Around 5,000 Citroën 2CVs – named "two horses" – from all over the world are flocking to the Swiss Jura, near Delémont, this week to celebrate the legendary car model.
This is the 24th edition of the 2CV World meeting, organised from 25 to 30 July, which will see all variations of the colourful economy car come together, including James Bond's 2CV, the 2CV convertible or even the 2CV van.
"There's everything here: there are passionate people who have original vintage 2CVs and there are completely transformed 2CVs, so people also come to look for parts. But above all, people come for the atmosphere and to get together," retired Christian Corte explained to AFP.
The first world gathering of 2CVs took place in Finland in 1975. Planned for 2021 in Switzerland, the event had to be postponed due to Covid-19. This is the 3rd time that the Alpine country has hosted the major event.
The gathering in the Swiss Jura is being held in the middle of nature: "We're in a fantastic, fairytale setting, right in the mountains on the Swiss Jura," enthuses Anick Feuvrel-Javel (58) from Brittany.
Credit: 2CV 2023
Citroën's little two-wheeler was introduced to the public on 7 October 1948 at the Paris Motor Show. Offered for ten years in just grey, the 2CV quickly became so successful that delivery times lengthened considerably in the 1950s.
While retaining the same silhouette, the 2CV gained in both popularity and colour in the 1970s and 1980s, with limited editions such as the Charleston and Dolly, and not forgetting the 007, taken from an appearance in a James Bond film in 1981.
Production ended on 27 July 1990, when the last car left the Mangualde factory in Portugal. Anti-pollution regulations meant that Citroën had to cease production of its flagship model after 42 years.
Credit: 2CV 2023
'Not just a car, but a way of life'
On 4 June, a wooden example, the only one of its kind in the world, was sold for a record €210,000 at an auction in Montbazon, near Tours in France.
"It is emblematic of France. It has a perfect design and is so simple and easy to maintain," says British car enthusiast Matt Damper, who is attending the gathering with his son. "It isn't just a car, but a way of life," he says.
Swedish estate agent Gabriel Lindstrom added: "You don’t see many 2CVs on the roads, but when you see a lot of them in one place, it's nice and it makes you happy. It's pretty cool to be part of it, and to support this movement."
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Around 15 food trucks and a fondue tent provide visitors with something to eat, while an observation tower allows visitors to admire the impressive number of 2CVs present.
"When you come to this kind of event, people are cool and zen. We come to have fun," says Belgian Laurent Habran.
"First of all, you don't have to be in a hurry to come in a 2CV, because it doesn't go very fast," he laughs. "We come to see things, meet people, look for parts, and have a good time and see a country we don't know too."
