An authentic model car of rural France
This 1:43 scale Citroën 2CV Saint-Sever poultry van captures the very essence of rural France in the 1950s and 1960s. This faithful reproduction features one of the most iconic vehicles of French small businesses, transformed to meet the specific needs of street vendors .
More than just a model car, this piece is a true historical testament to French automotive heritage and the popular ingenuity that characterized the era. It will naturally find its place in any collection dedicated to French utility vehicles or classic cars representative of our automotive heritage.
Characteristics of the model car
- Model: Citroën 2CV Van from the Saint-Sever Poultry Farm
- Brand: Citroën
- Year: 1950s-1960s
- Scale: 1/43rd
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Finish: Specific poultry decoration
- Protective case included: Yes
The History of the 2CV Van
The Citroën 2CV Camionnette , launched in 1951, represented the logical adaptation of the famous "Deudeuche" to the needs of small businesses and French crafts. Developed from the 2CV saloon, this utility version retained the original philosophy: simplicity, robustness and economic accessibility. The transformation consisted mainly of the removal of the rear bench seat and the rear roof, replacing them with a loading platform.
This ingenious adaptation made it possible to transport up to 250 kg of goods while retaining the 2CV's exceptional road qualities. The 375 cc twin-cylinder engine developing 9 horsepower was more than sufficient for short journeys and local deliveries, while the torsion bar suspension provided unparalleled driving comfort on the rough roads of the time.
The versatility of this van quickly made it the tool of choice for street vendors, artisans, and small business owners who crisscrossed France during the Trente Glorieuses. Its rustic design and ease of maintenance guaranteed remarkable longevity, even under the most difficult operating conditions.
Citroën, the French automotive innovator
Founded in 1919 by André Citroën, the French carmaker quickly established itself as one of Europe's most innovative manufacturers . From the very beginning, Citroën revolutionized the French automotive industry by introducing Ford-inspired mass production methods while developing cutting-edge technical solutions.
In the 1950s, the period in which this 2CV Van was created, Citroën was going through a post-war reconstruction phase marked by popular innovation. The French firm focused on democratic automobiles , developing vehicles accessible to the greatest number of people. This philosophy is perfectly embodied in the 2CV and its derivatives, which embody the spirit of French ingenuity in the face of the economic constraints of the time.
Citroën's revolutionary approach was to design vehicles that met the real needs of users rather than aesthetic trends. This pragmatic approach, led by Pierre-Jules Boulanger , would give rise to iconic models that would leave a lasting mark on the history of the French automobile.
The poultry farmer of Saint-Sever, ambassador of Landes gastronomy
Saint-Sever, a small town in the Landes region renowned for its exceptional poultry specialties , has seen the birth of a unique commercial tradition around its itinerant poultry traders. These merchants, true ambassadors of Landes gastronomy, crisscrossed the region's markets in their 2CV vans, specially adapted for transporting live poultry and farmyard produce.
The unique feature of these vehicles lay in their sophisticated, handcrafted fittings : wire cages, ventilation systems, refrigerated egg trays, and sometimes even small water troughs to keep the poultry in perfect condition during the journey. These vans thus became veritable specialized traveling grocery stores, bringing the quality of Landes farm products directly to the markets.
The image of these poultry traders in their 2CV vans is inseparable from the golden age of French rural markets . Every market day, they set up their colorful stalls, creating a special atmosphere with their chatter and theatrical displays designed to attract customers. These traders helped keep the link between producers and consumers alive, embodying an era when local commerce still structured the social life of small towns.
Today, although modernized, some poultry farmers continue this family tradition, testifying to the longevity of artisanal know-how passed down from generation to generation. The 2CV van remains in our memories as the symbol of this era when popular ingenuity and French resourcefulness transformed a simple utility vehicle into a tool for preserving regional gastronomic traditions.
Complete your model car collection
This Citroën 2CV poultry van naturally finds its place alongside other French utility vehicles in a thematic collection. It harmonizes perfectly with the other models in the Citroën 2CV range, creating a coherent whole representative of the diversity of this iconic range.
Collectors with a passion for French cars will appreciate combining it with other Citroën creations, particularly models from the Citroën collection or French cars from the same era. This model car also fits perfectly into a collection dedicated to light commercial vehicles .
For period enthusiasts, this piece fits harmoniously with other models from the 1950s and 1960s , allowing you to faithfully recreate the automotive atmosphere of these pivotal decades. It will appeal to both experienced collectors and enthusiasts discovering the world of 1/43rd scale model cars , the absolute benchmark for reproduction quality and level of detail.
