Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
French author Guy de Maupassant regularly ate on the first level of the Eiffel Tower even though he hated the sight of the thing. When asked why he said it was not for the quality of the food, but it was the only place in Paris where he couldn’t see the Eiffel Tower! Some were also put off by the look of the Citroën 2CV, but like the Eiffel Tower it’s grown to become a beloved symbol of French engineering success, and about as French as a croissant. It’s no accident this French biscuit tin has a picture of a 2CV on it. In development for 13 years, and in production for over 40, Citroën’s “upturned pram” produced two offspring, but outlasted both of them. Why did it take 13 years to develop, and why did it last more than 40 years in production with almost no changes?
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Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Citro%C3%ABn
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500_%22Topolino%22
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mica
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_2_CV
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_2CV
citroenet.org.uk
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_horsepower#France
dovepublishing.co.uk/blog/vepublishing.co.uk/2012/01/great-aluminium-car.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_tire
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Bijou
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Ami
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taunus_P3
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Popular
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby-Brousse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAIPA
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_4
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Dyane
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Dyane
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_M%C3%A9hari
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_M35
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_GS
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_FAF
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Visa
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_C15
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Acadiane
https://www.carsguide.com.au/oversteer/this-citroen-2cv-has-been-given-the-picasso-treatment-60382
https://en.typeh.eu/fourgonnette.php
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_de_Maupassant
#bigcar
French author Guy de Maupassant regularly ate on the first level of the Eiffel Tower even though he hated the sight of the thing. When asked why he said it was not for the quality of the food, but it was the only place in Paris where he couldn’t see the Eiffel Tower! Some were also put off by the look of the Citroën 2CV, but like the Eiffel Tower it’s grown to become a beloved symbol of French engineering success, and about as French as a croissant. It’s no accident this French biscuit tin has a picture of a 2CV on it. In development for 13 years, and in production for over 40, Citroën’s “upturned pram” produced two offspring, but outlasted both of them. Why did it take 13 years to develop, and why did it last more than 40 years in production with almost no changes?
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using PayPal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Citro%C3%ABn
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500_%22Topolino%22
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mica
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_2_CV
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_2CV
citroenet.org.uk
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_horsepower#France
dovepublishing.co.uk/blog/vepublishing.co.uk/2012/01/great-aluminium-car.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_tire
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Bijou
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Ami
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taunus_P3
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Popular
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby-Brousse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAIPA
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_4
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Dyane
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Dyane
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_M%C3%A9hari
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_M35
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_GS
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_FAF
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Visa
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_C15
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Acadiane
https://www.carsguide.com.au/oversteer/this-citroen-2cv-has-been-given-the-picasso-treatment-60382
https://en.typeh.eu/fourgonnette.php
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_de_Maupassant
#bigcar
