For me the epiphany came in 1986 when I bought a large coffee table book about the 2cv ("2cv" by David Sparrow and Adrienne Kessel) at one of those bargain book outlets used by publishers to dump unsold copies. At the time, I couldn't stand the 2cv or Dyane; I only bought it because I was a keen photographer and loved the pictures.

After reading the book and learning how the 2cv's form and design followed function I fell in love with the engineering elegance and the purity of the design. I found a used car dealer nearby in Raynes Park (Tudor Price) who specialised in 2cv's and went to have a look at a Bleu Celeste Special with a custom paint job ("Little Boy Blue", I last saw it in 2002 and hope it's still going). I loved the car, I quite liked the paint job even though it was a bit nancy . After a test drive I decided to take a couple of days to mull it over and then broke my neck playing rugby so lost the opportunity. By the time I got out of hospital the car had gone and the dealer's other examples were utterly crap; I was also down to half-pay and could no longer spare the dosh.

Years passed, and although circumstances (mostly financial) kept preventing me from buying a 2cv I continued to buy any 2cv publications I came across and other memorabilia. If I saw one for sale I'd test-drive it just to keep the dream alive. Some young lads loved air guitar, I'd do air 2cv gearchange... Every time I heard the distinctive engine note I'd look around, if I saw one when I was driving I'd sometimes follow it for a short distance even if it meant going off my route or even u-turning. I was a 2cv stalker

The change came in 2005. My mum had terminal cancer and my employers were being arseholes about allowing me time off to help care for her when she seemed to be on her last innings, eventually I decided to tell my manager to shove the job up his arse and I left. I then realised that I'd been unfairly treated by them and persuaded them to give me a few months on full pay and a few grand in my pocket in return for not suing them. Mum died a few weeks later and I was really pleased that I managed to make her last weeks as comfortable as she could be. I was left wondering what to do next and decided to become a student; I persuaded my wife that I'd need a cheaper to run car and pointed out that a 2cv wouldn't depreciate if I looked after it. I also fibbed slightly and told her that what I sold my Rover 45 for would pay for a decent 2cv. Although she was against it, she knew how much I wanted one and thought I should buy one; she later admitted that she thought I'd soon find that the reality would fall far short of my dreams and that I'd finally get the 2cv bug out of my system. I scoured the UK for my ideal car and even travelled from London to Lockerbie to view a car which looked great in photos and was described as "95% perfect and the best 2cv I've ever owned" by the seller, a 2cvgb member. I'd also asked a load of detailed questions about the car before investing £90 on a train ticket. On arrival my heart sank: it was a new galvo chassis with a 2cv-inspired lump of nicely painted rust and filler perched loosely on top; that's when I learned that some 2cv'ers tend to see their cars in a way which denies reality... I refused to be bowed and a week later found my ideal car in Tisbury, Wiltshire .

Driving it home I had a huge Cheshire Cat grin, but it conked out and had to be towed the last twenty miles home. Repairs were easy but once it was running the severely saggy driver's seat and a few other niggles meant that it looked like my wife's prediction would come true. But I tightened the seat up, learned to adapt my driving style, and the brilliant summer that year meant I soon loved driving it far more than I'd hoped.

Since then I've made gradual improvements to my car and made a lot of new friends. My wife now loves the car too, but still refuses to drive it. When we had the chance to borrow a friend's house near Pau in SW France this year it was she who suggested we drive there and back in the 2cv: excellent news as it also gave me the excuse to spend some decent cash on preparing the car. I never had (m)any doubts that we'd make it there and back without a breakdown and the 2cv performed flawlessly to the utter amazement of my wife, family and non-2cvgb friends.

Now I can't imagine ever wanting to use another car as my daily ride unless it's another A-series. Best fuckin' car, ever

Hello and Welcome Ventflaps!

Nice story, I think we can all relate to a part of it somehow. Have you ant pictures of your car?

I blame the parents. Dad had a 1960 Ripple bonnet 2cv (Reg ROR 86G) in the late 60's-early 70's, him and his future mrs (mum) went all round Europe in it. They used it as their wedding car and my brother Ben was brought home from hospital in it when he was born (that's maybe why he behaves like he is lol)

Dad sold (what was left of) the ripple in 1974 and it was replaced by a 2cv of undetermined age imported and registered GPR 774N (not sure if it was actually a very early 2cv6 or a late '60's AZAM that someone had added round indicator front wings to, I was only 2 when this was sold so my memory is a little sketchy lol)

We lived in Cheltenham at the time so were members of the CDFDPS local group. I remember much fun being had at the first dustbineering trips (hardcore up-to-the-chassis kind of mud in those days) and seeing people take their brand new V-reg drummers and two year old AKS400's down green lanes!

Throughout the '80's we always had a variety of 'A' series in the family so I have grown up with them. Cars included a 1961 belgian AZ, 1965 AZAM export, 1976 2cv6 in Jaune cedrat (our first "modern" 2cv), 1980 Club in Azurite blue, 1955 AZ (with experimental exposed spring suspension), 1953 AU van, 1972 Dyane, and then finally a brand new 1988 red & white D*lly, which the parents have still got.

We were taken to various meetings and camps in the '80's including many World Meetings (first one was Cheltenham 1985) until the dawn of the 1990's and then we were able to drive to our own events in our logical first car choice - Ben's was a 2cv SPOT and mine a 1979 Azzie bluedrum brake 2cv6 Club. This drummer did me until 1994 when I replaced it with Mavis the beachcomber, which I've still got. I've had many other 'A' series since then, too many to mantion in fact!

Its been interesting and heartening to see younger folk now joining the club and and doing what we did ten years ago (ok I'm not old myself but not a teenager any more!). Contrary to a letter in this months magazine, 2CVGB membership is not 'aging' and we should not be amalgamated with the Traction owner's club!!

Will

Funnily enough, Will, at the very time you were typing that I was looking through "The Life and Times of the 2cv", with that early '80s pic of you and your family, plus other CDFDPS members, on a Dustbineering trip!

Too right about the membership (active membership at least) not aging, and we certainly do not want to amalgamate with the TOC. That would be death. Incidently, what do other people think about this idea of having a mobile number to ring if people are being noisy at night? Bloody ridiculous IMO. What are we coming to?

That's bollocks. It was discussed at the comm meeting, but was actually quite vocally voted down as it is a) opening the flood gates to all an sundry to complain about the slightest little thing, b) too much burden on the organising committee, and c) the logisitcs of how it would work i.e would there be someone on call all night to 'police' it and "troubleshoot" as it occurs, or just issue a generic response of "we have noted it and will look into it". Whichever way, it's a load of bollocks, and we are NOT having it at our meeting next year.

But it was minuted as agreed for some reason. <sigh>

Oh good. Trouble is, now it's been put in the mag there'll be people who complain about not having a phone number to complain to!

Mobile number in the mag...lol... they can phone me on mine.. l wont answer if l dont recongnise the caller id.. and will l hear it above the noise of the party lm joining in? its bad enough people l know having my number and phoning me to say they are back in their tent/lost/cant find their car.. without a bunch of non enterties knowing it..

Both my 2 kids blame me for them being into 2cv's..
and now Ads has been ''Archered'' Ads girl friend, that was a bit iffy about it thinks it just the bees knees and wants to come along to a camp or 2 since l told her how much fun we have..and showed her a youtube clip or 2.

Amb cant wait till she gets hers and has even started a count down to her driving days!

Excellent news, that tree!

Have you got any pics of ads 2cv now it's touched by the hand of god, err i meant Archer...

once l get to the main computer l will attempt to download some...

if you find any stickers that are amusing and not too (!) near the knuckle please feel free to get them, l'll pay for them and postage .. We have decided that the D*lly doors need to be covered in stickers... the boot has the pimp squad Spa sticker on it... l have 1 left now.. thinking of getting a sticker saying... powered with hope and driven by individualism...and in tiny tiny writting.. fairy dust helps!

My opinion 2CVers want the TOC way of life they can buy a traction avant and do it properly, if they want a 2cv lifestyle (which welcomes all, old, young, drinkers or non-drinkers) they can do that too. Live and let live. Something these people seem unable to do. I look forward to being the cause of many, many phonecals to organisers in the future...