One of the most hackneyed myths in the West is that of Wandering Jew. This story, not without some anti-Semitic controversy, affirms that since the time of Jesus Christ, three Jews have been condemned to wander aimlessly for their offenses against the Christian messiah. In 1229 the monk and historian Mateo de Paris located one of them -Catafilo- wandering through Armenia.
And in the closest 1993, a friar from Toledo insisted that he saw another of them -Ausero- living in the city.
The funny thing about all this is that Citroën it seems to have appropriated the essence of the myth. Of course, adapting it to a figure much more linked to the adventure of the road. And it is that, in the video with which the gala brand begins to warm up engines for its imminent 100th anniversary, there is a kind of “wandering hitchhiker”That, although it goes through the decades model by model of Citroën…. These do not appear to pass his face.
In the video, this hitchhiker runs a constant adventure on the road linked by the same element: getting into different cars of the Citroën brand. A tour in which we see how fun and practical some of its models are, but also how elegant and technological others are. A story of backpacking on the road to celebrate 99 years of cars designed to be transported on a day-to-day basis.
MUCH MORE THAN A FEW PLAYFUL SUSPENSIONS
1948 was the year in which what is possibly the most significant Citroën model began to be produced, but surely the most profitable and widespread. And, finally, when you manage to stay almost unchanged for 42 years on the production line ... You can say that you have given your company more than enough satisfaction. Something he can say 2CV without any exaggeration; that car that was designed to carry "Two Frenchmen in a field planted with some sacks of potatoes and a tray of eggs on the seat".
The 2CV is a prodigy of resistance and practicality with which the history of this “wandering hitchhiker”, Collected in the middle of the field to be invited to experience everything that can be achieved by wagging this car by boating down a rural road. Of course… One of the funniest experiences you can do with an affordable classic like this one, which is also “house brand”Since something distinguishes many old Citroëns is this play with the suspensions that, hydraulic or not, can make you dizzy.
Well, this ... And much more. Since one of the main virtues of some classics of the French brand is their popular character. Why? Well, because they are very practical. An example of this is the also protagonist model H van. One of the most widespread industrial vehicles in post-war Europe thanks to being essentially practical: it has the minimum, it is very wide for its total size, it is very easy to fix and you can do a thousand doggies with it without saying “enough”. Neither more nor less is what is required of a commercial vehicle.
One of those models "to the minimum expression”Which reminds us of another of those selected for the video: the nice and beachy Mehari. That convertible model, which has little more than the chassis, the engine and some sheet metal ... But which is perfect for any adventure. After all ... "méhari" is an Arabic term to designate a dromedary with a great carrying capacity in relation to its size and resistance.
Isn't the name well chosen?
BEYOND THE INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE
But beware, the history of Citroën is not only to create models as practical as they are light. Although taking a race through the village roads between a 2CV and a Méhari is a very fun plan for a torrid Spanish August afternoon ... The video also shows two models that tell us about Citroën's ability to make both elegant saloons like little compact ones full of personality. And, although succeeding to DS himself was not an easy task ... The CX managed to sell more than a million copies during its 18 years in production. A perfect example of a comfortable and elegant saloon.
Another of the classic Citroën in which our “wandering hitchhiker”Is the mythical GTI VISA, one of those funny eighties compact with which you can show off around the neighborhood. A nondescript first-class car but, with some changes to the bodywork and the engine ... It became the car desired by any young man wanting to make the city his own, with a Mechanics taken from the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 that yielded up to 115CV.
With such a heritage, Citroën is getting muscle for its close to 100 years. A story full of practical, light and very fun models. In short, we do not know if there really are both the wandering Jew and the hitchhiker ... But if they exist we understand why at least one of them always seeks to stop a Citroën to continue their adventures.