An iconic model car: the German Citroën 2CV "Polente"
This 1:43 scale Citroën 2CV "Polente" model car represents a fascinating chapter in European automotive history. Faithfully reproducing German police vehicles from the 1960s and 1970s, this collector's item captures the essence of an era when the legendary French "Deudeuche" served law enforcement across the Rhine. A true model car historical testimony, it will appeal to both car enthusiasts and collectors of intervention vehicles.
This meticulous reproduction is a must-have collector's item for anyone interested in the evolution of European public service vehicles and the extraordinary adaptability of the French 2CV.
Characteristics of the model car
- Model: Citroën 2CV "Polente" (German Police)
- Brand: Citroën
- Year: 1960s-1970s
- Scale: 1/43rd
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Color: White/green with German police markings
- Protective case included: Yes
The Citroën 2CV: a popular automotive revolution
Launched in 1948 at the Paris Motor Show, the Citroën 2CV was born from a revolutionary specification: to create a car capable of "transporting four people and 50 kg of luggage at 60 km/h while consuming 3 liters per 100 kilometers." Pierre-Jules Boulanger, then head of Citroën, imagined a vehicle so simple that a farmer could drive it without difficulty, so economical that it democratized the automobile.
Equipped with its 375cc air-cooled twin-cylinder engine, the 2CV is distinguished by its interconnected torsion bar suspension , which gives it remarkable adaptability on all terrains. Its self-supporting body, retractable canvas top, and hammock seats make it a concentrate of French ingenuity. With over 5 million units produced by 1990, it crossed borders and conquered the whole of Europe.
In Germany, the 2CV quickly found its place among local police forces, attracted by its reliability, ease of maintenance and low operating costs . These qualities made it the ideal vehicle for urban and rural patrols of the time.
Citroën: pioneer of automotive innovation
Founded in 1919 by André Citroën, the chevron brand quickly established itself as a laboratory for technical innovation . In the 1920s, Citroën revolutionized the automotive industry with European-style mass production, inspired by the methods of Henry Ford. André Citroën, a tireless visionary, introduced revolutionary concepts: the all-steel body, front-wheel drive, and hydraulic shock absorbers.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the era of our 2CV "Polente", Citroën experienced its golden age under the leadership of Pierre Michelin and then François Michelin. The company simultaneously developed popular models like the 2CV and avant-garde sedans like the DS. This duality allowed the brand to conquer all segments of the European market , from the people's car to presidential limousines.
Exporting to Germany therefore represents a major strategic challenge for Citroën, which adapts its vehicles to local specificities, particularly for public orders and company fleets.
The "Polente": when the 2CV becomes German
The story of the 2CV "Polente" perfectly illustrates the emerging European integration of the 1960s. The term "Polente" itself reveals this adoption: a colloquial deformation of the word "Polizei", it testifies to the affection that the Germans had for these small French Citroëns transformed into patrol vehicles.
These German police 2CVs sported a distinctive white and green livery , the traditional colours of the German police at the time, with the words "POLIZEI" clearly visible on the doors. Equipped with blue flashing lights and radio equipment, they crisscrossed the streets of medium-sized towns and country roads, becoming familiar to the local population.
The adoption of the 2CV by the German police was not insignificant: in a post-war context where Germany was rebuilding its institutions, choosing a French vehicle represented a symbolic gesture of Franco-German reconciliation . These small Citroëns embodied a community police force, accessible and non-intimidating, in contrast to the imposing Mercedes used by the higher authorities.
Today, these "Polente" are considered historical curiosities. Some restored examples still participate in vintage vehicle rallies, recalling this period when the French 2CV served German public order , a living symbol of the European construction which was then discreetly beginning, on a daily basis, on the roads across the Rhine.
Complete your model car collection
This Citroën 2CV "Polente" naturally finds its place in several collection themes. It harmonizes perfectly with other Citroën 2CV model cars to recreate the evolution of this iconic model, or with police and gendarmerie vehicles to explore the world of law enforcement through the ages.
French car enthusiasts will find it a fascinating example of successful export, while collectors of 1960s model cars can associate it with other icons of this revolutionary decade. This piece also interacts with other Citroën models to illustrate the creative diversity of the chevron brand.
Whether you are a confirmed collector or a beginner enthusiast , this 2CV "Polente" represents a unique testimony to European automotive history, a bridge between French and German cultures, materialized in an exceptional model car which will permanently enrich your collection.
