Highlights
- Restored to a high standard in 2020
- Registered as a historic vehicle
- Ideal advertising vehicle
- Low mileage and in excellent running order
The Appeal
Few vehicles are as cheerful and classless as a Citroen AK van and they’re a permanent fixture of any rural French town. Whether they’re ferrying eggs to market, or baguettes to the boulangerie, you can’t help but fall for the charms of the diminutive deux chevaux van. And with good reason, too, they’re a classic example of brilliantly minimalist industrial design.
Famed for their long-travel swinging arm suspension and tiny economical engines, the 2CV van – or Fourgonette – was first introduced in 1951 and proved an immediate hit with buyers. It ceased production in 1978 – with over 1.2 million produced - making this 1977 example one of the later examples.
The current owner of the vehicle is an ex-Forces engineer and he carried out a body-off restoration during lockdown in 2020. Together with a friend who is a paint-sprayer, the vehicle was restored to its original colour and the work has clearly been carried out to a high standard. The paintwork is like glass and and far better than it left the factory with! Mechanically, it is in excellent order and it is already to be used as either a show-ready van or as an eye-catching promotional vehicle. The current owner is an IAM associate and has used it to capture new members, trailering it to shows.
The History and Paperwork
- V5C in current owner’s name
- Current owner since 2019
- Registered as a historic vehicle
- Tax and MoT exempt
- Body off restoration in 2020 by fastidious engineer owner
- Resprayed in original colour to a high standard
- Lots of invoices for work carried out
- Photographic evidence of restoration work
- Last MoT’d in 2019 with no advisories
- Thought to have originated in Spain
- Built in 1977 and UK registered in 1979
The Interior
- Burgundy cloth seats appear to be in excellent condition
- Wonderfully minimalistic design with lots of room
- Two-spoke steering wheel looks original
- Classic umbrella-handle style gear lever
- Only one button on dashboard
- Three-point seat belts to both front seats
- Jaeger speedo reads in kph (it can’t do 130mph!)
- Useful addition of a couple of 12V sockets added
- Extra sound proofing added to van sides
- Load bay area protected by rubber matting
- Rear load bay can hold a Euro pallet
The Exterior
- Paintwork has been resprayed to a high standard
- Original spot welds clearly visible on bodywork
- Stunning looking vehicle from all angles
- No obvious scratches or marks
- Headlight, tail-light and indicator lenses all look perfect
- Distinctive fold-up half windows
- All exterior graphics are easily removably vinyl
- Underside has been fully undersealed and treated to stonechip paint
- Chassis looks to be a fine order
- Wheels painted to an as new finish during restoration
- Five matching Toyo 310 tyres in 135R/15 size (all dated 2021) have ample tread
The Mechanics
- 602cc air-cooled engine with 29hp
- Engine was rebuilt during restoration and is said to work fine
- Started easily during photoshoot and engine sounded smooth
- Pleasingly soft suspension
- Brake master cylinder, slave cylinders and friction materials all renewed
- Gearbox diff bearings renewed
- Gearbox has a slight noise in first and second gear (owner reckons first motion shaft bearings)
Summary
What really sets apart this AK 400 is its condition, with the restoration having been carried out to a high standard and the paintwork being in first rate condition despite being three years old. The current engineer owner is thorough and fastidious and this clearly shows in every aspect of this vehicle. It’s all ready to be pressed into use as a cheerful and charismatic promotional vehicle (and is tax and MoT exempt) or simple used as an attention-getting show vehicle.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
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