you don’t see too many citroën’s in the usa… especially not too many like this in terms of amount of use, condition and running order.. kind of harkens a worn 1970’s chevrolet caprice or something, like something you see all the time on the streets, only this was a banana yellow citroën. a welcome omen perhaps !
whilst enroute to the schipol airport in amsterdam, i spied this car transporter a’transportin’ a few vintage citroën 2CV’s that appeared to be in fine fiddle. the dutch are the nicest lot of folk i have ever encountered and the kindly cab driver offered to slow down and maneuver so i could get a better shot… i politely declined as i thought perhaps this might violate a certain cars-i-have-seen catch and release protocol.
The Citroën 2CV was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën between 1948 and 1990. It was technologically advanced and innovative, but with uncompromisingly utilitarian unconventional looks, and deceptively simple Bauhaus inspired bodywork, that belied the sheer quality of its underlying engineering. It was designed to move the French peasantry on from horses and carts. It is considered one of Citroën’s most iconic cars. In 1953 Autocar in a technical review of the car wrote of “the extraordinary ingenuity of this design, which is undoubtedly the most original since the Model T Ford”. It was described by CAR magazine journalist and author LJK Setright as “the most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car”. It was designed for low cost, simplicity of use, versatility, reliability, and off-road driving. For this it had a light, easily serviceable engine, extremely soft long travel suspension (with adjustable ride height), high ground clearance, and for oversized loads a car-wide canvas sunroof.
The Citroën DS was an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1955 and 1975. Styled by Italian sculptor and industrial designer Flaminio Bertoni, the DS is known for its aerodynamic futuristic body design and innovative technology, including a hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension. The DS advanced achievable standards in automobile ride quality, handling, and braking. Citroën sold nearly 1.5 million D-series during the model’s 20-year production run. The DS came in third in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, recognizing the world’s most influential auto designs, and was named the most beautiful car of all time by Classic & Sports Car magazine.
“continuez au camionnage” thats french for ‘keep on truckin’! this massive dump-truck was spotted in the french countryside enroute from charles de gaulle airport to paris. even though its just a dump truck there is still something esoteric and french about it…… in particular the cargo portion es magnifique ! its best to imagine that it hauls le petite escargot, beurre blanc and pièces pour des citroens.
fun fact: did you know that you can buy a brand new peugeot in mexico, but you cannot buy one in the good ol’ USofA ?? i don’t know about you but that seems awfully queer. do the french regard mexico as a more sophisticated market ? or are they just getting back at us for the whole “Freedom Fries” debacle? i also notice that canada is getting the silent treatment from peugeot as well, though french is an official language of canada….. why, you can’t even buy a bag of crisps up yonder without french on the wrapper. do the french hate hockey, cheese and the word ‘eh?’ so much they decided to deprive canadians the privilege of driving a peugeot ? what gives ? i want my peugeot’s, citroen’s, alfa romeo’s, lancia, fiat’s and all other manner of european car. it would be a welcome sight to get some hyundais, toyotas, kias and hondas off the roads in favor of some nice esoteric french and italian cars for a change.
in paris the police cars definitely are not trying to be macho or intimidating… indeed much like the famed “pink panther” inspector clouseau, the police cars in paris have a comical and bungling air. combine this with the french sirens (usually only heard to american ears in movies) the aesthetics of policing in france are more sophisticated, authentic and mis-shapen… which i actually prefer and will happily take any day over a good old-fashioned american tazing!
this voracious street-cleanin’ caterpillar was spied prowling the streets of paris france. its mandibles are fierce and rumored to be loaded with Perrier. these creatures secrete a hypnotic substance reducing their human operators to mere tranquilized slaves who live only to serve the caterpillar’s needs…… the operator in this photo appears to have fallen victim as witnessed by the tell-tale vacant and obedient stare.
The Citroën 2CV (deux chevaux vapeur, “two steam horses”) was an economy car produced from 1949 to 1990. It was technologically advanced and innovative, but with extremely utilitarian and deceptively simple Bauhaus inspired bodywork that belied the sheer quality of its underlying engineering. the most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car.
citroën’s have a rich heritage of uniquely esoteric french design. always futuristic in ways only the french can manage…… designed and engineered in ways that seem positively alien. even the current citroen’s convey a certain sublime outre’ character that could be infused only in france. wouldn’t it be nice if us ugly americans could buy new citroens state-side ???
