Working in a Museum, I can see where the 'preservation' aspect comes in and I agree its great to have some original 'as new' cars around and that these should be preserved, like listing a house lol.

However, look at the National Railway Museum in York, how sad would it be if they stopped all their locos running because of the risk of them getting damaged in use. They're begging for money to get Mallard running again and spending a fortune on Flying Scottsman.

Only 10% of HMS Victory was actually present at the battle of Trafalgar, but surely its better she's constantly renovated than keeping her original and untouchable?

£36m is being spent on restoring Cutty Sark, they could have preserved her as a burned out wreck but they're re building her for public enjoyment.

And the SS Great Britian was a hulk, bit now its a popular wedding venue and conference centre so its earning its keep.

It's not just the age that makes something special.

I was working with a group the other day, and this girl dropped a 500,000 year old Paleolithic flint axe. It smashed. But it doesnt matter because we had no idea where it had come from so therefore was of no archaeological value what so ever. What is more mportant was that she got to handle something half a million years old and literally touched our past.

The cars that I think of special are the ones with the amazing stories, like Gary's Gumball Rally car and Chris's Scallyrally 250.

If they'd been left in 'as new' condition they'd never have had the chance to do something amazing.



I completely agree, and the Citroen conservatoire apparently does an excellent job.

Now, if they were to start selling cars off to be used as daily drivers that would be an issue!

But they've had long and active service lives.



Should they restore the Mary Rose to sailing order?



Oh, indeed. Nobody's suggesting nobody should EVER use ANY Ami.

But this one's got through forty years in showroom condition through not being used. To start to use it will remove what makes this a special Ami, and turn it into just another tidy Ami.



<whimper>

I'll bet that she won't forget that in a hurry, and I doubt it'll be the pre-drop handling she remembers...



What's the difference? Bear in mind the Conservatoire's only been open a handful of years, and many of the cars in there were bought in by Citroen at that time.

Thing is these cars were bought new & used on the road straight away, as 99.999% of new cars are. The 2cv that viking mentions on the previous page was one of relatively few that didn't go down the normal route & escaped. I suspect that Gary's & Chris's haven't always led amazing lives, it's only in recent times that they've enjoyed these adventures. There are thousands of 2cvs out there that could experience similar challenges. As i said before, it's entirely up to the owner do use the car as they see fit, but i personally think it a shame that 2cv can remain factory fresh for 18 years & then pressed into service in as a daily, especially in a climate like ours.

Here it is. I hope you never see this 2cv on the UK roads

I wish I was allowed to keep 2cvs in my house

Edit This is my 602nd post

Hi Neil !
It's me with my T-shirt of Allessandro Del Piero (Juventus Turin)
and it's my 2CV on the right.
I think it was at the 2CV meeting in Salbris in 2006
Happy birthday

Great Ami Super !!!!!!

cheers, Thierry!

not Ami 8's, but a scan of this Street Machine magazine article dated February 1994 seemed in order:

Excellent cars !!!!
I enjoy these cars !!!
Funny, flashy and efficient !!!