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Q: Describe your favorite drive in the CV2:
A: My favorite street is a couple blocks from us, it's called White Oak. About a half a mile of it has a very gentle slope, and is lined with big pine trees called Deodar. The street is historically designated by the city of Los Angeles, and the area used to be the main entrance for a huge agricultural area. They have since urbanized the area, but the street is still so beautiful, especially at 4 or 5 o'clock when the sun is just right. And my little car can get up the tiny hills on the street!
I like driving the car around town too. People are always stopping and talking to me about the car. The car is an ice breaker, because it's so different and has all kinds of neat stuff. Driving this car makes you feel more playful, and it is a great pleasure to drive.
Q: What are some cool or unique features on your 2CV?
A: The suicide doors—1964 (the year of this car) was the last year Citroën made them. Also, I like the fact that the 2CV has the choke system. When I put the key in the ignition, it doesn't start, I then have to then pull the choke and the starter for it to start. Most people have no idea how to do it at first. If I have to run into the store really quickly, I could probably leave the key in the ignition, and nobody would be able to steal it, because they wouldn't know how to start the car! (laughing)
I love how the gear shifters are very different, because you have to pull in and out. I love the roll top. It's convertible, but you just roll the top back. I love the huge steering wheel and the front windows, because they're unusual. They don't roll down, but they're separated and you have to lift the bottom part down to open the window. The top doesn't open at all, and I think that's really cool. The chrome along the window makes it look very sharp.
The air suspension is unique, because you have to equally distribute the weight of the passengers. Driving by myself is OK, but I have my spare tire in the trunk that's on the right passenger side, so maybe that balances me out, but when you turn a corner in the car, it really turns and kind of tilts to the side.
I like everything about the car. It's such a unique little thing.
Q. Does your car have a nickname?
A: Yes, I call her my Little Sewing Machine. because of her low horse power. When we first got the car and before the engine was cleaned out, it was scary driving her, because she had no power. She goes up White Oak Avenue just fine now, but when I first drove her up White Oak Avenue, I had to pull over to let people pass, because I could only go five miles per hour. I was a nervous wreck!
Q: With this car, is it a fling, or are you in it for the long haul?
A: I don't foresee us selling it. Someone offered us $30,000 cash for the car last year, and although we could've used the money, we said no, because we'd put too much heart and soul into the car, and we'll never get that back out of it. Perhaps only if we were in a very dire financial situation, would we ever contemplate selling the 2CV.
Q: Do you know many people who own 2CVs?
A: Actually, within about a mile radius of where I live, I know of four, including my own. The person on my street who imports Citroëns has one (a 1959 with 31 horsepower—he can drive it anywhere! So jealous.) Someone in the neighborhood has a yellow one, and one of my neighbors told me that there's a purple one, he's seen driving around pretty frequently. The only person I know personally is my neighbor, but I still need to catch up with the other two!
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