The Citroën 2CV6 is an air-cooled front-engine, front-wheel-drive economy car produced by French automobile manufacturer Citroën. The 2CV6 is prominently featured in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only as James Bond's makeshift escape vehicle. A purple-hued version also appeared in Marvel Comics' accompanying adaptation of the film.
Overview[]
Introduced at the 1948 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile, the Citroën 2CV (French: "deux chevaux" i.e., "deux chevaux-vapeur" (lit. "two steam horses", "two tax horsepower") was conceived by Citroën Vice-President Pierre Boulanger[2] to help motorise the large number of farmers still using horses and carts in 1930s France. The 2CV has a combination of innovative engineering and utilitarian, straightforward metal bodywork — initially corrugated for added strength without added weight.[3][4][5] The 2CV featured low cost; simplicity of overall maintenance; an easily serviced air-cooled engine; low fuel consumption; and an extremely long-travel suspension[6] offering a soft ride and light off-road capability. Often called "an umbrella on wheels",[7][8] the fixed-profile convertible bodywork featured a full-width, canvas, roll-back sunroof. Manufactured in France between 1948 and 1988 (and in Portugal from 1988 to 1990), over 3.8 million 2CVs were produced.[9]
Film appearances[]
In 1981 a yellow 2CV6 was driven by James Bond in EON Productions' film For Your Eyes Only. Rather than its standard 602 cm3 engine, the film's vehicle was fitted with the flat-4 engine taken from a Citroën GS which more than doubled the power.[10][1] In the film, Bond is captured by Cuban hitman, Hector Gonzales, whilst spying on his Spanish villa. He manages to escape when Gonzales is killed by a crossbow bolt, shot by Melina Havelock, the daughter of an intelligence operative he had assassinated. When Gonzales' thugs accidentally destroy Bond's Lotus Esprit, the pair are forced to make their escape through the winding roads (and steep-sloping olive groves) in Melina's Citroën 2CV6. Notably, in one scene the ultra light 2CV tips over and is quickly righted by hand.[1] Citroën launched a special edition 2CV "007" to coincide with the film; it was fitted with the standard engine and painted yellow with "007" on the front doors and fake bullet hole stickers.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- On Top Gear's Fifty Years of Bond Cars, Bond actor Sir Roger Moore proclaimed the Citroën 2CV as his favourite Bond car.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Citroen 2CV – For Your Eyes Only. Car Magazine (UK) (20 October 2008). Retrieved on 10 July 2016.
- ↑ Lichfield, Jon. "The 2CV – A French icon: La toute petite voiture", The Independent, 18 April 2008.
- ↑ The Tin Snail.
- ↑ Reynolds, John (2005). The Citroën 2CV. Haynes, p.23. ISBN 978-1-84425-207-7.
- ↑ WHAT IS CORRUGATED STEEL AND WHY DOES IT WORK WELL FOR SIDING?. Whirlwind Steel (7 September 2015). Retrieved on 12 April 2017.
- ↑ Reynolds, John (2005). The Citroën 2CV. Haynes, p.32. ISBN 978-1-84425-207-7.
- ↑ 1953 Citroen 2CV. The LeMay Museum.
- ↑ Patton, Phil (13 May 2011). Architect as Auto Designer: Le Corbusier’s Minimum Car. Wheels, The New York Times.
- ↑ Reynolds, John (2005). The Citroën 2CV. Haynes, p.65. ISBN 978-1-84425-207-7.
- ↑ Citroën 2CV. Citroën.