Editing Citroën 2CV (section)

==== 1949–1959 ====

In 1949, the first delivered 2CV type A was 375 cc, {{cvt|9|hp-metric|kW|disp=flip}}, with a {{cvt|65|km/h}} top speed, only one tail light and windscreen wiper with speed shaft drive; the wiper speed was dependent on the driving speed. There was no fuel gauge; Citroën provided a dipstick below the petrol filler cap. The 2CV was the first car designed around and released with [[radial tire]]s.{{sfnp|Chapman|2009|p=104}}

The car was heavily criticised by the motoring press and became the butt of French comedians for a short while.{{sfnp|Clarke|2000|p=13}} The British ''[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]'' correspondent wrote that the 2CV "...is the work of a designer who has kissed the lash of austerity with almost masochistic fervour".{{sfnp|Clarke|2000|p=135}} One American motoring journalist quipped, "Does it come with a can opener?"<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/12/automobiles/autos-on-friday-collecting-50-years-of-the-2cv-s-joie-de-vivre.html| access-date=20 August 2009|title=Autos on Friday/Collecting; 50 Years of the 2CV's Joie de Vivre |date=12 June 1998 |first=Peter C. T.|last=Elsworth |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Despite critics, Citroën was flooded with customer orders at the show.<ref name='HCFI'/> The car had a great impact on the lives of the low-income segment of the population in France.<ref name='CS'>{{cite news |url=http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/the-citroen-2cv-the-classic-car-that-put-france-on-wheels.html/?a=viewall |title=The Citröen 2CV: The Classic Car That Put France on Wheels |first=James Derek |last=Sapienza |publisher=TheCheatSheet |date=16 July 2015 |access-date=29 August 2016 |archive-date=19 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919225341/http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/the-citroen-2cv-the-classic-car-that-put-france-on-wheels.html/?a=viewall |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 2CV was a commercial success: within months of it going on sale, there was a three-year waiting list, which soon increased to five years. At the time a second-hand 2CV was more expensive than a new one because the buyer did not have to wait.{{sfnp|Clarke|2000|p=13}} Production was increased from 876 units in 1949 to 6,196 units in 1950.

Grudging respect began to emanate from the international press: towards the end of 1951 the opinion appeared in Germany's recently launched ''[[Auto, Motor und Sport]]'' magazine that, despite its "ugliness and primitiveness" ''("Häßlichkeit und Primitivität")'', the 2CV was a "highly interesting" ''("hochinteressantes")'' car.<ref name=AutoMotoruSport199613>{{cite journal|last=Westrup |first=Klaus |editor=Bernd Ostmann|title=Not und Spiele: Die 50er Jahre...|journal=[[Auto, Motor und Sport|Auto Motor u. Sport]]|volume=13, 1996|pages=58–65|date=14 June 1996}}</ref>

In 1950, [[Pierre-Jules Boulanger]] was killed in a car crash on the main road from Clermont-Ferrand (the home of Michelin) to Paris.{{sfnp|Reynolds|2005|p=103}}

In 1951, the 2CV received an ignition lock and a lockable driver's door. Production reached 100 cars a week.{{sfnp|Reynolds|2005|p=45}} By the end of 1951 production totalled 16,288.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citroenet.org.uk/passenger-cars/michelin/2cv/production.html |title=Citroën 2CV and derivatives annual production figures |publisher=Citroënët |date=10 June 2000 |access-date=17 February 2012}}</ref> Citroën introduced the '''2CV Fourgonnette''' panel van. The "Weekend" version of the van had collapsible, removable rear seating and rear side windows, enabling a tradesman to use it as a family vehicle on the weekend as well as for business in the week.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

By 1952, production had reached more than 21,000 with export markets earning foreign currency taking precedence.{{sfnp|Reynolds|2005|p=45}} Boulanger's policy, which continued after his death, was: "Priority is given to those who have to travel by car because of their work and for whom ordinary cars are too expensive to buy."{{sfnp|Reynolds|2005|p=45}} Cars were sold preferentially to country vets, doctors, midwives, priests and small farmers.{{sfnp|Reynolds|2005|p=45}} In 1954, the speedometer got a light for night driving. In 1955, the 2CV side repeaters were added above and behind the rear doors. It was now also available with 425&nbsp;cc (AZ), {{cvt|12.5|hp-metric|kW|disp=flip}} and a top speed of {{cvt|80|km/h}}. In 1957, a heating and ventilation system was installed. The colour of the steering wheel changed from black to grey. The mirrors and the rear window were enlarged. The bonnet was decorated with a longitudinal strip of aluminium (AZL). In September 1957, the model AZLP (P for ''porte de malle'', "boot lid"), appeared with a [[Trunk (automobile)|boot]] lid panel; previously the soft top had to be opened at the bottom to get to the boot. In 1958, a Belgian Citroën plant produced a higher quality version of the car (AZL3). It had a third side window, not available in the normal version and improved details.