Registration No: GSJ 728
Chassis No: 2599582
MOT: Exempt

• Imported from France in 1997 and restored to show winning condition with numerous awards to its credit
• Fitted with such desirable extras as a 'bumpy' boot lid, twin horse mascot and Robri wing guards all round
• Featured in Classic & Sports Car magazine

“The most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car” (LJK Setright on the Citroen 2CV)

The development of Citroën's ever-charming Deux Chevaux dates back to 1936, ie a couple of years after the company had been rescued by Michelin. It was intended to motorise the large number of French farmers still relying on horses and carts, and it was research carried out amongst France's largely rural population that determined the following unique design brief: a low-priced, rugged 'umbrella on four wheels' that would enable four peasants to drive 110lb of farm goods to market at 31mph in clogs and via muddy, unpaved roads; including transporting eggs across a ploughed field without breaking them. Production was delayed by WWII, but began in 1948, following which 3,872,583 2CVs were manufactured via 11 factories across the world (including one in Slough, England) between 1948 and 1990, by when the ageing design had been defeated by contemporary legislation. Introduced in September 1957, the ‘decadent’ AZLP variant boasted an enlarged ‘AZ’ 425cc engine (good for a reputed 80km/h top speed), ‘L’ for ‘Luxe’ trim (including a decorative aluminium bonnet centre strip) and opening ‘P’ (for porte de malle) boot lid.

Further distinguished by its ‘deux chevaux’ mascot and distinctive ‘bumpy’ boot lid, this rare surviving AZLP is the veteran of numerous International Citroen Car Club Rallies. Imported to the UK in 1997, a certificate on file reveals that it was declared ‘Registers Day Winner’ at the following year’s 50^th Anniversary of the 2CV Celebrations. Granted a ‘Masters Class Award’ at the 2CVGB’s Registers Day in 2000, the four-seater was judged to be ‘The Best Old Car’ at the 2CV Southern Club’s Walton-on-Thames meeting two years later and even graced the pages of Classic & Sports Car magazine as part of a feature on the model. Self-evidently the subject of much past restoration work not the least of which was a respray carried out by a Rolls-Royce and Bentley Service Centre during 2012, the diminutive saloon is among the smartest 2CVs we have encountered and possibly the finest example of its kind in the UK? Wonderfully detailed from its ripple bonnet and Jaegar 0-90km/h speedometer through to its Blue-stripped upholstery and Robri wing guards, this delightful Citroen is worthy of close inspection.

PLEASE NOTE: We have been informed that the chassis number for this lot indicates it was built as an ‘AZ’ model during the 1962 model year. As such, it would originally have been fitted with a ‘five rib’ bonnet. Accompanying French paperwork gives the date of first registration as 4^th October 1961.

For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737