This Citroën 2CV A white from Norev takes us back to the heroic era of the "Paris - Tanger - Jérusalem" rally, a mythical automotive adventure from the 1950s. This 1/43 scale miniature perfectly captures the pioneering spirit of this little French car that managed to conquer the world's toughest roads.
A true collectible item, this faithful reproduction is a testament to the daring of the drivers of the time and the legendary robustness of the 2CV, which became an icon of popular French automobiles.
Miniature specifications
- Model: 2CV A
- Brand: Citroën
- Year: 1950
- Scale: 1/43
- Color: White
- Manufacturer: Norev
- Protective case included: Yes
The original model: an automotive revolution
The Citroën 2CV A was born in 1949 from a revolutionary specification: to create a car capable of transporting two farmers in clogs, 50 kg of potatoes, and a barrel of wine at 60 km/h while consuming 3 liters per 100 kilometers. André Lefèbvre and Flaminio Bertoni brilliantly took on this challenge, designing a vehicle of disconcerting simplicity but formidable efficiency.
Equipped with a 375 cm³ air-cooled twin-cylinder engine producing 9 horsepower, the 2CV A stands out with its revolutionary interconnected torsion bar suspension and removable hammock seats. This unique design allows it to tackle all terrains with surprising ease, a quality that would prove valuable during intercontinental rallies.
The commercial success of the 2CV exceeded all of Citroën's expectations. Despite the initial mockery from the Parisian public, it quickly conquered rural France and then Europe, becoming a symbol of automotive democratization.
Citroën at the dawn of the 1950s
In 1950, Citroën was going through a pivotal period in its history. After revolutionizing the automobile with the Traction Avant in 1934, the brand with the chevrons sought to renew its image as an innovator. The 2CV then represented a bold bet: to create a popular car capable of mobilizing post-war France.
André Citroën had built his reputation on technological and commercial daring, from the first European mass-produced cars to legendary promotional expeditions like the Croisière Noire. This tradition of adventure continued with the intercontinental rallies of the 1950s, where the 2CV proved its worth on the toughest tracks. The French brand thus developed a unique expertise in all-terrain vehicles, foreshadowing future rally raid successes.
A legendary saga: the Paris-Tanger-Jérusalem rally
The story of the "Paris - Tanger - Jérusalem" rally remains one of the most extraordinary chapters in the history of French automotive adventure. In May 1954, a Citroën 2CV A white identical to this miniature set off on this mythical event driven by Jacques Ickx, father of future Formula 1 champion Jacky Ickx. The audacity seemed insane: crossing Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East with a 9 horsepower car.
The nearly 10,000-kilometer route defied all automotive logic of the time. The Sahara tracks, the Atlas Mountains, and the deserts of the Middle East posed obstacles that only the most robust vehicles could hope to overcome. Yet, the little white 2CV surprised by its endurance, simplicity, and ease of maintenance under extreme conditions.
This extraordinary adventure revealed the unsuspected qualities of the "two-legged". Its exemplary behavior on all terrains, reliability under all conditions, and ability to run on makeshift fuels made it the revelation of the rally. The images of this white 2CV crossing dunes or climbing mountain passes have left a lasting impression and contributed to the legend of this cult model.
This saga forever transformed the image of the 2CV, elevating it from a mere popular car to an adventure vehicle capable of traversing the globe. It inspired numerous other raids and expeditions, making the "deuche" the ambassador of the French spirit of adventure and resourcefulness.
Complete your miniature collection
This Norev Citroën 2CV A white holds a special place in the world of French automotive miniatures. It fits perfectly into a collection dedicated to Citroën 2CV miniature cars, alongside the colorful variations of this mythical model. Rally enthusiasts will particularly appreciate its complementarity with other rally collection vehicles.
This miniature will also find its place in a thematic collection dedicated to French miniature cars from the 1950s or miniatures from the 1950s. Norev collectors will recognize the characteristic finishing quality of this French manufacturer known for its fidelity to the original models.
This piece will appeal to both automotive enthusiasts and history buffs, evoking a time when automotive adventure went hand in hand with daring and self-overcoming. It constitutes a precious testimony to the golden age of intercontinental rallies and the pioneering spirit that animated post-war French manufacturers.
