Miguel Sánchez
Citroën is a brand capable of making truly amazing cars, but the truth is that beyond models like the DS or SM -that unexpected creation where the French double triangle coexists with the Maserati trident- the gala company is defined by manufacturing utility and industrial. And also for doing them quite well. And the thing is ... If you are looking for a classic that has had a decisive influence on the transport of goods, you will surely end up browsing its range.
To demonstrate this we only have to use a memory that is constantly repeated in those of us who have traveled -on two or four wheels- kilometers and kilometers of rural roads: that of one C15 galloped. Fast as a rabbit on the run, these lightweight delivery vans twisted curves from town to town thanks to their 850 kg capable of carrying up to 570 more. If you saw one, it was best to stand aside and let it pass before the autonomous on duty rushed you as if transporting bread was going to be the Monte Carlo Rally.
It is still surprising how resistant and fast those were "White”. Anyway… As the saying goes “Experience is the mother of science"And Citroën has been manufacturing vans for industrial use for at least from 1928. For decades adapting tourism models to a body equipped with a large cargo box and later manufacturing more generic models in alliance with other brands such as the Berlingo.
Now, and in just a minute, the brand's classics department -Citroën Heritage– presents us with the history of its industrial models. Of course, with an oblivion that will surely catch the attention of many...
THE ONE THAT IS NOT, IS ABOUT TO RISE
Many of you may have thought Where is the Citroën H? But don't worry, forgetting about this beloved model with the curvy body along the "Corrugated roof" it is justified by not being a van derived from the architecture of a passenger car with which it shared a chronology in the Citroën range of the moment. Anyway, if you have missed it a lot ... You may be happy to know that now the brand intends to rescue it in line with commercial successes such as the New Beetle or the new Mini. You know: nostalgia sells.
And that here, as we said, nostalgia dates back to at least 1928, when the version "Go" adapted the C4 - yes there was one called the same almost 100 years before - for the first time to a van arrangement, eliminating the rear seats and enlarging the cubic meters destined for bulks thanks to a body that marked the path where this type would have to run of industrial vehicles during the rest of the century.
Subsequently, in 1951, the van version of the 2CV would arrive, thus adding a new preparation to a model that had already been born with an eminent practical spirit thanks to which the same was worth to defend yourself against the growing "Asphalt jungles" from post-war Europe as well as on bumpy roads dedicated to agricultural activity - the anecdote of the eggs and the couple of countrymen is well known.
EVOLUTION AND NEW TIMES
Already in 1978 the Acadiane, based on a Dyane 6 that was never fully understood when trying to replace the wildly successful 2CV without giving a real "Giant leap" towards something completely new. In fact, it was only in production for 6 years until in 1984 -and on the Visa platform- the C15 appeared with consumption and hardness difficult to match. What's more, with the Iberian dot of having left its 1.181.471 from the factories of Vigo or Mangualde.
Due to the amount of preparations and madness to which it lends itself, surely we will soon see "Youngtimer" affordable and ideal for mounting impromptu rallies in which to do a thousand tricks with them, although the history of industrialists Citroën continued with the Berlingo and its development strategy together with Peugeot under the umbrella of the PSA Group.
The truth is that when we talk about classics brands like Maserati or Alfa they fill the dreams of more than one, but... Is it or not the most fun to get the most out of one of these old vans feeling for a moment like the "Rally dealer"? Or restore them to a pristine original state, which they well deserve 😉
