The car that gave the boat its name!

 

In 2000 I came across a 2CV. It had been used on the roads around London but had somehow found its way to a farm near Atherstone in Warwickshire. The farmer used it to caryy bales of hay to some horses he kept in one of the fields and had taken the rear seat out so they would fit in. He couldn’t remember where he had put it though. It had no MOT but looked a reasonable project and it had only done 60000 miles since being registered in 1987. I bought it and got it home. A failure at MOT gave me a list of jobs!

 

2CV much as it arrived

 I replaced a kingpin, a front disc caliper, discs and pads, a rear wheel cylinder sourced a back seat from a 2CV that had been in a fire, changed oil filter, points and welded some chassis bits and it passed its MOT!

 

Just after MOT in Wales

It was August so we went to wales where we had a caravan and had a wonderful week in the sun in Snowdonia. The roll back roof a ride really made an enjoyable experience.

Wings off to change oil

We got home and I took the wing off to change the oil and discovered the chassis had cracked completly through! We wanted to go to the 2CV annual rally at Stanford Hall only 5 days away. The only thing was to change the chassis. I phoned 2CV City and asked for a replacement, they said they would send one if I would send a cheque. I explained about the rally and the very nice man said I should not worry, they would send it as they knew 2CV people would not fail to pay. It arrived the following day!

I set about taking out the engine, stripping the body off and putting the bits onto the new chassis – all done on my own. I had a bit of welding to do as well.

Engine out and the strip down starts

Off came the body

Swopping the bits

Some of the welding

This was where the chassis had split

Body held up by jacks for assembled chassis rolled under

Chassis rolled under ready for lowering the body

And after 3 days it was done!

We took it to the rally, I bought a new roof for £70 and a new set of upholstery for the seats and a new registration number – A 2 OCV. We did many miles of fun driving all over the country and had some really good holidays in the first Deux Chevaux.