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Feb 19, 2007 10:31:48 GMT
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980 posts and I haven't done a dedicated Readers Ride on my 2CV yet! Here's the history. I bought my Dolly in the summer of 2000 for £450. Had a slightly ropey chassis that I managed to get welded up - got me another two MOT passes. Result. By 2002, the MOT man was losing patience and the luck holding the chassis together was fast running out. Add to this the rotten floors, sills, c posts and windscreen surround and it was time for action. I'd thrown away 2CVs in better condition than this but was determined to save one - you cannot throw cars away for ever. Unfortunately, the strip-down predates my digital camera so I don't have any pics. But it wasn't pretty. I stripped the car down myself and shipped the bodyshell off to Pete Abbott in Lincs who set about removing all of the rusty bits and building it back up on a brand new, galvanised chassis. I ended up with this:
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 19, 2007 10:33:27 GMT
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So, I started to re-fit everything again which took about six months of very occasional weekends. Engine and box went back in very promptly. Eventually, she was back on the road again. Still had all the same scruffy panels fitted as I couldn't afford to have everything sorted this time around. She was back on the road in April 2003.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 19, 2007 10:36:21 GMT
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Roll forward to November 2005. The ratty look wasn't a good one! As I left her in Lincs again, November 2005. Pete worked his magic again and by January, she looked like this. An amazing transformation! Sadly, she looked like this on the day we were due to drive from Lincs to a 2CV Rally near Aberystwyth in Wales! Cue frantic work to finish her off by fitting headlamps, windows, number plates etc. We got it done and the picture below was taken during the rally.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 19, 2007 10:37:32 GMT
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The story doesn't quite end there though! A mere 8 months from the rebuild, poor Elly was attacked from behind by a Mondeo which punted us into a recovery truck. Bummer!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 19, 2007 10:38:17 GMT
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Didn't take me long to get her roadworthy again or so I thought... Sadly, the gearbox casing had been cracked so my work to bodge her up was wasted! Funky look though.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 19, 2007 10:39:34 GMT
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And now, she's fully sorted again! She's my daily driver and the only car I have road legal at the moment. Some rust starting in places and some running issues that I need to sort but otherwise, she's not bad for her 21 years and 144,000 miles!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 19, 2007 10:59:01 GMT
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Quite the story, love the paint scheme and beach-chair-fabric-roof! How does it cope with daily driving?
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Feb 19, 2007 11:04:08 GMT
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Not a problem - although I need to get the starting/running problem sorted at the moment. I've done 40,000 miles since October 2003 and while the bodywork has been sorted out twice, the mechanical side of things has not been touched apart from two replacement gearboxes (serious oil leak on the first changed just after I bought the car and that one was then replaced following the accident which cracked the casing).
The 2CV will sit all day at 70mph (hills and headwinds permitting) and is great fun to chuck down country lanes! The noise gets annoying on longer journeys and windy days can be terrifying (slab sides!) but I'd never be without a 2CV. I would love to get another to give the "retro" treatment though!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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ger
Part of things
Posts: 329
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Feb 19, 2007 16:37:03 GMT
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Excellent read !
Drove 2cvs for years, (150k on the last one, yellow T Reg), took it all round Northern France. Had a bright green ' Bamboo" as well. Bodywork on the later ones was even thinner!
70mph all day, noise seemed to smooth out at this speed, and you could entertain yourself by watching the tops of the doors move a full inch away from the bodywork at 80mph downhill with following wind !
Front brake renewal needed removal of bonnet, wings and wee filler panels, this took around 5 mins, mostly with a 17mm spanner or the starting handle\wheel brace..
Brilliant cars ! Would love another
Cheers Gerry
PS Still have my winter muff somewhere... (oooo er missus!)
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Feb 19, 2007 17:24:09 GMT
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I like the look of the bumpers,very safari ;D.Whats the news on the metro? ;D
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Neil
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,485
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Feb 19, 2007 17:40:10 GMT
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'bout time you posted 'Elly' up Yan!
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Feb 19, 2007 17:40:24 GMT
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Metro is still sitting at the rear of my driveway with an also-not-road-legal brown Allegro in front of it. Hopefully not much longer until both are road legal.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 19, 2007 20:35:36 GMT
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Said it before, I was a mamber of 2CVGB for a few years, wanted to buy and own one for a long time, still love them, they are like a favourite pet.....always make me smile.
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Feb 19, 2007 21:08:13 GMT
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Cheers folks. Crikey, I'm over 1000 posts now!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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stinkwheel
Posted a lot
Doctor Of Gonzo Journalism - One of gods own proptypes, never even considered for mass production.
Posts: 2,280
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Feb 19, 2007 23:01:23 GMT
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Thats cos' you are a post whore
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1973 Citroen Dyane 6 1980 Citroen Acadiane 1992 Citroen AX 1990 Citroen BX 1997 Citroen XM 1993 Citroen BX 1997 Citroen Xantia 1977 Citroen Ami 8 1996 Ford Escort 1989 Citroen BX 1997 Suzuki RF900 1988 Yamaha TDR250 1979 Honda CB400. 'I need less vehicles'
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,937
Club RR Member Number: 71
Member is Online
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Feb 19, 2007 23:16:21 GMT
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I've owned 2 x 2CV's and both had chassis problems - shame really cos would have changed the chassis on the first one if I had the time and the second one was later found to be accident damaged and on the register!!!
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Chassis has be problematic. That's why mine is now on a Galvo one!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 20, 2007 19:51:07 GMT
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It all sounds like I should buy one one sunny day... (maybe with a Japanese bike engine to satisfy the J-loving side of my brain)
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Feb 20, 2007 21:23:00 GMT
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I went to a meeting with a Dutch Acadiane (Dyane van) that someone had VERY roughly fitted a bike engine into the back of! I'll dig out some pics when I'm feeling less knackered.
After France, Holland is probably the next biggest country for 2CV love.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Feb 21, 2007 11:19:36 GMT
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Yep, there are still quite a few over here and lots are imported from France every year. It would have been a better choice for me than the Toyota, more specialists and clubs around, and you can almost build a new one I guess, but try to find one under 1500 euros... impossible! This is one from my hood, used to see it on the way to work but no more, shame cause it made me smile day in, day out...
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Last Edit: Feb 21, 2007 11:20:23 GMT by michiel
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