I know the feeling about condensation. Our garage was re roofed last year because that asbestos stuff had cracked and it was starting to leak. It was replaced by a metal roof. It's quite a damp garage in general, and within a few weeks of it being on there were condensation droplets ALL OVER the inside of the roof. This obviously then drips all over the 2cv when it's in there and it makes me think that it's no better than it just being on the street, where it would atleast be completely dry some of the time, when it's not raining.

Try a large fan to circulate the air in the garage. Won't cost much in leccy. Place the fan in such a way as to get good circulation. An opening or gap of some sort at each end of the garage might be helpful.

I have my 2CV in a carcoon which has 2 small 12v fans to keep it inflated and the air circulating. Last night was particularly damp with a heavy dew. I stuck my arm through the zip opening (bit like a vet with his arm up a cow) to feel the car and it was nice and dry.

My 2CV & my bikes live in a pre-fab. concrete garage which is virtually free of condensation [and damp].
But if I open the garage door,I can literally stand and watch the condensation build up on my vehicles ......I've watched it be absolutely dripping off'n the chrome on my "best" 'bike after only 2 or 3 minutes.
Alternatively,my C4 lives in a draughty corrogated tin garage .....I can open the garage doors on a dry day and my C4 is covered in dripping condensation.

Draught free ......thats wot yer need Mr Nail ....

btw .... I'm a bit p'tic'ler about my 2CV & my 'bikes ....I dont give a t*ss about the C4

best regards
Terry

Wood's the future.. my garage is wooden and fairly dry , but i have got a small shed with corrugated tin roof and it drips with condensation. Get rid of those nasty corrugated tin roofs s'what i say!

Funny that Terry, I'd have thought a draught would circulate the air and let the garage breathe? I used to have one of those little round paraffin heaters to run overnight when I had my bikes, that did the trick all right; wouldn't even know where to buy paraffin from these days though.

Wood is breathable and better I agree, maybe I should line the asbestos roof with wooden panels? Then again maybe pig's will fly as I can't see me doing it. Soon be summer.

I think if you have got a damp problem you are definately better off with some circulation. I fitted one end of one of those british gas wall vents for the old style living room boilers to mine in a belt n braces approach moment. (they told me i had to fit it but i saw nothing wrong with the old one and anyway they didnt say dont fit it down the garage )

Gardening shops [B&Q,Homebase etc] ....they call it "Parasene" {SP} [or summat similar] these days .... I bought a greenhouse heater to heat the garage whilst working in there [well ... errr ...... "tinkering" wiv my 'bikes & car ... ]
It was carp .....not only did it turn next to no heat out,but the fumes made my eyes water.

Bikers tip .....take some of Mrs Nails old tights/stockings/legings ..whatever] ....cut the legs off,fill with cat litter and tie neatly to form a sausage shaped bag.Place said bags/sosijes [sp] in strategic places throughout garage [ie,near vehicle]
It'll absorb water too a degree ....
Unless you know of anyone who can obtain silica gel in industrial amounts.
In which case ......let me know ....

btw ....'scuse typing errors,bin out wiv some of me owd mates tonight for a curry an several pintss

T.

I have something of a dilemma. Probably shouldn’t be saying this on a 2cv forum but I will anyway; I’m yearning for a proper classic car. There - I’ve said it.

This is something that comes and goes, it’s a feeling I get quite often only for the reality of my situation to kick in and come burst my bubble. What I’d planned to do – no, what I’m supposed to be doing is selling the 2cv and buying a camper van, but that’s way too practical and sensible an idea to have my name on it. I want a 1950’s family Saloon.

The chances are that we'll be moving house again sometime this year, it’s uncertain at the moment but that uncertainty makes it impossible to plan ahead. The Mrs Wants to go shit or bust, to buy a camper and live a very frugal existence for the next few years while putting everything into renovating our future home in France. This means moving to a smaller house, possibly an apartment with no garage, which in turn means no 2cv or classic car.

It also means learning French. I’m not convinced.



Earlier this evening the 2cv was sitting on the drive just as the last rays of sunlight played against its flanks, I went out to look at it and felt a little guilty, as if I’d been plotting to get rid of it behind its back. Because for all its foibles it has been a reliable little motor, it’s inexpensive to run, and certainly beats owning a camper van. But it isn’t a camper van I’ve been thinking of but a 1950’s Standard Vanguard.

The Standard Vanguard was a hell of a car back in the day, a rival to the Rover P4 for the affections of the Bank Managers and Captain Mannering types of the day. They were big – a full six seater in fact, they could top 80mph, and they were built like the proverbial tank. I’ve owned two of them so far and I absolutely love ‘em. From the early 1950’s American car looks to that all enveloping musty old leather smell when you climb aboard, and you do climb aboard, they are tall cars that require a step up to climb into.



So what brought this on? Well funnily enough it was a post on this forum concerning 2cv values. You see, now that it isn’t unreasonable to expect around 3k for my 2cv I’ve been looking around at what else that kind of money will buy, and it’s quite a lot actually. Classic values in general are on the move of course, but my three grand could still buy me a very tidy Vanguard, a car made of real steel that wouldn’t need constant rust-beating attention. It also used the same engine that went on to power Triumphs TR range, so engine spares are still plentiful.

As I said with the future being so uncertain there's no way of knowing what to do for the best, and as my Mrs says; "If in doubt - do nowt," but I hate standing still. My wife while not the slightest bit religious, has an assured manner, it's as if she believes there is someone watching over us who will provide the answer, and that all we need to do is wait. I on the other hand hate waiting - for anything! Although I do agree that there is probably someone watching over our every move - unfortunately it's the government.

The downside to selling the 2cv of course is that a Standard Vanguard will only do around 25mpg, a big consideration these days. It needs a fuel additive too, and body panels are scarce. Oh- and the owners club still attracts those Captain Mannering types.

imho the only thing to do in these circumstances is either go with the mrs's dream (she sounds like she's got it sussed) OR take a road trip to France, find a cute little A-Series in a barn, rescue it, bring it home, do it up, then present the finished article to mrs. Win-Win!
I'm afraid I can't comment about the Vanguard idea: way too off-topic!

What you really need, of course, is a Standard Vanguard with a period Eccles caravan or similar. That must kill at least two birds with one boulder!