Miguel Sánchez
This 2019 is going to be a very special year for Citroën thanks to its first centenary. A century in which the French brand has been able to create useful cars for everyday use. For that very It is impressive to see a 2CV involved in something as grand as going around the world. But let's think, after all, doesn't this require a tough and easy-to-repair car? Seen like this, we begin to understand why this popular model has a great traveling breed.
Back in the 50s, two Frenchmen -Baudot and Seguela- began to embark on an adventure on the back of a 2CV. His round the world tour included crossing Africa and covering 100.000 kilometers. However, his story did not stop there. Attracted by the echoes of these two intrepid the Galician Jorge Sierra thought his fate was heading too "To anywhere else".
And that is how the recently published book by Barrett where we can find the first part of his world journey. A whole travel diary where problems with the exhaust pipe alternate with routes escorted by an AK-47 and accusations of espionage in the service of the West. A vibrant narrative, well resolved and necessary for anyone who is planning a great trip in their classic car.
In addition, you can not only read Jorge. His trip was captured in a series of titled videos "Naranjito and me" thanks to which we envision this XNUMXst century adventurer. An intrepid driver who has continued to star in new audiovisual formats with the car journey as the protagonist. But hey, he better explain us some of these points, right?
Around the World in 2CV: Interview with Jorge Sierra
Since this is a magazine for fans of the classic motor, you will understand that we ask about Naranjito before than about you. Still with you?
Indeed, Naranjito is still with me. He is resting in the garage of my mother's house in A Coruña. Surely dreaming of some new trip through unknown territory. Honestly, I think it's too emotionally valuable an "object" to get rid of. I could not do it. It is an important part of my life. At his side I lived one of the most beautiful stages of my life, so I hope that it will pass from generation to generation and even that traveling with him will become a tradition in my future family.
Looking at your history of resistance with Naranjito, one remembers the words of Pierre Boulanger when he commissioned Bertoni to design a car "to transport a man, a sack of potatoes and a tray of eggs through the countryside." What can you tell us about the reliability of a 2CV? Why did you choose this car for such an ambitious project?
It's definitely a great 'off-road' car. For me it was quite a surprise, since I chose it on impulse, I would almost say irresponsible, after reading "Le Terre en Rond". The book where J. Seguela and J. Baudot narrate their adventures and misadventures on their way around the world in 2cv, back in the 50s. A book that, despite seeming a bit rough and slow, moved me like no other, especially for that fantastic relationship that the French described between their vehicle and the hundreds of strangers who were in its path, in any corner of the world.
In my case, just as it happened to them, Naranjito became the perfect partner. Not only because I was greeted with a smile in every place I arrived, but also because every time I suffered a breakdown, it gave me the opportunity to become intimate with a new mechanic and get to know a new place that I had never heard of before. In short, it is a slow, noisy and very capricious car, but it teaches you that if we have the time to our liking, the world is not too big to enjoy it.
Many Friends and Some Other Difficult Times
Going around the world in a classic car shows guts. In the book we see how you get out of all the mechanical problems but… What was the hardest moment in every way?
Without a doubt, my worst moment was the arrest in Iran. There they arrested me, accused me of espionage and showed me how vulnerable a human being can be when deprived of liberty. It was traumatic to see so many injured people in the streets of the city, the violence and of course, also being aware that without eating or drinking it, I was facing the death penalty. When I realized that everything had been scared, when they returned my passport and invited me to leave the country, I left the police station and began to vomit like crazy. I was overwhelmed by events. That's the truth.
Reading your book, we ran into 2CV fans from Australia to Malaysia - royal family included. Tell us what it's like to ride a motorsport legend. Did you notice this affection for the model even in the most unexpected places?
As I said before, Naranjito turned out to be the perfect travel companion. Not only was he my nice and humble letter of introduction to strangers, but he also happened to have friends and "brothers" everywhere. When my trip became known, dozens of international 2cv clubs began to write to me to invite me to spend a few days in their company. It was incredible! Even numerous Citroën dealers around the world decided to make synergies with me. They took advantage of our trip in front of the press, and we got free repairs and spare parts.
To all the readers who are with the idea of embarking on an adventure of weeks in their classic ... What would you say about how to prepare their car for it?
Well, I would tell you that preparing the car is the least of it. The most important thing is to convince yourself that it is what you want to do, and to try with all the desire in the world. In addition, the less prepared the car is, the more breakdowns they will have and, therefore, the more friends they will make on the road. In the end, all we need is enough time to solve the problems that arise along the road. That said, to say that the only improvements I made to Naranjito were the change of seats (I was worried about not having the neck protected in an accident), reinforcing the chassis, welding a safe where to keep money and spare parts and adding a extension to the trunk for cooking and storing food and utensils.
You have read it there. Quite a surfer of hydropneumatics whom we hope to see again on Naranjito's back demonstrating the character of this mythical model. We will be attentive to the release of the second volume - although we already get an idea by browsing its journey notebook online- and at rest of your audiovisual production. A more than interesting story for all those who are planning a trip in a classic car.
In fact it seems that the example continues. Recently these two girls embarked on a long journey on the back of a sky blue 2CV. If you also have this model, and taking into account that the centenary of Citroën this 2019 is given to celebrate ... Don't you get the bug to hit the road?
