1973 Citroën 2CV AK250 Fourgonnette

This Citroën 2CV van, or AK250 Fourgonnette as it is more correctly known, left the showroom with the rare Weekender option comprising a rear bench seat the owner could fit at, well, the weekend the idea being it could be a work van during the week and still serve as family transport on his days off.

First registered in France in 1973, it came into the ownership of a Dutchman who did some restoration where the original 435cc engine and front drum brakes were replaced with the later 602cc engine and disc brakes. 

The seller acquired it in 2019 from a Dutch classic car dealer and set about changing the speedometer from one that reads in kilometres-per-hour to miles-per-hour. He actually found two new-old-stock Jaeger items and being a man with an eye to the future snapped them both up. 

One is fitted and shows the 4,000-odd miles it’s accrued in his hands, while the second remains unused and forms part of the spares package that comes with the 2CV, along with the original unit which shows 53,000kms.

He also popped on his personalised numberplate ‘880 FLV’ and a set of the correct Michelin X tyres. He tells us that he has always used Shell unleaded E10 suitably dosed with Castrol Valvemaster Plus fuel additive to help prevent valve seat recession.

Recently serviced by Totally 2CV, the independent specialist based in Romsey, it is also fitted with the 123 Electronic Ignition system, a sensible upgrade that’s found its way under the bonnet of many 2CVs and other classic cars. 

Finished in Gris Dandy, a colour first used by Chapron, the French coachbuilder who built the DS Décapotable and SM Mylord as well as Charles de Gaulle’s presidential cars, for a limited run of 50 Citroën DS Le Dandy.

Our Man, feared throughout the industry as having a sharp pencil and an even sharper tongue, describes it as “immaculate” and “adorable”, words none of us can remember him having uttered before.

Only being sold because a medical condition prevents him driving, this is one of the nicest ways of getting from A to B regardless of budget.

One front wing and the infill panel were damaged in transit, so the seller found a replacement and arranged to have it resprayed in the correct colour. 

Not that you’d ever be able to tell because the restored bodywork pops: It’s a lovely, subtle shade anyway but whoever decided to finish a commercial vehicle in this colour deserves a medal.

Panel alignment and shutlines are good. They might not cause any sleepless nights at Audi but then Citroën invested its money in engineering the 2CV properly; French tradesfolk were more interested in reliability than boasting that one cigarette paper will slip ‘twixt the panels but two is one too many.

The corrugated panels give the lightweight metal strength as well as the iconic look so many of us associate with the classic Citroën vans.

The headlamps are the round ones most people prefer over the later rectangular jobbies, and both they are the rest of the lamp lenses are in great shape with no chips, cracks, or other damage.

The wheels are simple painted steel discs that are so lightweight they’re held on with just three nuts – and the tyres, which are a wonderfully skinny 125R15, further help reduce weight, being just one example of a virtuous circle. 

They’re also a matching set of Michelin X, the correct tyre for the car but then if you’ve made it this far, the fact the seller splashed out for premium French rubber will not come as a surprise. 

He even specified a Michelin X for the spare wheel, which is cunningly located in a lidded recess between the driver’s door and the offside rear wheel along with the wheel brace, something that’s only possible because there are no side loading doors; clever, useful, and cheaper than the alternative.

Clever Citroën. 

Other cleverness includes an opening flap below the windscreen to admit fresh air, and hefty handles below the rear door that could be used as lash-down points or to lift the 2CV out of trouble if it got stuck in mud or snow.

As for flaws the chrome trim around the offside headlamp and the paint on the rear door hinges aren’t to the same high standard as the rest of the coachwork. 

There is also a bubble on the nearside of the windscreen vent that, a crack in the paint at the base of the offside B-pillar, a small scratch on the nearside of the front bumper, and a touched-up stone chip at the bottom of the nearside front wing.

The hammock-style front seats have obviously been retrimmed because no budget van ever left the factory with so plush a fabric. It looks great though, as do the door cards, which have also been retrimmed. 

Evidence of cost-effective and clever design includes a simple strap as a door pull and a pressed-steel bracket to hold the window closed. A external clip holds it open, and the latching mechanism works through a small arc: The door fittings couldn’t be simpler or more satisfying to use. 

Clever Citroën. 

Speaking of cleverness – and with a 2CV you are rarely doing anything else – the Weekender rear seat slips in and out with barely any trouble; forget only using it at the weekends, it’s so easy to use you could fit it in between jobs. 

This one is in great shape too, with good springs and a flawless cover – and if you’re out for the day with three friends you could remove the front seats in a jiffy too, enabling everyone to eat their picnic in comfort.

No seatbelts are fitted. Aftermarket items are available but fitting them involves welding and/or bolting in substantial reinforcement plates to provide anchor points, which wasn’t something the seller was comfortable having done to his beloved car. 

Side and rear windows are installed though, which give your passengers a view and flood the cabin with light. 

Heavy-duty grey carpets are also fitted. These are also in an excellent condition, thanks in part to having been protected by rubber mats. Lifting them up reveals nothing other than solid and well-painted metal in the front and rear.

Instrumentation is sparse but then what else do you really need other than a speedometer to keep les flic off your case, an odometer to make sure you charge your customers the right mileage, and a fuel gauge to help you eke out your petrol when your customers are late settling their bills.

The gear lever might leave you floundering for the first couple of minutes but its push-me-pull-me action will become second nature surprisingly quickly – and the position of first gear could almost make you think you’re changing a dogleg racing ‘box.

As for the condition, well, just look at it. It’s bloomin’ perfect, isn’t it?

The service by Totally 2CV comprised an oil and filter change, topping up the gearbox oil, greasing the driveshafts, fitting new front brake disc pads, inspecting the rear brakes, and lubricating the kingpins. 

This work was carried out on the 14th of July 2026 at a cost of £701 – but that sum included fitting a new 123 Electronic Ignition system and collecting and delivering the 2CV; the cost of the service was a measly £120.

Totally 2CV had previously serviced it on the 24th of June 2019 at a cost of just £109.90, which reinforces how cheap it is to maintain a 2CV, even when you enlist the services of a marque expert.

Our test drive might have been slow but it was also more fun than anything this side of a six-figure Ferrari – and as anyone who’s owned one will confirm, they’re anything but ponderous being capable of cornering at speed, albeit with an alarming degree of body roll. 

The public loves ‘em too, so other drivers will practically fight over who’s going to let you out into traffic, which further improves your journey times. 

As you can see, the engine is as clean and beautifully presented as everything else; you’ll be scooping up awards at your local classic car show without having to invest in anything more than a quick wash ‘n’ polish. 

As for mechanical work to do, it doesn’t appear to need anything bar, perhaps, tidying up some of the wiring near the bulkhead and replacing some of the bodywork fasteners for something more period-appropriate – but the fact we’ve even mentioned these tells you everything you need to know about how good the rest is. 

The underside looks good and strong with a nice paint finish to the bodywork and the chassis. The nearside front wheelarch has a bit of rust developing, as does the odd area underneath. However, this is very light and doesn’t look to be anything more serious than unsightly at the moment. 

A couple of boxes of spare parts are included in the sale: Please see the photos for details.

Despite not needing one, the 2CV not only has an MoT certificate but it’s also a long one and is valid until June 2027. Better still, it was issued with no advisories. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two sets of keys.

The history file includes notes on starting and general running, a physical and a PDF handbook, and invoices for work and parts from suppliers and experts such as ECAS 2CV Parts, The 2CV Shop, Mehari Club de Cassis, and the Burton Car Company; you need never worry about finding either parts or an expert mechanic for your classic Citroën. 

Useful publications include a copy of La Citroën 2CV Fourgonnette de mon per by Fabien Sabates, a spare parts catalogue, a Haynes Workshop Manual, and a bag of 2CVGB News magazines.

We are not alone in our admiration for Citroën’s twin-cylinder back catalogue, and while some might plump for a 2CV, others prefer the Dyane’s slightly sleeker charm. The Ami offers the option of an estate, and if you’re prepared search long and hard then you might even find a Mehari or the even-rarer Bijou. 

But no matter what flavour of air-cooled chic you favour, most agree that the coolest variants are the vans, something Citroën acknowledged by licencing Italian coachbuilder Caselani to produce a Berlingo version. 

Prices for these start at more than €40,000, which is considerably more than the guide price of between £7,000 and £10,000 we’ve put on this delightful 2CV Fourgonnette.

And this might be the last car you ever need to buy: Subtly upgraded to help it meet the demands of 21st traffic, few classic cars have a stronger network of enthusiasts and specialists or availability of parts, which means that it should be good for another half century of faithful service. 

The seller also has sufficient faith in his Citroën to offer it with no reserve, so it’ll be considered sold after the first bid has been placed. 

Form an orderly queue, eh?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.