Barely-driven Citroen 2CV {that a} father hid from his daughter for 15 years earlier than presenting it as a twenty first birthday reward sells for £22,500

A classic Citroen 2CV described as being in ‘time-warp’ condition and boasting a ‘remarkable love story’ between father and daughter has sold at auction for more than its pre-sale estimate.

The 1990 car is one of the last examples of the cult French motor to come off the assembly line at the end of the 2CV’s incredible 42-year production run.

It was ordered new by the vendor’s father. On delivery, he placed it into storage with the plan to gift the quirky vehicle to her as a 21st birthday present some 15 years later.

With a little over 550 miles on the clock and the vendor unable to store it, it was offered to the highest bidder at the weekend and sold for £22,500 – some £2,500 more than the upper guide price.

This is one of the last examples of the 2CV produced in 1990 at the Mangualde factory in Portugal. 

It was delivered to the father and registered in his daughter’s name in the summer that year, before being ‘wrapped in cotton wool’ and stored for safe keeping to give to her as a birthday present a decade and a half later.

The right-hand-drive example, registration ‘H490 SYA’, is a 602cc, Vallelunga Red, 2CV6 Spéciale.

At the time the father took delivery in Somerset in 1990, his daughter was just six years old.

The vendor, whose identity has not been revealed but is said to be a former athlete now turned sports journalist, knew of the car during her childhood and there is an old polaroid photograph in the history file of her with the quirky Citroen. 

Yet, despite knowing of its existence, she was shocked when on her birthday in 2005 it was finally presented with the keys and her name on the registration certificate. 

Despite being a memorable gift, the vendor chose not to drive the dinky Citroen regularly, instead opting to keep it off the road and using it sparingly on the occasional run and to ensure it was mechanically sound during its extended break from the road. 

As a result, it has only done 557 miles in its 34 year lifetime. 

The daughter, who said she no longer has the storage space for it, placed it in Iconic Auctioneers’ Iconic Sale at the NEC in Birmingham at the weekend where it generated plenty of interest from collectors sourcing low-mileage classics. 

Arguably Citroen’s most influential car of all time, the 2CV debuted on 7 October at the Paris Salon de l’Automobile car show. 

By the time production ceased in 1990, more than 3.8million had been sold.

However, few remain in the barely-driven and totally-original condition that this UK-registered example remains.

Auctioneers had predicted it would sell for between £15,000 and £20,000. However, once bidding climaxed, it sold for 10 per cent above the higher estimate. 

Commenting on the availability of the 2CV ahead of the sale, Iconic Auctioneers said: ‘This 2CV comes with a remarkable tale of love for a little girl by her father. 

‘It was purchased by him as a surprise 21st birthday present for his daughter, a lovely gesture but perhaps a touch impulsive as she was only six years old at the time,’ it added.

Despite not being used throughout its early life, the vendor says it was regularly started and maintained to ensure it ran correctly. 

It’s entirely original bar the addition of an electronic ignition for convenience.

The motor is as it was when it left the factory; it even still bears many of the quality inspection stickers that would have been present when it rolled off the production line. 

Gary Dunne, sales manager at Iconic Auctioneers said: ‘Rarely does a car of this age with just one registered keeper come to light, even less so when it is a model with such cult status, and offered as it is without reserve.

‘We were delighted that this little car achieved its upper estimate as it rounds out this charming story perfectly.’

What makes the 2CV special? 

The 2CV is unquestionably one of the most enduring archetypes of global car culture. 

When unveiled in 1948, it was designed to help the French working class get on the road following the end of WWII.

But it did more than that; it became a success story for the domestic economy both from a transportation and a manufacturing standpoint.

The ‘deux chevaux’ name translates to ‘two horses’, referencing its two taxable horsepower figure when launched.

While £22,500 might sound a lot for a 2CV, low-mileage rare examples have in recent years been known to change hands for six-figure sums.

John Mayhead, classic car valuations expert and editor of the Hagerty UK Price Guide, says the 2CV enjoyed a post-Covid price increase in line with most other collectible cars, though that has dropped away in recent months. 

‘The very top examples, especially very early ones, still command a higher price, but only in France do they really return huge prices… all the records have been set there,’ he told us. 

Despite the 2CV selling above its higher estimate, the winning bid pales in comparison to the most expensive to ever sell at auction… which is a unique story in itself.

That’s because the title of priciest 2CV go under the hammer is one sculpted out of wood.

French carpenter Michel Robillard sold the piece last summer for €210,000 (£181,000 at the time of sale) having dedicated 5,000 hours crafting it as part of a project dating back to 2011.

The drivable model is made out of four different types of wood: walnut for the wings and a combination of pear, apple and cherry wood for the rest of the bodywork.