Citroen 2CV Sahara is a Most Unlikely French Off-Roader

Posted by George Kennedy  

@ BOLD RIDE                              

 

When you think of vintage vehicles with off-road credentials, a Willys Jeep, Toyota FJ or Land Rover Defender might come to mind. But there is another vehicle that has earned its stripes in trail-venturing, and it could not be a more unusual utility vehicle. Meet the 1960 Citroen 2CV Sahara.

 

The Citroen 2CV is France’s VW Beetle– it was a ubiquitous, go-anywhere economy car, built for decades, and found all over the world. It also featured seemingly dozens of variants, including the Sahara.

 

 

 

The base 2CV was restyled in 1960, including an air-cooled two-cylinder engine making a robust 13.5 horsepower. The Sahara was built between 1960 and 1971, and was intended for use by French oil companies, military and local police.

 

It actually had a second engine in the rear, so it could operate as four-wheel drive, or just as front wheel-drive with the rear engine disengaged.

 

 

 

Over the span of the Sahara’s production, only 694 examples were built. It goes without saying that they are extremely rare, but there are a few ways to spot one.

 

 First, is the spare wheel strapped to the hood, like some splendid french Land Rover. The next (and quite obvious) is the fan at the rear of the Sahara to cool its second engine. 

 

 

Finally, if you can’t inspect the rear and the hood has been replaced or covered, the giveaway is the recessed fuel filler in the front, passenger door. If you happen to find one, and have the coin,  we highly recommend this incredible vehicle. To own one is to own a two-engined, 4×4, convertible (the whole canvas roof folds back) piece of French motoring history!