5. Citroen 2CV
After the Second World War, France was faced with a different economic reality, because the enthusiasm of the fantastic 1930’s was gone. The market couldn’t afford those luxury models, so manufacturers were forced to design basic transportation and inexpensive cars. But, in the typical French fashion, inexpensive cars didn’t have to be dull and boring vehicles. One of the best examples was the legendary Citroen 2CV.
The idea behind the Citroen 2CV was to present the most affordable family car possible. It would be totally minimalistic and utilitarian, but it would still have a certain level of comfort. It also would provide enough space for four occupants and their luggage. The construction was extremely simple and durable, and all 2CVs had canvas tops.
They presented the first Citroen 2CV in 1948. It soon became a best seller, not only in France but also in the rest of Europe. Early models had a diminutive flat twin engine with only 375 ccm or 21cid. They only delivered nine HP, but later versions grew to 600 ccm or 40cid and 29 HP.
Despite its diminutive power and performance, the Citroen 2 CV was immensely popular in the whole world and they sold almost four million copies. They also briefly sold it in the U.S., but it didn’t attract a lot of attention from car buyers. They ended production in 1990, which was late for a car like this.