Javi Martin
Citroën 2CV AU, Citroën AZU, Citroën AK, Citroën AKS or simply Citroën 2CV Van. The first car that was manufactured in the factory that the French brand has in Vigo, in Pontevedra, one of those vehicles that populated the roads of the Spanish towns in the 50s and 60s, loaded with all kinds of belongings, along roads that not even goats would pass and that today is an icon.
La «Cirila» or the milkman's van, is the predecessor of another small van that has earned everyone's respect based on its reliability and capabilities to do almost anything, the Citroën C15. We cannot ignore either the Citroën Acadiane, the second generation of this iconic van that instead of being based on the 2CV, it was based on the Citroën Dyane 6 - the name is a play on words with AK and Dyane -; the true predecessor of the C15.
Be that as it may, the Citroën 2CV Furgonnette Van, as it is called elsewhere, is as beloved as the Citroën 2CV itself on which it is based. There are those who even restore them just as the baker in their town had them and even convert them into a camper. Although a trip with a Citroën 2CV van is not recommended for those who do not have more than a week's vacation. Unless, of course, you do like Rick Pembro, and change the engine for another from a BMW R1100RT…
A BLUE CITROËN 2CV WITH A 90 HP BMW ENGINE
The Citroën 2CV van was born in 1951 – it began to be manufactured in Spain in 1958 – with the aim of offering a simple and economical vehicle in the post-war period, when the need for practical and cheap cargo vehicles is greatest. That did not stop it from being innovative, like the car from which it was derived, and, therefore, it also had the interesting suspension system; interesting and cheap, all things considered.
That simplicity led to Citroën to equip its van with a two-cylinder, 375 cubic centimeter engine. We are talking about the same engine as the Citroën 2CV, which showed that with effort and patience, it could get anywhere regardless of the load it carried. Then came the 2-cylinder 425 cubic centimeter, which thanks to its larger displacement, provided a little more power and allowed a little more ease when moving. We talk about air-cooled engines with 9 HP in the first case, and 12 HP in the second -then it went to 13,5 HP and later, to 18 HP-, with which kilometers of distance were covered with loads greater than the 250 kilos that had been approved for the model. What would happen if instead of those scarce 20 HP that it had, the power was much greater?
Question that Rick Pembro, a renowned 2CV specialist, should have asked himself, since he decided to change the engine of a Cirila for another from a BMW R1100RT, which, With 1.085 cubic centimeters, it produces 90 HP and 95 Nm of torque. Powerplant that, curiously, is an air-cooled two-cylinder boxer, so, at least, the initial engine configuration was maintained, right? 90 HP may not seem like much, but the Citroën 2CV van weighs 600 kilos and the creators say that it could easily exceed 160 km/h with its four-speed transmission. She is the fastest Cirila in the world.
RAT STYLE FOR A BLUE CITROËN
The entire project begins with a totally original electric blue Citroën AZU – bleu électricité. The goal was to create a van that was part rat rod and part sleeper., that is, it had an old and rusty appearance, but it hid good features. The first part was very simple, for the second part many things had to be changed.
A chassis was purchased from Ken Hanna, another Citroën 2CV specialist, which was modified to be able to mount the engine. that they had chosen to achieve the second objective, the aforementioned BMW boxer twin. At the same time, the bodywork was removed and sent to Citwins, who are also a 2CV specialist, to install new galvanized panels on the front floor, lower and upper bulkheads, sills and some other affected areas. because of the rust. Citwins, with great attention to detail, retained the original worn and rusty appearance, while new front seat belts were added.
For the engine, An oil cooling system was installed, accompanied by some handcrafted elements, created specifically for the occasion. Also added were an upgraded fuel pump, custom throttle body mounts, handcrafted headers, and an exhaust line made from stainless steel. The wiring was adapted to accommodate the BMW engine ECU and a temperature gauge and tachometer were added.
SOME FEATURES HAVE BEEN LOST ALONG THE ROAD
As expected, the increase in engine performance forced other sections to be modified to adapt them to the new demands. For example, The suspension was rebuilt with new shock absorbers, new bearings and springs. The steering rack was also completely rebuilt and the gearbox was disassembled, reinforced and adapted to the new engine with a new lightened and rebalanced steering wheel.
The wheels and tires are obviously new, although they have been painted and weathered as has the rest of the body. Concealing wheels new brakes with racing pads.
It is not, therefore, the classic "Cirila" with which one drove through the towns loaded "to the brim", although it is evident that there will be few Citroën AZUs faster than this one. If you like it, the specialist Collecting Car he has it for sale for more than 11.000 euros, specifically, 10.500 pounds, about 12.215 euros. Will it also be the most expensive “Cirila” in the world?
