truemouse Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 This car has inspired so much that many folks don't know. Sometimes it's even appeared under different skins and fooled entire countries. Take for instance the Panhard PL 17 http://www.autohistories.com/panhard-levassor/Panhard_PL17-f.jpg or the Bijou http://homepages.tesco.net/~Christian.Newman/Bijou2.JPG Did you know that after the French did their thing in Asia they left many cars behind, including examples of the GS/ GSA (A car that had evolved from the humble duck, with an air-cooled flat four instead of an air-cooled flat twim) a Company called Subaru had spotted this and re-packaged it as a Subaru GL front engine, front wheel drive flat four with the same layout as the GS/GSA (Before this Subaru were going down the line of micro-cars like the Subaru 360) Now we have a Subaru WRX with a flat six front engined package. Not sure if this counts, but we have even seen flying ducks. http://www.elchineroconcepts.com/UMP%202CV.jpg http://www.airventure.de/centenary2003/wright1.jpgTake a close look at the engine on this scaled Wright Brothers Flyer built and flown at Duxford.http://www.airventure.de/centenary2003/2cv.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tronboy Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 This car has inspired so much that many folks don't know. Sometimes it's even appeared under different skins and fooled entire countries. Take for instance the Panhard PL 17 http://www.autohistories.com/panhard-levassor/Panhard_PL17-f.jpg Sorry old bean, but the Panhards have little to do with the 2CV. The PL17 and successors had a flat twin aircooled engine, but that was where similarity ends. Even that had no common parts with the 2CV motor, being a far more advanced and ambitious 848cc unit with torsion bar valve springs and 60bhp as opposed to the Citroen's then 425cc with 18bhp. Some Panhards even had twin sparks per cylinder. The construction of the Panhard had nothing in common with the 2CV platform chassis and suspension either. It's even debatable that the 2CV had much to do with the evoultion of the GS either; the 4-cyl engine in the G-series had overhead cams and other differences. TronX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truemouse Posted January 19, 2007 Author Share Posted January 19, 2007 Sorry old bean, but the Panhards have little to do with the 2CV. The PL17 and successors had a flat twin aircooled engine, but that was where similarity ends. Even that had no common parts with the 2CV motor, being a far more advanced and ambitious 848cc unit with torsion bar valve springs and 60bhp as opposed to the Citroen's then 425cc with 18bhp. Some Panhards even had twin sparks per cylinder. The construction of the Panhard had nothing in common with the 2CV platform chassis and suspension either. It's even debatable that the 2CV had much to do with the evoultion of the GS either; the 4-cyl engine in the G-series had overhead cams and other differences. TronX Odd how the Panhard PL17 was designed shortly after the takeover by Citroen. I will admit, though, the suspension in the PL17 is vastly different and the plumbing seems to have gone awry, but it's pretty much the same engine. It's also odd how it's the GSA engine that's bolted onto a 2cv super Ami frame, that the only difference is a front spar to take two more cylinders. Indeed, that's a popular 2cv mod. I'm not saying they're identical, but the duck has inspired a lot of cars so much so that most parts are interchangeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tronboy Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 The fact that the PL17 and 2CV both have air cooled flat twins is about as relevant as the fact that the Peugeot 504 and Citroen DS23 both have four cylinder water cooled OHV engines. There are no common parts at all, and Panhard had developed its 2-cyl. engine during the War, long before their initial tie-up with Citroen in 1955. Citroen didn't assume a controlling interest in Panhard until 1960. The bodywork of the PL17 was actually designed by the bloke who styled the Dyane, but they are hardly the same design are they? The GS has no similarity to the 2CV at all, except the sharing of an engine in the 2CV derived Ami Super. The GS motor is certainly not simply a 2CV engine with a cou[ple of extra pots. You'll be trying to tell me that the Alfasud or VW (spit!) Beetle is derived from the 2CV next! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truemouse Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 The VW bug was not copied off the duck simply because Citroen had enough fore-sight to dismantle and hide or destroy the prototypes. (Somewhere in the region of 300 cars were destroyed before WW2) The Beetle was inspired, however, by rumour of France's TPV. Failing to get their hands on a 2cv, they plaigarised the Tatra. Okay, so I should really have included the word 'inspired'. The GSA engine is different, mainly because of the two extra cylinders. It needed OHC because of the extra cylinders, but it still took inspiration from the duck engine. Anyway, here's some more 2cv varieties. http://citcity.citroen1.info/2CV/waterrace2cv2.jpgTaking to speed-boat racing like a duck to water. http://homepages.compuserve.de/jwjnijman/CitroMobiel_2000/Images/pic00017.jpgThis Mud-Duck is a Lohr Fardier FL500. Again based on a 2cv. Over 200 were made for the French Army. The engine was transversly mounted in the centre so the diff at the back of the gearbox could power front and rear wheels. http://www.oldtimer-club.ru/files/photo/2cv/p4.jpgMade for the Africans but mainly sold in spain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tronboy Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 The Beetle was inspired, however, by rumour of France's TPV. Failing to get their hands on a 2cv, they plaigarised the Tatra. Word!! :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truemouse Posted February 2, 2007 Author Share Posted February 2, 2007 Louis Barbour is a clever chap who studied the 'A' series. He read up on prototypes and now includes some of the original design features in his cars. I've understood that the French army had ordered some Mehari's in a four wheel drive format. Louis Barbour has takent his idea to the standard 2cv. http://www.2cv4x4.com/images/buggy2.jpgRear chassis had to be notched to allow room for the rear diff. The Mehari bodyshell could easily accommodate this since it resembles a huge cat litter tray. http://www.2cv4x4.com/images/dayout33.jpg http://www.citroen-ca.com/IMAGES/2CV%20Sahara%202.jpgThe only production 4x4 2cvs were called 'Sahara' and had two engines. One for the front wheels and one for the back. It actually sold suprisingly well considering the trunk was of no use at all. I guess I should give Barbour props and post his websitehttp://www.2cv4x4.com/ http://www.geocities.com/godvandenbergh/citroen/rups-mehari.jpgoff-roading taken too far? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiewhite Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum having just bought what I believe to be a Bedouin. I had two 2CV's and 2 Dyanes when I first learnt to drive and now I have a bit more time on my hands, I decided to get another project. I was looking at several 2Cvs on ebay when I spotted this. It is described as a Bedouin and whilst I had heard of these, I have never actually seen one. On looking at the vehicle, it's obviously 2cv based, but has a GS enjine fitted. Spotting its potential for using as a camper (it has storage compartments in the rear and the roof frame unfolds into a tent at the rear of the vehicle) I thought sod it and so bought it. What i'd like to know is do any of you know anything about them (apart from what I've googled) and is it actually a genuine Bedouin or could it just be something that someone's cobbled together? http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc338/bertiewhite/47ce_1.jpghttp://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc338/bertiewhite/56bb_0.jpghttp://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc338/bertiewhite/6835_0.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techbod Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 an old Woodie indeed not many around if any at all, Ive never seen one but googled it anyway, http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...l%3Den%26sa%3DN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiewhite Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 an old Woodie indeed not many around if any at all, Ive never seen one but googled it anyway, http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...l%3Den%26sa%3DNThat's the same info as I found - not a lot unfortunately. Here's some more: http://www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/africar/africar.html http://www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/bedouin/bedouin.html so it's worth persevering with then? I like the idea of having a 2CV based camper anyway (I'd toyed with looking for an AK) but if it's rare, then all the better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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