2CVGB NEWS
Published monthly since 1978, 2CVGB News is the official magazine of the Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain, Sarona, Beacon Road West, Crowborough, E Sussex TN6 1QL © The Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain Ltd
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Membership of 2CVGB is by annual subscription: UK £34, Europe £80 (£34 with Emagazine), Worldwide £100 (£34 with E-magazine). 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).
BONJOURÀTOUS
Welcome! As the nights close in and the weather gets wetter and colder, it’s time to reminisce about this summer’s camps. Luckily, this edition is full of reports of sociable weekends gone by.
On the subject of camps, I went to the Bokkerijders camp in Belgium in September. The organisers (a relatively small local club) put on a fantastic event, with live music, a varied selection of beers, free breakfast on Sunday morning and even a VW Beetle urinal! Even better, only 2CVs and derivates were allowed on the camping field, which meant no ugly camper vans spoiling the view/photos. As one Belgian said to me when I arrived “It’s a 2CV event. You come in a camping car, you park outside”.
I reversed and parked in the car park outside. Yes, I’d arrived in my (Citroën, admittedly) camper van. If I go next year, I’ll take my AK250. After all, that’s what it’s all about, isn't it?
See you in a field somewhere.
THE DEADLINE FOR THE DECEMBER ISSUE IS THE 10TH NOVEMBER
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this magazine, the reader should read and understand the following:
Whilst every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of information and advice given in any articles in this magazine, neither the Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain (2CVGB) Limited (the “Club”) and its officers, nor the members and authors of such articles, accept any liability whatsoever for such advice. The Club makes no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express 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
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:
• 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;
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• 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.
Where the magazine contains links or references to websites and/or resources provided by third parties, these links or references are provided for your information only. Such links should not be interpreted as approval by the Club of those linked websites or information you may obtain from them.
If you have any questions please e-mail compliance@2cvgb.com
PLEASE NOTE PLEASE NOW SEND YOUR EVENTS INFO TO: webmaster@2cvgb.com BEFORE the deadline of the 5th of the month
Also, for further info on any event listed here please go to
NOVEMBER
3RD CHESHIRE DRAGONS LUNCH AT THE DRUID INN, Llanferres, North Wales
7TH AIRE COOLED ALLEY CATS PHIL’S QUIZ, The New Inn, East Bierley
DECEMBER
1ST COMMITTEE MEETING. Online meeting, All members welcome to attend. Please contact the club secretary for the link
5TH AIRE COOLED ALLEY CATS DARTS AND JACOBS TABLE, The New Inn, East Bierley
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.
12TH TROY CHRISTMAS PIE AND PEA SUPPER. The Plough Inn, Shearburn Terrace, Snaith, East Yorkshire DN14 9JJ from 19.30. For full details please contact David Eden on 01405 813640 or davideden1951@gmail.com
28TH BATH TUB CLUB RAID IMBER. Annual mud n puddles run across Salisbury Plain to the lost village of Imber. Contact Gary on 07888 998776
JANUARY 2025
3RD AIRE COOLED ALLEY CATS CURRY NIGHT. Tba
5TH LES HIBOUX LEEDS RAID TAN HILL A stripped down version but retaining all the essential elements of the event. Contact: Alan Murphy : 0113 274 1015, alanmurphy50@hotmail.co.uk
FEBRUARY 2025
2ND COMMITTEE MEETING. Online meeting, All members welcome to attend. Please contact the club secretary for the link
MARCH 2025
21-23RD NEC RESTORATION SHOW, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. 30TH COMMITTEE MEETING. Online meeting, All members welcome to attend. Please contact the club secretary for the link
APRIL 2025
18-21ST 2CVGB NATIONAL Martha’s Down Campsite, Hindon, Wiltshire. Further information to follow
MAY 2025
22-27TH NORTH SOMERSET TIN SNAILS NSTS CAMP on a site near Wells. Further information to follow
28-1ST FRENCH NATIONAL. For more information please refer to their website –https://nationale2025.fr/
JUNE 2025
8TH COMMITTEE MEETING. Online meeting, All members welcome to attend. Please contact the club secretary for the link
JULY 2025
11-13TH CITROEN FESTIVAL, Abbots Ripton. 2CVGB members pay the same rate as CCC members
29-3RD 25TH WORLD MEETING OF 2CV FRIENDS, Slovenia. For more information please refer to their website – https//2cv2025.Si/
AUGUST 2025
3RD COMMITTEE MEETING. Online meeting, All members welcome to attend. Please contact the club secretary for the link 29-1ST REGISTERS DAY (To be confirmed) Gloucestershire. More details to follow
SEPTEMBER 2025
4–7TH LANCASTER BOMBERS CELEBRATES THE 25TH SILLOTH CAMP. To book camping (tent/trailer tent/motorhome etc) go to: cove.co.uk/Solway or phone 01697 331236 - please come as it is our 25th year.
28TH COMMITTEE MEETING. Online meeting, All members welcome to attend. Please contact the club secretary for the link
Hello all, before writing this I had a look at the forecast for next week and I see night temperatures of 2 degrees c forecast so I guess it’s time to fit the winter tyres for the 2cv. I guess they may be needed for some of the following meetings… NOVEMBER 2024
24.11.24 France 57870 Christmas market 2CV Museum. Troisfontaines. Info: http://2cv-museum. com
DECEMBER 2024
06 - 08 Germany 78141 46th hut meeting in the Fuchsfalle. Food and drinks. Small number of overnight accommodation options in the dormitory (pack sleeping bag/mats). Small breakfast free of charge. Please register by email: riethmuellerpm@web. de Info: Marianne tel. 00497723/50237, Ellen tel. 00497821/5492720, Petra & Martin tel. 00497821 959232
05 - 08 Spain 49523 Gran National 2CV 2024 in San Vitero / Spain. Anyone interested in taking part in this event should contact the club by e-mail: club2cvsanvitero@hotmail.com
Next month I’ve been promised some info on some upcoming meetings in 2025 so watch this space. That’s it for this month, Drive on the right
Classic Citroën Specialists
I can’t believe it is four weeks since I was sitting in the sunshine in France typing up my last report for the mag. It has flown by and now I am back in the UK in the rain and the sunshine seems so far away. As I mentioned in my last missive, the new Ami is very
popular, particularly amongst students; we counted seven parked outside one college one day, all the same colour blue. Possibly the fact that a full licence is not needed to drive one, but great that youngsters are buying into the car even though it is the new version. The amount of 2CVs we spotted this year went up, this particular one was lovely and in great condition, just needed an odd flower or two.
If you need to contact me, firstly can you email as I pick those up every day. If you do not do email then a phone call is fine but please leave a message. If I can’t pick up with details of your call, due to a lot of SPAM calls, I won’t call a strange number back. That’s it for now, have fun and take care out there.
ON THE ROAD TO NOWHERE
As a regular traveller on the M25 and M4, I consider myself an expert on motorway traffic jams and have concluded it is not a time to look back on as a pleasurable experience.
If you asked me before this year’s National if I fancied a weekend away with an option of sitting in a traffic jam on a motorway that does not have a destination, I think I may have declined your invitation.
How wrong that decision would have been. The M96 at the Fire Service College at Moreton-in-the Marsh (this year’s venue for the 2cvGB National) was truly amazing. I have not laughed like I did on that day for years. A traffic jam solid with 2cvs and their derivatives was something to behold. What a bunch of nutters we all are.
This year eight members of our local group, C.A.R.S attended the National in five cars - four 2CVs and one Dyane.
We have attended many meetings, both National and International going back thirty years and some of us have always camped, as this is the best way to experience a 2cv event.
However in recent years camping for me has become a little bit more difficult and so we have booked accommodation as close to the event as possible, meaning we have to drive back to our lodgings in the evening in the dark and without having a drink.
This year’s National addressed all of these issues at the Fire Service College. Excellent hotel accommodation on site meant we were a full part of the National and the food package was excellent.
On behalf of us all from C.A.R.S. thank you to all of you for putting on such a great event and thank you to all the organisers.
THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES
I just wanted to say a big thank you to the organising committee - we had a great weekend and really appreciate the effort you put in. Thanks also for the goody bag, which now lives in Pudding (my plums & custard Dolly) and will be used for carrying the shopping.
I used to be in the fire service and actually served as an instructor for three years at Moreton in Marsh in the early 90s, so it was also an interesting trip down memory lane for us.
Lastly, on our journey there, we came through the Chilterns gap on the M40 heading west and going down hill, we managed just over 70mph.
NOT SO HAPPY…
I have just returned from the National at Moreton Fire Service College. I could not attend on the Saturday due to prior commitments (grandchildren minding/ keeping). I spent £50 for a day ticket and arrived at 3pm on Friday. The welcome meet and greet team could not be more polite and helpful - absolutely delightful. I received a 'goody bag' which contained a bin bag (I was not camping), a pin which was really welcome, a sticker to adorn A14 DCV, a model car which my youngest grandson will be delighted with, a bag of Haribos, an advert for a brake lock and oh yes the bag to hold all of these 'goodies'! The surroundings of the Fire College were excellent and the weather glorious. Apologies but I feel it important that members know this and perhaps those responsible have a rethink. £50 for the ticket and by 4.00 pm there was one trade stand (Matt’s Soft Tops) and nothing else. The club shop advertising t-shirts, stickers etc. were not available. Yes it was pleasant to see the cars arrive and have a chat with fellow members but seriously, £50 - that was not fair and I do not wish to say more. Friday tickets should be sold at a lower price and adequate or accurate information printed on the programme. I have already purchased a new soft top from Matt. I came away thinking £50 for a toy car, a pin and some sweeties, Guys this in today's economic climate in my eyes is unacceptable. And can I once again state my admiration for the volunteers on the desks - They were caring considerate and professional in all they did.
Thank you.
Dear Craig,
Thank you for your feedback on the event where you placed a booking for two people at £25 each. Dave and I worked with our treasurer John and Richard Harrison to try to get the pricing right for the event, but it seems we overlooked your scenario. We had envisaged that those attending on the Friday would stay to enjoy the drive-in movie experience, but sadly that does not seem to be how it evolved in your case. We will do our best to incorporate your scenario into any future planning of events. Most of the root causes for the hike in prices are down to the fact that only two people had five months to organise the National this year, so we chose a site where security and facilities were organised for us. We paid two full time staff at the Fire Service College to administer the event all weekend. We aim to send out a survey to our members to collect feedback which should inform us on how best to proceed with events in the future, so please do add your comments to the questionnaire in due course.
Many thanks again,
AND SIMON SAYS…
I’ve had much time to ponder this and it may make for an uncomfortable read for some. It’s my personal experience of the National. Whilst I really appreciate the effort that went into the meeting and thank everyone involved in making it happen and having read the Facebook posts praising the meeting I think some balance is required. I wrote on Facebook about the controversy before it started and now it’s been and passed I feel it right to post my feelings about it afterwards.
I went to the National with an open mind having spent £65.50 to attend. This was just for me. This is mistake number one - the price. It was simply too expensive for what was virtually a one day event.
I took the afternoon off work and arrived approx 3.30pm. The beginning looked promising with lots of cars and motor homes lined up to get goodie bags and the security passes that you needed all weekend. These actually helped me to remember people’s names.
I made my way on to the field which was pretty much empty with lots of open spaces. I was hoping more people would arrive, completely forgetting the booking process and not being able to just turn up. With the weather being nice and sunny this would have attracted more people to change their minds at the last minute and stay for the weekend. This in my view was mistake number two.
The accommodation mistake number three. This split the entire event into two halves. As a son to a father with limited mobility I understand the need for the accommodation, as camping is simply not an option anymore for quite a few members and it was good to see them (no names you know who you are).
However is it up to the club to arrange
this accommodation at the detriment of the rest of the membership that couldn’t afford decided to not pay to attend the event where the accommodation was put on? Had a different site been chosen (Burleigh Hill Farm at St Ives for example) with a list of external AirBnB or bed and breakfast places nearby made available prior to the event the price could have been kept down and therefore more people might have attended.
It’s my understanding the site was chosen for this very reason but it split everyone up and then add the catering cost meant those that chose the £28 per person had food, while the rest of us in the field had nothing - not even a coffee van or access to anything on site for the day visitors. This could be and sounded like it was the policy of the site at fault here so we can call this mistake number four.
The site itself was a good size with plenty of space in the bar/dance room combo. However the controlled restrictions in place - not being allowed to turn up on the day, the catering or lack thereof are pretty big game changers. Add the cost and that’s why the camping field was so empty and devoid of any atmosphere.
With a one day event and traders invited to attend, some did thankfully. However, the decision was taken to go for a scenic drive. I didn’t go on the drive as I was manning the flea market stand. Pretty much the entire camp went on the drive leaving the traders and a few flea market people pretty much on their own with zero trade taking place. Mistake number five. If you are having traders on site which you need to attract people to come to the event, you need to keep the people on site, especially if it’s a one day event plus all the day visitors arrived and then went straight out again or were left
on site looking for a coffee or something. Saturday came and went with some drinking and entertainment in the evening. I can’t comment on the band as I didn’t hear them - I chose to chat in the bar. Sunday morning arrived and it was time to pack up and go home. I’m left asking myself did I enjoy the national? For once I’m not really sure that I did. It just lacked the atmosphere and the people. I don’t like being negative about 2cv events as I know from personal experience how much effort and hard work they take to put on. I am also aware that the committee stepped in to fill the gap left by no volunteers to organise this year’s event. As an experiment I don’t think it worked and it could have been so much better.
Please don’t take these comments personally. This is my opinion of what happened and not a attack on the committee or anyone that contributed to the meeting.
too
Dear Simon,
We appreciate the comments that you have raised and these will be fed back to the committee. We made it clear that the National was an experiment so that the membership would not miss out on an event this year. We don't believe we made mistakes, we made compromises. A mistake is putting petrol into a dieselcar, a compromise is using a different grade of oil so that you can get home safely. Once the final facts and figures are known, we will be able to present them to the membership so changes can be made in the future. Many thanks,
2CVGB CLUB INSURANCE NOVEMBER UPDATE
by Dave Youngs
This year has been a fantastic one for events despite the often-changeable weather, and it's great to watch the classic car world, in general, go from strength to strength. Yes, there is much talk about market corrections, car values, and the future of fuels. But whilst there is much change in our world, the two things that remain constant are camaraderie and enthusiasm within our community for the cars we love. This has come across from the Club at events this year, and we are continually working on behalf of you, the members, to support the Club with a tailored insurance package and ensure that package offers a tangible benefit of being a member of this fantastic club. So, when it comes to renewing, remember you won't get this level of cover specifically designed for the needs of Citroen owners and 2CVGB members anywhere else! Also, if there is anything more you think we ought to be offering, please let us knowwe are keen to see this scheme continue to evolve and adapt to your needs.
VALUATIONS
An agreed value represents a figure that you should insure the replacement of a car for. It is the value that you might have to pay to get a car of comparable status. It does not simply represent the market value of your car if you were to sell it, but instead the cost of buying another just like it if you were forced to try and replace it –a major difference between our offering and non-specialist cover. Another major difference between
your club scheme and others is that you can self-certify the agreed value of your vehicle removing the need for annoying forms, photographs and other red tape. Market value for classic vehicles can vary greatly so an agreed value will remove that uncertainty, and ensure a fair price is paid regardless of market trends.
TOOLANDPARTSCOVER
As I write this, some Citroëns are beginning to be tucked away in the garage to hibernate for the Winter. This is the best time of year to get on with routine car maintenance—or even something more involved.
2CVGB Insurance can ensure all your tools, spares, and other sundries are insured—all year around. When you take stock, it’s incredible how much value they add up to, so whilst we cannot give you back the years it took to amass your collection of spares and tools, we can help you ensure the value of their replacement is protected in the event of the unthinkable.
● Agreed value from the Club recognised.
● Multi-vehicle cover – insure all your cars on one policy. We’d love to hear from you. To speak to a friendly team member and request a quote, please call our club’s dedicated insurance lineon0121 506 6034 .
This was the fourth year of the regenerated British Motor Show. Now in a very different format to the one that most of us remember growing up with at Earls Court in London and then for many years at the NEC in Birmingham. Those were the halcyon days when all new car manufacturers wanted to exhibit their latest wares and openly competed with each other for the biggest and most imaginative stand. Times have changed and with it the relationship that the
manufacturers have with their clients when marketing new cars - much of it through digital interaction. The net result for the main UK motor show is that it has become more a family day out filled with opportunities for the public to interact with various aspects of motoring past, present, and future with everything from tyre burning drift displays to Guinness World Record stunt driving attempts and the opportunity to meet motoring tv stars like Tim and Fuzz from
Car SOS, Sarah Crabtree formerly from Bangers and Cash, Vicky Butler Henderson from 5th Gear. Mike Brewer, Mr Wheeler Dealer himself was absent this year as he was away filming, and to be fair normally puts in a really long and hard working shift compering events in the main out door arena.
New cars are mainly represented by the major car dealer groups these days although interestingly Ford were there with their electric range inc the new
“Capri”, Tesla with their range including the amazing Cybertruck plus some of the new to UK Chinese EV brands that will be coming to a drive near you soon.
So what does this all mean for classic cars? Well the show’s CEO Andy Entwhistle also has a passion for classics (his first car was a Citroën BX) and for the past four years there has been a classic arena to which the car clubs have been invited and I decided we should have representation, alongside the
Traction Owners Club and Citroën Car Club, as it’s a great opportunity to get in front of a wider car loving audience, stir some cherished memories of cars that family, friends and colleagues used to drive and hopefully inspire some potential future custodians of our fabulous A series!
By combining forces with the other clubs, we have managed to put on a fantastic display of Citroën models spanning a number of decades, last year nearly 100 years of manufacture, this year including some stunning and rare Slough built vehicles, race cars, track day cars, Maserati-engined cars (a stunning SM this year) and of course bringing us slap bang up to date with Citroën’s electric models. Our range of A series was excellent this year with everything from a ripple (thanks Bill and Gill) to race cars, from a Dolly to a drummer, a beautiful original Ami estate (Tim Jarman),
Burtons both new and used with Malcolm Wigmore’s recent import from Holland on the stand and ready to take part in a challenging “Tour of the Cols” in France during September, a Iovely 4 light Dyane, Mark Drake’s T reg bamboo green Dyane and not forgetting a great line up of vans including AKs and Acadianes and the 2CV Shop’s Channel 4 logged electric van that went on to Carfest the following weekend and from there to Paris where it featured as part of Channel 4 coverage of the Paralympics as I m sure many of you will have spotted, having had hand controls fitted for 4’s commentator Ade Adepitan to use.
We were fortunate again this year to have been supported by Penton Motor Group who sent their own transporter with five new models for us to display and a beautifully restored 2CV Dolly (great work Pete Sparrow) that has been in their Salisbury showroom and which
belongs to one of the directors and is driven by his daughter when she is home from university so a big “Thank You” to them.
Citroën’s parent Stellantis group also came to the party this year sending their events team on set up day to build us an open sided done tent, adorn the stand with Citroën flags, bring us some us some branded merchandise (Tim and I gave out 250 Citroën ice scrapers in our first 30 minutes stretch on Saturday morning), which was great fun on a hot summers day. My retort to decliners was “you will regret that in November!” Citroën also delivered two Ami EVs which, whether you love them or loathe, they provide a fantastic draw with the public and became the most sat in and photographed cars on our stand!
Anyone visiting the show couldn’t fail to see our stand as we were in pole position in the classic arena when rounding the corner from Hall 1 (having been granted this premium place in recognition of winning the Owners Club of the Year for the last two years as a collaboration of the three Citroën Clubs) and not forgetting that most memorable sight of Lily the Duck (a massive thanks to
Tim Dodd Wilson for his huge contribution to the stand, providing Lily and no less than four cars and raising £333 for Macmillan and providing countless opportunities for fun for visiting families whose children enjoyed crayoning on Chalkie, his blackboard 2cv).
We are blessed by having a fantastic team of exhibitors who bring their cars to our stand, which I appreciate is a big commitment and not easy, as there is no on site camping or accommodation and it is a four day event (six for me and other stalwarts with build up and breakdown days). Additional mention should go to Philippe and Sue Allison from Traction Owners Club who have
fully supported me at the event for the last four years and who did a sterling job cooking up breakfast for everyone (this year at Café René, our outdoor H van kitchen!). The show wouldn’t be the same without those bacon n egg rolls! Also to Dave and Marian Blackmore, relatively new members of 2CVGB for their support and daily shopping trips to Costco for supplies and to Kevin Elkins for helping with the often daunting task of securing cars for the stand from CCC members. It was great to see some fresh cars on the stand this year, including some truly lovely Ds thanks to Darrin and Kristina from the West London section of CCC, David Hitti, Andrew
Clark, Richard Marsh, new members Vince and Carol Scicluna who not only brought their D but also ferried home again to bring their lovely cream Traction. To Marc, Lynn and Ethan Sparrow from PTS Citroën and Peugeot Specialists in Wokingham for bringing Ethan’s 2CV race car, their rare BX 16 valve and recently restored ‘70s drum brake 2CV, to Chris Salter for bringing his dwindling Citroën collection (he even managed to sell one to a club member over the weekend!) and to Anthony Parkes, one of the furthest travelled to the show in his Visa and an absolute dab hand at engaging with the visitors and demonstrating some of the new models to themthank you ! Our range of A series was excellent.
Another welcome addition was a second H van in the shape of the lovely 24hrs Le Mans logoed van of Darryl Sutherland. And to every single contributor a massive thanks on behalf of myself and the club, without you taking the time and trouble to bring your cars we wouldn’t have a stand!
The day after the show closed I was back on site at Farnborough overseeing the final vehicles leaving and the tent being dismantled when I bumped into the show’s CEO who declared ‘you guys have smashed it out of the park again!”.
We will happily bank that comment!
A former Broadland Duck, Andy Gilmour, recently renounced his Norfolk passport and moved to Westleton in Suffolk, but was kind enough to invite us to bring along our 2CVs to the village French day in August. And what a lovely day it turned out to be.
We crossed the border and were invited to park and display our cars at the vintage Scarlets Garage in the “Place de la 2CV” and then enjoy a variety of French themed games including, bingo using French numbers, Monet painting, building a Tour Eiffel with Lego, and a French themed quiz that ran through the day.
2CV CALENDAR 2025
Next year’s 2CV calendar from Entenschnabel magazine is now available. In addition to “modern” 2CVs, there are also photos of older models, including ripple bonnet cars, vans, Dyanes, Amis, Méharis, a 2CV convertible and the rare Namco Pony. Photos match the seasons and each month has a different layout to make
every page different.
Editor Harald says “To leaf through this unique calendar will be an experience of the world of the 2CV”.
The 2CV-Calendar 2025 is now available with 13 coloured pages in A4 size from Entenschnabel. The price of €10 or £9 includes postage and packing to any European country (additional calendars are €9 or £8). Copies can be ordered by phone, fax, letter or email and payment is possible in cash, bank transfer or paypal.
Interested? Contact Harald or Claudia Gruessel for payment information: Der Entenschnabel, Sollerin 14, D-91320 Ebermannstadt, Germany. Phone: 0049 9194 5985, Fax: 0049 9194 722500. Email: gruessel@der-entenschnabel.de www.der-entenschnabel.de
Front doors left 3 right 2., rear doors left 5 right 4 right hand panel 1 left 1., 1 bonnet., 1 boot lid., rear left wing 4 rear right 3., left front wing 1right front 1., doors are in reasonable condition the rear wings are good £1100 ono. Call Michael 07721 022888 (Darlington)
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
Jon Kassam 35 High Mead, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 8LP 01793 853587 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
Albert, out and about in France
RIPPLERAMBLINGS
Hi Gang! Back to France for this month’s Ramblings and the annual Filles de Levallois Balade. For several months on and off, I’d been steadily working on ‘Albert’ the ’53 AU van and what with recommissioning after a long lay-up and putting it back to its original French Post Office configuration, we were very much looking forward to the trip. As has now become our normal routine and with Albert safely loaded onto the trailer behind our faithful Berlingo, we crossed the Channel to Ouistreham on the Tuesday night ferry. After a leisurely 160km drive the following morning, we arrived at our destination for the duration of the meeting, the Domaine des Grandes Haies, a 17th century château, situated a few kilometres to the north of the famous Citroën test centre at la Ferté-Vidame.
After unloading Albert and parking the trailer, we transferred our
belongings into the gîte which had been allocated to us, and then drove into nearby Verneuil-sur-Avre to replenish
Memorial to a Lancaster crew
our stocks of wine and beer, and to get some bread and cheese for lunch. The meeting didn’t officially start until the Thursday, but like us, a dozen or so other members tend to arrive a day early in order to just relax and enjoy the
countryside before the meeting proper gets under way. That evening, we all trooped off to a nearby Routier restaurant for a communal dinner. Thursday dawned and with it came the majority of members coming from not only all over France, but the surrounding countries as well.
Such is now the popularity of the Balade. As with us, the majority of members brought their cars and vans on trailers, although some courageous souls drove them to the meeting, clocking up many kilometres in the process. As always, it was lovely to catch up with friends old and new, with conversations continuing until late at night.
Friday morning saw the first of the weekend’s balades. An 86 km circular drive through the lanes and villages to the north, the highlight of which was a fascinating visit to the Bohin needle and pin factory. Founded in 1833, Bohin needles are reputed to be of the of the highest quality and the needle of choice for seamstresses the world over. After a picnic lunch, we continued our balade, gradually heading back to base and stopping at a small roadside memorial to remember the crew of a Lancaster bomber, shot down just a short distance away, by a night fighter in 1943. Later that evening as darkness fell, we headed south to la Ferté-Vidame for the traditional nocturnal drive around the
A 1939 2cv comes out to play
water cooled engine
The 2cv hiding place On the test track
perimeter walls of the Citroën test centre, before returning to the Grandes Haies for the evening party of food and drink specialities brought by the participants from their home regions.
Saturday’s balade, the main one of the weekend, and during the course of which, our committee likes to spring a surprise visit to somewhere upon us, was scheduled to be a drive to the area south and east of our base. Two years ago, amidst great secrecy, we were permitted to visit the test centre and drive around the famous track where our beloved type A and AU cars and vans were tested. Last year, we were allowed to drive around the inside of the perimeter walls. On the basis that the whole site has now been sold, in principle even if the new owners have not yet taken possession, we were
surely not going to be allowed through the hallowed gates this time. How wrong could I be? We all drove sedately though the village of la Ferté-Vidame and as we came up to the test centre entrance, the lead car turned in with everybody following of course. Once through the security barrier, we drove in file to the farm/admin centre and parked all around the circumference of the courtyard. After a suitable interval for photos and of course a ‘comfort’ break, we were gathered together and told that there was a surprise for us. Lo and behold, one of the 1939 2cvs was wheeled out and unveiled for us to examine. Like flies round the proverbial jampot, everybody surged forward to admire the car and photograph it from every conceivable angle. The bonnet was raised and almost
Refreshments and AGM al fresco
immediately, a dozen heads were under it examining and photographing the mechanicals. Wanting to see the chassis plate and not having managed to locate it, I asked where it was on the car, and was told that it did not have one, as it had never been intended for sale, being destined instead for further testing and evaluation. We were given a very detailed talk about the history of the site and how the so called prototypes were hidden and rediscovered and that of the three cars found in the loft, this was in fact the earliest car built. As if all this wasn’t enough, we were taken in groups up into the loft, and shown the precise place where the three pre-war cars had actually been hidden. After we’d all had our fill of excitement, we watched somewhat ruefully, as the ’39 car was loaded into a covered trailer and driven away. We settled down to our picnic lunch in the courtyard, marvelling at what we had all just experienced.
After our meal, we headed off to drive around the test tracks for what would quite probably be the last time ever. In a long line, we came around the banked section of track, and there parked in all its glory, was the ’39 car again. Put there for yet another photo session. What a day to remember! In high spirits, we left the site and headed back towards our base, stopping on the way at a very pleasant café bar in Boissy-lès-Perche for refreshments and to hold our AGM. Back at the château, after we had all got our
breath back, a surprise presentation was made to our club president Xavier Blase, of one of the cobblestones from the test track, the famous pavé, a small part of which had had to be removed due to essential works. The assembled crowd was asked if we were jealous, and of course we all shouted yes, and then to our great joy, we were all issued with a cobblestone complete with a wooden plaque to mount it on. How about that for a souvenir!
Sunday morning’s balade was a relatively low key event, as about half of the participants were leaving to travel back to their respective homes. We were booked on the overnight ferry back to Portsmouth, so we were able to enjoy the 58 km drive around the villages to the east of our base and including a final drive past the gates of the test centre and along the D941, the dead straight main road leading northwards from la FertéVidame, once used by the Citroën drivers to test the top speed of our little cars and vans. After lunch, we loaded Albert back on her trailer, said our goodbyes and headed back to Ouistreham and home. What a fantastic weekend! An enormous thank you to the Citroën staff and of course the Filles de Levallois committee members who worked so hard to make the weekend the success it had been. They can’t possibly beat that next year, or can they?
That’s it for now guys.
A piece of the famous Pavé
DISC-USSIONS
Not feeling my best as I attempt to write this, it may be an adverse reaction to a Covid jab last Thursday or some horrid bug, who knows? Therefore, I was not disappointed to receive no new registrations by my deadline of the fifth of the month, simply because it saved me from having to do very much when I’m feeling so off form. I’m also having computer issues which are defeating me at present. But of course, really, I am deeply concerned. Since taking over from Roger, when I added sixty-six cars to the register in my first month, I have rarely had fewer than two additions before. More of our new members will own a 1980s 2cv6 than any other A-Series Citroën, so what is going wrong? Is it me? Or is everything just disappearing into the ether?Dave Crane, our hardworking Web Manager, has been trying to get everything working sweetlyon the websiteagain. From my email traffic I know some of you have added vehicle details and updates to an existing registration throughour website.If you arewondering why nothing has appeared in Disc-ussions yet, I can assure you it hasn’t come my way, so please email me with details of what you did and I’ll try and sort it out. Maybethe information has got stuck somewhere?I’ve asked this question before when I first noticed the sharp fall off of new registrations, which coincided with some major changes with the website, so I've asked Vanessa to make sure this subject gets added to the committee agenda for their meeting in December.
There is little point in having this register, or indeed this column in the magazine, if nobody is going to add their cars. I know this puts me in the same boat as my fellow registrars, who somehow
manage to produce entertaining articles every month with hardly any input from the membership, but after all these years of having a substantial workload and no shortage of cars to write about, I’m not sure if I am prepared to do the same, or able to. Luckily for you, my loyal readers, I have had some correspondence this month.
UPDATES
Just too late for last month’s magazine, Matthew Brazier, the owner of F599 OJO, a pretty red and yellow Spécial and this year’s third place car on Register’s Day got in touch after reading Emily’s writeup and nearly completed his registration after discovering it wasn’t on the register – he’s owned “Noddy” since 2002. I’m still awaiting VIN and engine numbers and some decent pictures, Matthew, I don’t always have time to chase people up for missing information.
In a similar vein, some time ago Janice Twidale emailed wanting to register hers and husband Jonathan’s beautiful 2cvs, C2 CVX and C12 CVX and sent me pictures of the cars which are both unknown to us. I have heard nothing since, despite answering with a request for what I need to add them to the register. Likewise, rather more recently I been sent the pictures of Liz and Gemma Morse’s new cars, C184 KKX and E667 WKH, but again nothing more has been forthcoming. This is another reason why I have asked if information could have gone missing, somewhere. Generally speaking, if I reply to an email, it is much less likely to end up in the recipient’s Spam folder than if I initiate the conversation; it’s the price we pay for being a limited company I am guessing. However, if you contact me and don’t hear anything back, don’t be shy, try
emailing again and check your Spam folders regularly to see if my answer has ended up in there.
Cate Davies and her Border Collie, Puffin, have been travelling in Modestine again, this time in the Republic of Ireland. I am in the process of subediting her beautifully written account of this trip and sorting out the pictures - the aforementioned computer issues are making this very difficult and I’m unlikely to get it into this issue of the mag. Still, another adventure with Cate is something worth waiting for, I feel!
Back in August 2022, I featured G284 SKN, a 1990 red and white Dolly that had been owned since February by Stephen Gregg when he bought it as a project. After a fair bit of work, it made it to the St Ives National where I saw it in the metal, so I was very glad when I received a recent update and some more pictures. My word, Stephen has been busy. First, he installed a hatchback kit in 2023, a good fit when you have one of Matt’s canvas roofs. When the MoT expired this March, he took it off the
road, having found a secondhand Wheels galvanised chassis (left) which although had been sitting in someone’s front garden for ten years, cleaned up nicely and only needed new top and bottom plates and one snapped damper mounting
drilling out and replacing. (below) As is always the way with a chassis change, the bodyshell needed some repairs,
mainly at the back. Rear inner wings, rear seatbelt mounting points, Cposts, bottom of the offside rear window, the rear lamp panel and the boot floor all needed some patching up, which I think he has done very neatly. (right & below)
At the front, the area around the battery tray needed
work and the original repairs to the lower front bulkhead, that he carried out in 2022, were cleaned up and repainted and he even put a splash of white paint on the visible parts of the front chassis. (below) Stephen also refreshed the suspension – so much easier with the body off -
replaced a rusted-out spring can on the nearside and fitted a new set of Burton dampers. The car looks much the same on the outside (above) but is considerably stronger and the chassis should last
forever. Like last time Stephen set himself a deadline of getting to our National, which was tight, but he made it, booking an MoT five miles away from Moreton-inMarsh at the classic friendly Troopers Lodge Garage in Burtonon-the Hill, which he highly recommends. (left) Got to love anywhere with a little Bristol single-decker from the 1960s and an Austin A40 Somerset sitting outside, I thought. The car passed its test, the National was great and Stephen was happy to be able to drive it home legally afterwards. I really like this car, I have a bit of soft spot for ‘proper scruffy 2cvs’ that get used, if the bodywork and paint is
perfect, you can very understandably get a bit precious about any scratches or dings it picks up and end up barely driving it. This one gets better year on year, and I fully approve of the way Stephen is going about it. Thank you so much for sending me all this because without it, I would hardly have anything this month. I greatly look forward to the next instalment.
The next update is slightly less upbeat. Adam Holmquist registered “Creamy Dave” as his daughter named the car, his Buttermilk Yellow 1986 Spécial in 2021 and C81 LMR appeared in the June 2021 issue. I know Adam was disappointed with the condition of its bodywork, although it drove OK. Having seen this picture, I now realise why. (top) That is a shameful repair and doesn’t bode well for what else has been done badly or is lurking out of sight. He said that when he went for a quote to get
it sorted professionally, it was far more than he was prepared to pay. So, he concentrated on the things he could do himself that made it a nicer place to sit in and used it for as long as he could before the rust really set in.
Like me, Adam doesn’t have an unlimited budget to spend on the car, especially when his wife refuses to ride in it because of the noise, the smell, the image it projects and the lack of safety. She has a point on her last objection, the A-panel on the nearside has rusted through and the A-post is so compromised, (left) the bottom hinge has parted company, which means the passenger door doesn’t open properly. Adam has decided not to ruin his relationship with his local MoT tester and not put Creamy Dave in for new ticket until he has remedied at least some of these problems and is taking the car off the road until he has found another way of repairing it. As he
said, at least he has a dry garage and a winter project! The best of luck with it Adam, and if you do manage to learn how to weld, it will be a very useful tool in your armoury for long-term ownership of any 2cv. As Stephen is proving.
FLEETNEWS
Delilah has been sold, the Goatmobile is at Cambridge 2cv being recommissioned and fettled for its first MoT in four years, so we are currently down to only having Mrs Goat’s 2006 Fiat Panda on the road, which is hardly a fleet. It is a situation I don’t much like after the best part of thirty years with my own transport. Caught myself on eBay looking for something cheap and more modern for the winter, which kind of defeats the object of thinning down the number of cars we own. Had to have a little talk with myself after a day of running around in the Panda reminded me of why I use a 2cv for everyday use. The Fiat is a great little car, but the driver’s seat is not that comfortable for me and hurts my back after a while. The likelihood of another newer car within my budget being any better is, I think, unlikely. The roads are all over the place here in the Fens, everything subsides into the near bottomless topsoil and in terrible condition after the last fourteen years of neglect. Of all the things I hate about modern vehicles, the lack of proper suspension is near the top. I used to own a 1963 Ford Consul Classic with MacPherson struts at the front, leaf springs and lever-arm dampers on the back, hardly sophisticated, but pretty normal for the 1960s, and that rode the back roads more comfortably than either our old Kia or the Fiat and was very nearly as competent as Mrs Goat’s 2cv. Most
importantly from my point of view, it didn’t hurt my back to spend hours behind the wheel. Other than the developments that Citroën made, it seems that vehicle suspension has hardly progressed since the 1940s with the main consideration now being cost of manufacture. In evidence, M’Lud, I present the torsion or twist beam rear suspension set-up found on almost every front wheel drive car. With both rear wheels being joined by a steel beam, it can’t be described as being ‘independently sprung’ even with a coil spring mounted on each side. With a pair of short radius arms the wheel travel is limited, resulting in a stiff and fidgety ride. No doubt it is fine for driving quickly on a smooth race track, but not much use on our current road surfaces. Add low-profile tyres with next to no sidewall, so any comfort from the tyre is lost too and it’s hello lower back pain. I remember driving a low spec Mk1 VW Golf when they were new, and being appalled at what a miserable and uncomfortable little car it was compared to my old Marina van, which again was hardly legendary in that area or any other, apart from its propensity to rust. Never expected that new VW to become the normal ride comfort one could expect in a compact hatchback. I’m greatly looking forward to getting my old Charleston back. If anyone does have any ideas on what small, economical (preferably diesel) car I could use as a winter ‘beater’ for a few months without destroying my back, I would love to hear from you.
I wonder where my October copy of 2cvGB News has got to, was yours late too?
Until next month then…
FOURGONNECONCLUSIONS
OOH! AHH! It’s November, let’s put on our gloves, light the fuse on another article, stand well back and see what delights the display brings.
NEWREGISTRATIONS
First up it’s a real sparkler of a story. As mentioned last time, Adam Hewins has got himself an Acadiane. Having been unused for 12 years it needs some tidying. Luckily Adam is an engineer with the necessary skills and enthusiasm to get the job done. Even better, he’s taken the time to tell us about it. How good to have a proper report. Details from Adam:
“It was nice to drop in to the National - nice and handy, with Moreton being only half an hour from home. We met some interesting folks and had a chance to poke around some nice machines.
“I have recently purchased a 1985 Acadiane B57 YUA. This seems to have been imported in 2011, and its last MoT was in November 2012. The last 12 years have not been kind to it. Fortunately Gary Dicks has sorted me out with a new, galvanised chassis and an assortment of second-hand panels. I am hoping to collect a body cut from him later this month, taking the whole front off the cab of one of his vans, as this is quicker/ cheaper/easier than rebuilding the windscreen panel, upper, lower and inner bulkhead on mine. Most of the van box is pretty sound, apart from the panel over the rear doors (which has been replaced with UPVC facia board!), and the door apertures and inner sills. At least almost everything is available as a repair section or full panel.
How it looked in the advert, (above) not bad - though something is not right
about the panel gap between bonnet and front wings!
When it was dropped off the transporter on to my drive, we could not manoeuvre due to lack of steering lock - so I started stripping front wings off so we could move the wheels. (top left)
Then realised the wheels were rubbing on the footwells after " of steering was applied - chassis was that bent!
Previous owner had removed the front floor (and supplied new panels) and also the top plate from the front of the chassis (middle left) and losing all structural integrity in the process!
Body lifted off the chassis and sitting on axle stands and scaffold poles. (bottom left)
Chassis has no structure - it bent so much it is
sitting on the ground next to the suspension cylinder front mount! (above)
Rear of the frame rails are also pretty badly bent. (right)
Good news is the main van body is pretty good, apart from the panel over the rear doors (replaced by a piece of UPVC facia board), the panel below the doors will probably be replaced, but the panels to the side of the rear doors is repairable. Load bay floor is sound, apart from the front edge above the front crossmember, which I will try patching. End of the front cross member is missing, and some of the surrounding
body in spare wheel house. (right)
Front door frames are a bit roughparticularly the area above passenger (right side) door. (below)
Windscreen surround, upper / lower / inner bulkhead are all a bit roughhoping to replace in one piece with a body cut from another van. That will just leave the inner sills to replace (maybe outer sills too), and the lower seatbelt mounts.
“I have a new galvanised chassis: The plan is to strip and refurbish the suspension and mount to the new frame, then drop the remains of the body on and bolt it down to ensure alignment with the mounting holes, before cutting off the front of the cab and welding in the body cut, adjusting to ensure the door aperture fits (passenger door currently does not shut, as the hole is no longer doorshaped!). Once the sills are replaced I should have something structurally sound, and move on to the more 'cosmetic' welding, filling in the holes made by previous owner - much of the rot has been cut out but not replaced by previous owner, leaving me guessing as to how it is supposed to look…"
That’s the tale so far, it will be interesting to see how the job progresses.
Hopefully as Adam sends more information and pictures it might inspire someone else to save a van.
One van already saved is Chris Mallard’s AZU250. Built in Spain in 1965 and shown here on an early
morning visit to a coffee shop. (above) Thanks Chris, and it shows you don’t have to saw the roof off your van to get it in this column, it’s great seeing your vans just having fun.
RIGHTREGISTEROR REALLYWRONG?
The Van Register covers vehicles starting with the AU in 1951 and ending with the Acadiane in 1987, a period of 36 years, the widest range of any of the registers. It’s also different to the others in that it overlaps the other categories of 2CV registers. Vans are also the only model for which there are replicas made. Some might consider the El Cid to be a Méhari replica but these exist only in tiny numbers. In South America the Méhari body was bolted to other vehicles including Peugeots and the Fiat 128 but it’s unlikely that any of those will be troubling Paul’s Méhari Register.
It’s November so let’s light some metaphorical fireworks. I’m often asked ‘Is it ok to put a Ville Van on the Van
Register?’. I usually answer that it’s technically a ModCon but it’s welcome to join the vans. Some people might not agree and I can understand why but my thinking is that the owner of a Ville Van has much more in common with owners of actual 2CV vans than with those who drive a Lomax, Pembleton, Burton or something they’ve knocked up in their shed from plywood and angle iron. Including them on the Van Register potentially extends the register’s age range but more importantly it makes the owner feel welcome, and what’s wrong with that?
True they are ModCons and I don’t mean in any way to disparage the ModCons Register, I just think that a replica van sits more comfortably with other vans than the more typical open top two seat sporty type conversions. A Ville Van owner can register with either or both.
If you want to be really pedantic then most of the genuine vans should be relocated to ModCons. Most older vans have bigger engines fitted along with disc brakes. 2CV vans are all so old that even 400s have often been modified along the way if only in minor ways such as having electronic ignition or RHD conversions. If strict rules were applied the Van Register would end up containing mostly Acadianes as they are the one model that doesn’t tend to be changed. Even then would you send all the Acad. camper van conversions to ModCon land and would enthusiasts who like building specials really want their register stuffed with ordinary looking vans?
As mentioned earlier there’s an overlap between registers as vans were built through all the periods covered by other registers and have often been altered. A typical older van, like mine, 1962 AZU with a bigger engine could qualify for -
Van Register. It’s still a genuine 2CV van.
ModCon Register. The engine is 720cc
I assume there’s a rule stopping it being added to the Swinging Sixties Register, or can vans register with the period in which they were built? That could get confusing.
Ville Vans were not made by Citroën but they are a 2CV based van. The situation is not that different to all those other 2CV vans built in Yugoslavia and Iran etc that had locally made van bodywork or the South American van models that were substantially different to Citroën builds. The picture (above) shows an Iranian ‘Lion’, an official model that was considerably less attractive than a Ville Van.
they are misrepresenting the vehicle but have never had a reply.
All of this is a long way of answering ‘Yes’ to the original question and there are already numerous Ville Vans on the Van Register. I’d be happy to hear your views.
COOKHAMCLIFFHANGER
Fortunately we’re a bunch of enthusiasts not a branch of the DVLA so we can make our own choices. There are grey areas but does it really matter? The only time when it would matter is if someone tried to pass off a replica as the real thing, which has happened. One owner sent me details of her van and she had no idea it had started out as a car.
Auction sites and dealers (not 2CV specialists) frequently frame their advertising to imply that the Ville Van they’re selling is a rare RHD 2CV van. I’ve contacted several to point out that
Finally, the fireworks are spent and the fire has gone out but don’t go yet, there’s a last big banger in the form of the Wheels Vintage Vehicles Show held at the Cookham Dean Cricket Club. This is the monthly venue of the Berkshire Royals. This year’s featured a cliffhanger pitch inspection to determine if the ground was firm enough after all the rain. Fortunately it was good to go and 14 2CVs and a Pembleton turned out. The picture (below) shows a sample on parade before the crowds arrived to block the view.
MODCON
During September while helping family I was temporarily based in the Quantocks close to Exmoor, a great location for some fun driving with twisty lanes, steep hills, picturesque scenery and interesting tea shops. The one in Exford is highly recommended. Another find was the County Classics Motor Museum in Taunton town centre, well worth a visit if
you’re in the area.
Close to Quantoxhead is Porlock with its famous steep hill including 1:4 gradients which the open top bus tours trundle up daily. So yes, the Lomax can go up and down the main road of Porlock, but I found there was another route which is a toll road.
The toll road does not have such steep climbs, but has better twists and turns on ravine edges with spectacular views across to Bossington Hill.
The toll keeper informed me that when Austin Sevens used to go up Porlock Hill main road they would have to do so in reverse because their gravity feed carburettors would run dry if going forward up the 1:4….!!!
I’m back home now and havegot access to the Modcon emails and will be reviewing.
Happy motoring.
HYTHERE!
Last month I mentioned that in a few days we were off to the Goodwood Revival in my long wheel base van but the weather wasn't looking promising.... .guess what, the weather did not improve! However, we all put on a brave face, dressed for the occasion and had a lovely day. The first picture shows the van parked on Lavant bank. As usual there were a large number of H catering vans spread around the circuit.
You may recall that I mentioned in a previous column that the sole surviving right hand drive Slough built H van belonging to Tim James had caught fire on its way to have an MoT. Tim recently contacted me for some advice regarding the rebuild and he later sent me this; "I am using a local garage, Nick Doncaster Cars, who specialises in Citroëns, as well as French cars in general, H Vans etc, and
has sundry old vehicles of his own. In fact I was on my way to him for an MoT when the fire started. As far as we could see, the positive battery lead chafed on the chassis and eventually shorted out. It failed the MoT! After 35 years of having an H Van and badly missing mine for dump runs, trips out for shopping, rallies and just for the laugh, I just had to have something to tide me over with a bit of French character, et voila! A lot easier than an H, just like a car really. Unfortunately I am expected to sell it when the H is finished." Tim's temporary French van is a Renault Estafette, which is, of course, rather lighter and easier to drive than an H.
Peter Mitchell has now sent me the full story of his H van; "Although I did a test drive with Mike before purchasing the van the first long drive was getting it home, insured but still on French plates.
Gillian, my wife, followed in her car as I drove to the nearest garage for fuel, all of ten minutes. On arrival she came over and said I had just hit a car which was waiting to come through some roadworks. I never felt or heard a thing due to the noise and bouncing around of the empty van. I filled up, paid and asked where a police station was as I had to report an accident. I was just about to pull off when a police car shot in and blocked my exit. Luckily the garage proprietor was able to confirm that I was on the way to report the incident and that was accepted so I just followed him to the station and made a report. The poor lady in the car could only say that some large rusty van with a funny number plate and seemingly no driver had scraped along the side of her car. I just had a small dent in the side door
frame and the insurance sorted her out. The dent remained until a left-hand drive BMW ran into me and made it a much bigger dent. Luckily John Sobey had a long section of door frame so I used some of that and gave him back the rest as he needed it.
“The rest of the way home I managed to avoid any incidents.I had some metalwork replaced, it didn’t really need much, and the paint tidied up a bit.
“Later in 1994 I took it back to Whitchurch and had it waxoyled by “Before ‘N’ After Prestige” who turned up in a large van fitted out with all sorts of pressure cleaning, equipment, a large balloon jack, an endoscope, a waxoyl heater, a large drum of something with a WD arrow on the side and racks of other stuff.The van shot up in the air, was thoroughly cleaned and all loose stuff
removed, flushed out and rocked about to drain some of the water and left over lunch. Then the drum of stuff came into use and all areas and hidden spaces were sprayed with the contents, which I was led to believe would chase out any remaining moisture as it was used for that purpose on aircraft carriers to spray into jet engines on landing. The waxoyl was then heated and everything treated. That was 29 years ago and it seems to have worked, although I did get a top-up about four years ago.
“Later that year Mike invited us to the Traction Owners Christmas meal in a pub in Whitchurch. It was a cold morning with freezing fog and it was great fun driving the 34 miles in a grey van with 6 volt lights and no heater, especially to find on arrival that not one Traction was in the car park. They had all come in their boring cars. Very sensible!
“In 1999 I had a bare metal respray with new metal where necessary. The metal behind the headlights was shot so we replaced that with flat plate, to the horror of some. This was for practicality and to save as much of the original as possible.
I took out the headlining which I had put in in 94 and never put it back. We painted the roof white outside and that makes a big difference in the summer. Internal lighting is just magnetic LED lights.
“We decided not to fit it out permanently so use post war Utility furniture which I rescued from my parents’ house and my father’s two large trunks that he took to sea in the Royal Navy. The seat cushions are on these so you can put your feet on the floor without having to raise the floor, as can occur when the seats are on top of the wheel arches.. There is an enamel sink in
a cupboard which drains into a bucket and a Portaloo under that.
“Cooking is portable gas stoves. The great thing about this set-up is that you drag the whole lot out the back doors and have an empty van in ten minutes.
“In 2019 I had the whole brake system refurbished by a two-man vehicle restoration firm in Bosham, where I had the van in storage at the time. By chance they had just done the same on a Light 15 and I lent them the big maintenance book with all the drawings. That cost me more than the van cost in the first place but did need doing and I don’t have to look quite so far ahead now at traffic lights and things.
“The van went up to Three Mills Studios in London for several weeks and was in three episodes of the TV spin-off of the film ‘Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels’. I believe the director changed and it got sacked. I think it was mostly filmed on a moving track so not actually driven. It was on Dutch plates, which I still have, and smuggling drugs and dodgy magazines. They didn’t leave me any.
“My stepson drove it up to London as he was into renting out vehicles for filming at the time, but someone else was tasked to bring it back. He managed to ram it into a central reservation in London so I told him to just get it recovered and send it back as it was. One tyre was destroyed, the wheel badly bent and the radiator was bounced back into the fan. I did drive it off the truck and then replaced the wheel and tyre, had the radiator re-cored and the water pump and fan replaced. It didn’t actually take too long to get it back on the road and I did get all the money back.
“We also spent a day doing an advert for an insurance company at a working
garage in 2001. They changed everything in camera sight to French – signs, pumps, prices, name, everything you could see (see second two pictures). They then had traffic lights both sides at a good distance and changed them both to red when filming us and several other French vehicles trundling up and down the road and going into the garage. I don’t think the public were too amused by this but we had a good time and a free breakfast and lunch. Michelin’s PR guy came with me and I was given lots of advertising stuff. I never did see the advert so maybe it only made the cutting floor, or was shown in France!
“I was summoned once again to Whitchurch by Mike who had arranged for Jonathan Howard, then editor of the Traction Owners magazine “Floating Power” to have a drive of the van as he was doing a series of articles on vehicles
contemporary with the Traction. Also I think it was the 50th Anniversary of the H. “We had lunch and then Jonathan drove us out round the country lanes. We didn’t really have to hang on much but the article turned out to be headed “The Van I Couldn’t Overturn”!! The side door was open all the time and nothing and nobody noticeablyfell out.
“We were also recruited as the bread sales van at Alan Taylor’s H Van Toot in his field in Calvados in 2002 and also as ‘van in charge of rubbish’ at his Dentworm (Definitely Not The World Meeting), whenever that was (1999. I was there and remember Peter’s van - Ed.).
“I used to stay at Alan and Jo’s on occasion and trundle round the local scrapyards in the van picking up handy items, like an early H rear view mirror which is quite tiny. The trick at some of the yards then was to work out how
long the chains were on the Alsatians so you could navigate your way through them intact.
“I used to go down to Simon Doe in Melplash for MoTs and it had been backfiring for a while. He took the carburettor off and put it on a flat surface which showed that the bottom plate was distorted. He had a pile of them and we checked about five before we found a flat one. That did the job.
“After it had been in storage I moved it back to the newly built garages across the alley behind our house (final picture). I had it delivered as I wasn’t keen on driving on the motorway after about eighteen months in storage, even though they were starting it and moving it about a bit every month. That was a good move as it was spluttering and back-firing and not doing a lot. I thought fuel first so cleaned everything out, no
difference. Then I noticed that, although it fired straightaway and ran and revved up, as soon as I put the lights on it cut out. Several people had a look, took the carb apart, I changed the leads and distributor, cleaned and re-gapped the plugs. No difference.
“Eventually I phoned Citroën Classics where I normally buy renewable parts. I told Darrin what we had done and he pointed out that I hadn’t actually changed the plugs and told me to phone back when I had. Bought a new set of plugs – end of problem. It hadn’t occurred to any of us for some reason. Thank goodness someone knows what they are doing."
Thanks again, Peter, hopefully others will follow your lead and write to me! That's it for this month, more next.
