By the mid 1960s, the gloriously humble Citroën 2CV was beginning to appear a bit dated, especially when compared with the clever semi-monocoque Renault 4. 

The Dyane was designed for Citroën by the Panhard company as Citroen itself was preoccupied with redesigning the DS, which led to some interesting styling quirks. The key features, though, were a more integrated, less ‘vintage’ body style than the 2CV and a hatchback rear end. 

Initially, the Dyane was powered by the same air-cooled 425cc engine as the 2CV, but with the debut of the more powerful 602cc engine in 1968 it evolved into the Dyane 6, with a top speed of over 70mph.

And that’s what we have here – a 1972 Dyane 6 with the more powerful engine. The vendor has owned it for just over a decade but it wasn’t until 2020 that it was put back on the road – a project carried out by the owner and a local young enthusiast who wanted to learn classic car repair skills. The Dyane was built up from mostly original parts onto a brand-new galvanised chassis, with a general mechanical overhaul. It is presented in smart but usable condition.

It may be perceived as a bit posher than a 2CV but the reality is that the Dyane delivers more of the same – it’s as basic as a car can get, with a single instrument pod showing speed and fuel level, two air vents, Citroën’s trademark push-pull gear selector, a schematic to show you where Citroën has hidden the gears and that all-important 1970s accessory, an ashtray. 

It has a full roll-back roof for wind-in-the-hair motoring and, on this example, the rare option of twin bench seats, as opposed to two separate ones in the front. In theory, then, it’s a six-seater, albeit only for those who are already well-acquainted. 

Condition-wise, there’s some wear, including some splits in the back of the seat vinyl and a general patina – you could retrim it if you wanted to, but it’s quite charming as it is.

 

Built up onto a brand-new galvanised chassis, the Dyane is structurally spot-on and the underside away from the chassis itself has been waxed and undersealed to prevent further problems. 

That’s great news for the next owner, as the biggest and ugliest bill is already out of the way. 

Otherwise, what we have here is a sound and very presentable car, but one that’s not going to win any concours competitions. There are various small marks, dings and creases but nothing significant, just little scars and scuffs that if anything add to this car’s immensely likeable character. 

It sits on a brand-new set of steel wheels with fresh Nankang rubber, one of the few tyre companies that readily supply 2CV tyres off-the-shelf. It also has new headlamps.

All of the brightwork and trim is present other than the boot lid badges, and the canvas roof is in smart order.

During its rebuild, the Dyane was given a mechanical overhaul by the vendor and his assistant and the engine is running sweetly, starting easily and emitting very little smoke. 

In addition to the engine service, the car had a complete brake overhaul with new master and slave cylinders, front and rear shoes, and brake pipes.

It was also treated to a new clutch, voltage regulator, battery, fuel pump and sender unit, along with a pair of rear shock absorbers. The vendor says it drives well, with no known faults.

This is a charming example of the Panhard-skinned 2CV and it has the benefits of a new galvanised chassis and lots of recent mechanical work. It’s smart and presentable but far from perfect, which is ideal if you want a Dyane that you can use and enjoy frequently, or as the basis for a next-level restoration with all of the expensive work already taken care of.  

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