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a small car that is parked in a garagea small green car parked in a garage with pictures on the wall behind ita small car that is parked in a garagea small blue car parked in a garage next to a walla small car that is parked in a garagea small car that is parked in a garagea small car that is parked in a garagea small car that is painted with graffiti in a garagea seat in the back of a car with a surfboard sticking out of itan old car with a green seat and a black seat belta blue car with a door open in a garagea blue car with a steering wheel and green seat coversa view of the inside of a car from the driver ' s seata door open of an old car in a garagea close up of the door of an old cara close up of a car door with a metal handlea seat in the back of a car with a window opena green seat in the back of a cara seat in the back of a car with a green seat covera close up of a blue truck parked in a parking lota close up of a seat in a vehiclea close up of a car dashboard with the lights ona close up of a car dashboard with a clock and keysa ball that is sitting on the handle of a machinea close up of a car dashboard with a red lighta blue car parked in a garage with a number plate on the back of ita blue car with a number plate on the back of ita blue car that is parked inside of a buildinga blue car that is parked in a garagea blue car that is parked in a garage
Premium Collector Cars Auction

22 - 1963 – Citroën 2CV Sahara
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Estimate €70,000 - €90,000
Sale commission
Description
1963 – Citroën 2CV Sahara The most legendary off-roader in French motoring history French registration certificate Chassis no. 0613 Body no. 4005000484 Front engine no. 05400251 Rear engine no. 05400244 - A twin-engine 4x4 version of the iconic 2CV, of which only 694 were produced - Registered in the Landes region and having had only three owners since 1981 - Previously restored, acquired in 2004 by its current owner - Repainted in Citroën Vert Mélèze (AC 507) in 2009 and with the upholstery refurbished in 2011 - A rare, authentic Sahara in fine condition, with 42,200 km on the odometer - Sold as is, with the option to carry out further work, and including a few spare parts View the full catalogue for the ‘Rétromania’ auction, which includes this lot, on the Collector Cars Auction (CCA) website. The file and additional photos for each vehicle are available via the following Drive link (upon request for access): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aluJ7ZZJvUKBib-4eJDbaGH6vxu5ePC4 A symbol of French motoring, the 2CV is a particularly endearing car, as its long history attests. The origins of this venerable, popular model have now become the stuff of legend. Its prototypes were hidden away in an attic during the Occupation. Once the war was over, development resumed to take account of the scarcity of certain materials, and the ‘2CV’ was unveiled to the public in 1948 at the Paris Motor Show. However, enthusiasm was not immediate, as its design – driven to the extreme by cost-cutting measures – and its styling were the subject of criticism: no door locks or fuel gauge, just one colour… The car was clearly aimed at a rural audience. This was all the more true given that certain materials, such as steel, were not so easy to come by in the late 1940s, leading to delivery delays. Its reputation as the ‘ugly duckling’ was sealed. Nevertheless, Citroën believed in its concept and, in the end, orders kept pouring in. It must be said that the decision to prioritise deliveries to country doctors and parish priests skilfully helped to popularise this strange, high-riding car: everyone wanted the ‘two-legs’! A van version was even unveiled in 1951 and was officially selected by the postal service to deliver mail. However, the 2CV was still very basic and not very comfortable. Improvements came with the new AZ version, which featured a 425 cm³ engine producing 12 chevaux, enabling the little car to reach 70 km/h. A ‘Luxe’ version was even launched in 1956. It featured a windscreen de-icer, chrome fittings, illuminated dials and a larger rear window. The car was now better suited to urban traffic. It proved a huge success and remained in production for nearly 10 years. However, this was only the beginning of a continuous evolution, which continued until 1990 with nearly 5 million units produced. It was against this backdrop that, in the mid-1950s, Citroën took an interest in a prototype developed by an industrialist from Normandy, who, whilst searching for a lightweight off-road vehicle, had the idea of modifying a 2CV by fitting a second engine at the rear to turn it into a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The manufacturer then refined the design to enable mass production, with a view to tapping into opportunities in the Sahara Desert for the exploration and exploitation of oil fields, which were booming at the time. The 2CV Sahara was born! Its all-wheel drive, combined with the 2CV’s original qualities, gave it surprising off-road capabilities. It was fitted with two 425 cm³ engines producing a total of 26 chevaux, which compensated for the model’s increased weight compared with the standard version. It is easily recognisable thanks to its spare wheel on the bonnet, its fuel filler caps in the doors, its notched rear wings, its pressed-metal boot lid and its ventilation vents on the rear quarter panels, all of which give it a very distinctive look. Despite all these qualities, as the price of the 2CV Sahara was, at the time, more than double that of an AZLP, only 694 were produced. It is therefore a model that is as rare as it is legendary and highly sought-after. All the more so given that fewer than a hundred are thought to remain. Our 2CV 4X4 is an exceptional ‘Sahara’ that was first registered on 3 August 1963. It is a mid-production model that still features ‘suicide’ front doors opening in the opposite direction to the direction of travel. Its early history remains partly unknown, though we hope to uncover more with the help of Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS, which now manages the archives of the Citroën Conservatoire. However, we know from its owner that our Sahara belonged to someone in the Rodez area at one point, and that it was this person who is said to have carried out a restoration. The current owner acquired it 22 years ago, apparently from the great-nephew of Pierre-Jules Boulanger, the man behind the 2CV concept! The latter owned the car for just under ten years. Prior to that, according to the old registration document included in the file, it had belonged since 1981 to another resident of the Landes region as well. The car still bears its original registration number, which dates back at least to that time. Since 2004, its owner has used it relatively infrequently, but regularly, as evidenced by the various roadworthiness tests recorded in the Histovec report. The car has mainly undergone routine maintenance and a few cosmetic improvements. In 2009, it was repainted in Citroën’s Vert Mélèze (AC 507) shade, a colour which, according to its owner, it had previously been painted in. In 2011, the upholstery was in turn refitted with specially reissued Bayadère fabric. Today, this 2CV Sahara is fully roadworthy and looks superb, though it is not entirely free of flaws as it is not a fully or recently restored vehicle – a fact which lends it an added charm that suits its adventurous spirit perfectly. This particular example is also notable for having retained many features specific to the Sahara, including the 26 CBIN carburettors, the A400 wheels with four vents, and the uncoated fuel tanks with original caps. It should be noted, however, that the front wings are not original. The ignition keys, meanwhile, bear the same number. The Jaeger speedometer, which is very faded, appears to read 42,200 km. The soft top, for its part, is in excellent condition. Its future owner, who must be a discerning enthusiast, will therefore be able to choose between two approaches: undertake a more comprehensive restoration to preserve this Sahara as a genuine collector’s item, or continue to enjoy it as it stands today, with its few imperfections and any signs of wear that regular use of a classic car may leave. The car comes with a number of additional spare parts, such as a brand-new PO-type front bumper, drive shafts, a steering column, rear underbody protection and headlights… Both fun and evocative, the 2CV Sahara is a legend for all enthusiasts of the chevron-badged marque. This car presents an exceptional opportunity to own a truly beautiful example that is authentic, roadworthy and has developed a lovely patina. A Sahara that could just as easily become a magnificent collector’s item as continue to be driven along the country lanes and rough terrain that made it legendary. So, are you ready for a trip to the countryside, the mountains… or even the desert?
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About the sale Retromania
Auction location
Auction time 08/30/2026 at 3:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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