Hi guys,

I wonder if anyone can help me work out how old the 2CV I just bought is. It is in need of a complete overhaul and I'd like to do it up to the original specification so I want to know as exactly as possible when it was made.
It was imported from France in 1990 and has never been registered in the UK. I have a French "Certificat D'Immatriculation" from 1970, a French "Certificat De Vente" from 1990 and the import certificate from 1990. All of these agree on the chassis number and that the car was produced in 1955. The immatriculation says the type is "AZ SIE 2 2cv". Checking the chassis number at http://www.citroenet.org.uk/passenger-cars/michelin/2cv/chassis-numbers.html suggests the chassis was stamped in 1956.
The things making me doubt the year is that there is a metal boot lid and particularly a driver's side demister. I was under the impression that these weren't introduced until a year or two later. These could potentially have been added later, the air tube through the bulkhead looks riveted on, was this the case with factory fitted ones?
There are a couple of pictures below which might help. I'd really appreciate any help anyone can give on when this car was made.

Neil....????

Looking at it, I'd say probably '57 or later for the shell. The driver's demister was added in 1956 and metal boot lid was standard from late '57 onwards. It looks like original fitment as it has a 'normal' boot closing catch, and the stay bracket is welded to the shell. The way the demister pipe pokes through the bulkhead looks standard, so most likely factory fitted rather than added later.
Could be an older chassis though as the number plate is attached the the chassis on earlier 2cvs.

The guy you bought it off used to have a ton of 2cvs so would be suprised if he's swapped bits around in the past which could account for some of the odd bits!!!!

Haha, quite possible. Some odd bits are definitely from later cars and there are even bits of Dyanes and other Citroens. I guess it's possible it has been through lots of changes in its life but it is interesting that the registered date is a year earlier than the chassis was made and a couple of year before the body ever existed in that formation. I wonder if there are any original bits.

Do you want to sell the front seat frame?

patch it up, keep it looking like that, put a massive engine in and itll look pretty sweet

Dave: Sorry, for now I'm going to hang on to it all and see what I can make of it. As I say I'd like to keep it as original as is possible in a car that may have had every part replaced already!

James: That's the vague plan, the engine may well keep getting upgraded for larger and larger ones as I fail to fix the original ones.