldn't resist either! My wife thinks that perhaps I could have resisted.

yellow recovery depannage

I so love originality, and both of these

are in their original paint with all their original dents and marks - has anyone got any original H vans with first paint? If so, please let me have some pictures to share with all the other members.

Once the two new arrivals are in the UK I will report further, but in the meantime I thought that I would hunt for some pictures of original vans that I purchased in the early years that I had my company, H Van World.

Truthfully, I wish that I had kept some of these, but of course when it is a business, you just cannot keep them. So why do I want

another H van when I already have two? The reason is that the van that I have bought is an original, empty, low wheel base van with no windows or hatches cut into its sides - just an old original workhorse. The van was owned, apparently, by flower growers and was used to transport these to market, so there was never a need to alter it from how it was originally delivered.

So, on this theme, have a look at the pictures showing how, unlike today, we were still able to easily find nice original vans in 2006. The first picture shows a lovely standard van that I had to keep for a few weeks (why did I ever sell it?), the next picture shows a long wheel base pick up, a rare vehicle to find anywhere, but this one was actually basically pretty sound and still with a rear load area that hadn't rotted away! The yellow recovery depannage van arrived as a non runner. The reason for its non running we later discovered to be a huge hole in the top of one of the pistons - a fair reason why it was reluctant to start, we thought! The engine was totally rebuilt and the lovely van was sold to a customer in Australia. The final short, high top refrigerated van was bought as a promotional vehicle for the Citroën dealerships that I was looking after at the time, my thought being the large side panels would act as brilliant

billboards when the van was parked at the side of busy London streets.

As far as I remember this plan was never finalised before I stopped working for Citroën UK.......I have a feeling that the Citroën UK directors did not think that it was as good an idea as I did! Possibly another reason that I left and started my own business.

If none of you write in and let me know about your vehicles I will have to dredge my files for more pictures again next month, but optimistically, I am sure that you will. Hopefully by next month my new purchases will be back from the south of France and I can show you how stupid I have been, but in the meantime another date for your diary; 11th August is French Day at Brooklands, usually a good event.

Regards,

short, high top refrigerated van

van

This month we are delighted to announce a new sole arrangement with Peter James Insurance. This will benefit our members in a number of ways including, but not limited to, cover for young enthusiasts, UK and European breakdown cover, as well as cover for multiple classics. Please read the advertorial on page 19 and advertisement on page 27 for more information to see how this arrangement can help you and your family.

SMORGASBORDOFSTUFF

By the time you read this, the NEC Restoration Show will be behind us and Drive It Day will be on the horizon. My local group, the Bath Tub Club, is considering a drive out to the Cerne Abbas Giant over the border in

What’s Cooking?

Dorset. I have been to this National Trust site before and have the tea towel to prove it.

I did in fact fancy the kitchen clock, but the moving appendage (minute ‘hand’) was too distracting, so a tea towel it was! No doubt our outing will involve some foodie related activity which, as you know, I will most certainly be looking forward to.

The Bath Tub Club is also hosting Registers Day this year, so check the advertisement to see how to book.

Conrad is the chap you need to get in touch with and he will sort out your booking, but please check the inside front cover for the exact email address.

Our arrangements for the National are moving ahead. Dave, web manager, has been beavering away and has

rebuilt the club website so that it can accommodate a payment mechanism, amongst other things, so when bookings open in May, you will be able to pay directly through our site. I had originally intended a Members’ Meeting this springtime, but the committee pointed out that our National might be a more sensible place to hold it. Apart from anything, it will encourage a greater turnout if it is part of our annual event, we will have access to rooms that we have already hired and, most importantly, it will get us back into the routine of holding a meeting around the same time that we will be voting in our new committee members each year.

There are number of items already on my agenda for the Members’ Meeting. Some have been suggested by members who have taken the time to write to me. Agenda items raised include: should we update our logo?; what should we do if folks don’t come forward to volunteer to run events? And; what should we do with spare parts or the reconditioning of car parts that have belonged to members past and present?

You may or may not recall Paul Brice’s call to action in his February missive, titled ‘Just a Thought’, the thought being about the subject of death cleaning. Döstädning is the Swedish concept of decluttering that goes beyond sending a heap of unused items or unworn clothing to the local

“

charity shop, but a serious attempt at organising all our precious collections. The term was coined by a certain Margareta Magnusson who promoted the organisation of belongings so that younger family members are not burdened with them when we finally exit this planet, or at least objects are not just discarded without due care and attention. In 2CV-world speak, this would mean our automotive treasures lurking in the garage or man shed* are properly dealt with, so that our A-series bounty is also not lost to the Grim Reaper and his associates (read into that faceless house clearance services and unknowing relations). It all sounds pretty morbid, but it is actually quite sensible. None of us would like to think of our prized spare car parts being sacrificed to the skip. Paul raises the idea of a proper protocol being put in place, creating a system so that we are proactive in saving rare car parts for the future benefit of others, rather than them ending up at the scrap yard. I also agree with Paul that shoving stuff on shelves at Ruskington is not proactive enough, since it is quite often out-ofsight and out-of-mind (apart from there being a space issue). We need to find a way to restore parts for actual use rather than just more storage. It would certainly warrant a wider discussion, if nothing else, which is something that we could address at the meeting in August.

Döstädning is the Swedish concept of decluttering that goes beyond sending a heap of unused items or unworn clothing to the local charity shop ”

FROMMANSHEDTOCHEESESHED

Richard and I were recently in the South West in search of Slide Pods and other paraphernalia (something I will revisit in future article), when we happened across the great Cheese Shed in Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, on the edge of Dartmoor. The Cheese Shed is a wonderful delight of all things cheesemongery, run by Ian Wellens and his business partner James Mann. Their philosophy is simple, why not sell cheese unique to the West Country, just as you would find local Tuscan cheese being sold in Tuscany? They also wanted to promote local cheeses, often from small producers, by selling them through their online store, which are then sent country-wide. Apart from the cheeses, Ian and James sell the most delicious cheese toasties, freshly made to order and served in their courtyard behind the ‘shed’, along with an array of ciders, beer or non-alcoholic beverages. Richard chose a cheese toastie with beetroot chutney, washed down with a wild blonde (because living with one is not enough), and I chose a chilli cheese toastie accompanied with a

sweet chilli jam. We bought some Keen’s cheddar and Merry Wyfe to take home with us (which is what I was once I had polished off my toastie with a bottle of cider), along with a couple of fruit cakes for cheese to complete our purchase. A really big ‘thank you’ goes out to Ian who kindly made us toasties when he was so short staffed. We are eternally grateful and will be revisiting soon! IAATF!

*woman sheds are also available

Ian , one of the big cheeses, with the big cheese

DO YOU DRIVE YOURS ON DRIVE-IT DAY?

GLOUCESTER LEMONS, W.A.S.P.S AND THE HEREFORDSHIRE WYE

KNOTS DRIVE-IT DAY. Each group will meet at their respective venues and drive out to Castlemorton Common. For more details, please contact the local leader or see the localgroup’s Facebookpage

HUDDERSFIELD TWIN HOT POTS/AIRE COOLED ALLEY CATS/

CHESHIRE DRAGONS DRIVE-IT-DAY This year’s outing for the northern based clan (others further away are very, very welcome) is to the Crich Tramway Museum, Near Matlock Derbyshire (DE4 5DP). Yorkshire groups are meeting at The Olde Mustard Pot pub, near Langsett, S36 4GW from about 9.15am to depart at 10. Travelling over the `Strines`, via Ladybower to arrive at Crich at approximately 11.30am. Parking is inside the Crich museum (driver gets in free but passengers pay on entry).

LE CLUB CLOUSSEAU DRIVE-IT DAY Meet at Crossbush Services, Lyminster, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7QQ. Entrance on A284, just off A27 slightly East of Arundel, for a scenic route to Findon Vale Garden Centre, Worthing. BN14 0RE. For more information contact Bob on 07799 280940 or at bobbrotherhood@gmail.com

SURREY MADHATTERS/ BERKSHIRE ROYALS DRIVE IT DAY From Sainsbury's Car park Staines upon Thames TW18 3AP to the Chiltern Open Air Museum at Chalfont St Giles, Bucks. Meet at 0930 to depart at 10.00am or approximately 11.00am at Beaconsfield Services, M40 Jct 2. Further Details Bill and Gill on 01784 453919 or at billandgillharwood@yahoo.com

YORK HISTORIC VEHICLE GROUP/TROY DRIVE-IT DAY Meet at the Knavesmire, York, YO23 1EX at 9:30am for a 10am start to finish at Sherburn Aero Club, LS25 6JE

DRIVE-IT DAY

2024

SUNDAY 21st APRIL