Citroën 2CV Type A launch car
Citroën made a tiny car tough enough for rutted farm tracks, simple enough to afford and roomy enough for four people.
1948 Citroën 2CV Type A launch car · 先従隗始 · CC0
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More than a set of wheels.
The 2CV grew from the prewar Toute Petite Voiture project, a plan to give working families and farmers a practical, economical car. War canceled the 1939 show, but Citroën returned on October 7, 1948 with a thoroughly revised 2CV. Its soft suspension, roll-back roof, removable benches and air-cooled engine turned simplicity into a clever system rather than a punishment.
Look a little closer.
Citroën's design brief famously asked for a car gentle enough to carry eggs across a ploughed field without breaking them.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A 1948 debut and a 1949 production car
Citroën unveiled the 2CV at the Paris Motor Show on October 7, 1948, but the official 75th-anniversary history says production started in July 1949. That makes '1948 Type A' a launch identity, not a claim that customer production filled all of 1948.
Source: Citroën/Stellantis · 75 years of the 2CV ↗Comfort from simple moving parts
Four-wheel independent suspension and a low flat-twin helped the 2CV stay composed on rough roads, even though its body leaned dramatically in corners. Citroën Origins records the launch-family dimensions and 500 kg curb weight, while the anniversary release explains the bolt-on steel body and roll-back vinyl roof.
Source: Citroën Origins · 2CV collection record ↗Where these facts come from
- Citroën/Stellantis · 75 years of the 2CV
- Citroën Origins · 2CV collection record
- Citroën/Stellantis · 2CV history and engineering
- Citroën/Stellantis · 2CV as a symbol of freedom
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.