Dunno about 'blurry', but if the answer to the question "does my nose look big(ger) in this mirror?" is "yes", then that's the one which should be on the passenger side...

ken

I came across the photo above just the other day, and I was struck by how similar the car looks to mine now that I'm almost done. One of the things that I've been unsure of up until this point is what colour of roof I should put on my car. I'm not keen on the later multi-coloured variants of the 2cv, the 'D*lly's', as although they were a fun idea, they look a little girlie in my opinion. I do like contrast however, so I was thinking about using a contrasting colour for the roof and as the paintwork of car is green, my instincts told me to go for red.



Sometimes a red roof can work really well when used against a car that would more readily accept a colour closer related to itself. The car above for example could so easily have had a boring beige roof fitted, but how much more striking is the car now due to the addition of a red roof!

The car that I've modelled my own after is of course the 1966 AZAM pictured below, and by choosing a less than adventurous roof colour Citroen made the car look nicely balanced. I'm not sure if that's enough for me, as I've already committed to red interior trim, which leaves me open to three options. I could go for the same green roof that Citroen intended on this model, thus knowing that the car will look right., or I could go for a deep red such as Rouge Cinabre, which would be a little more punchy and characterful, or finally I could just play safe and go for a grey or black.



As I'll be buying and fitting the roof in the coming week I'm leaving this a little late to be still undecided, my instincts are telling me 'go red', while my wallet is telling me buy the safe option or end up buying twice if you don't like it! The more I look at cars in their original trim the more the green roof grows on me of course, but there's something rebellious in my nature that simply wants to do things differently. The tricky bit is striking a balance between looking 'dfferent' and just plain wrong.



Maybe fate will have a hand and it may come down to what's in stock when I visit the supplier, but if I do end up with the Citroen colour scheme as shown above then I'll shortly be on the lookout for a pair of those alloy Robri rear fender trims to complete the look. One last thing that I'm contemplating doing is to add whiteband tyres. Note I said whiteband and not the whitewall jobs as worn on the car below. I think the thinner band is more subtle than a full whitewall, yet it adds exactly the type of 'continental' touch to the styling that would have been prevalent in Paris of the 1960's.



Don't forget, the AZAM model wasn't intended for the UK market, and as my rebuild has been done to resemble that model then the addition of whiteband tyres would still be in keeping as they were very popular in Europe at the time, hardly so in the UK. The jury's out on both the roof colour and the whitebands as yet, I want the car to look good, but a wrong decision could have it looking like a tarts handbag. As always I'll busk it, I'll go with the decision that takes me when the moment arrives, and play the hand that I'm subsequently dealt.

The only thing I'd say is you could "over work" it. The 2cv is a very simple beast, and suits simplicity well.

The white band/whitewall tyres thing, seems a bit "VW-scene wannabe" to me, and that would sway it if it were my car... however, it isn't!

Everyone will have an opinion about aspects of the car, but I think everyone will agree the overall picture is fantastic and its about what you want from it at the end of the day!

I do like the burgundy roof mind... :p

i dont think you can really go wrong with any of those options! they would all suit the car. ive got some whitewall paint im going to give it a go next weekend and ill let you know the results! i think i saw some robri trims on ebay a few days ago....

I know exactly what Louise is saying there because it's a discussion I've had with...er... myself over and over. When I look at the VW's, or the lowered 2cv's on the Snail forum I know that they are mostly the products of young people who are using their cars to have fun.

That doesn't exclude me from doing so mind you but I'm more in favour of using the car than looking at it, and I avoid any type of 'scene' like the plague, so once it's finished it will be used as it was designed to be and will most likely deteriorate again just like they did back in the day.

All the work done won't prevent me from using it as a daily driver, just like white band tyres wouldn't prevent me from bumping on a kerb. When I see some rebuilt 2cv's wearing chrome trim, stainless bumpers, leather seats etc I have that same feeling of them having been 'over-done', but they would perhaps belong to folks that will use them for high days and holidays rather than all year round, and so the additions aren't wasted.

I'm quite shocked at the recent rise in 2cv values, which has signalled the beginning of the end to the days when we could use and abuse them as befit their nature. I've tried to make mine as classy and comfortable as possible without going too far, it's a car for driving not for garaging, so the whiteband thing might just be a step too far...and then again...

I know what you mean about this... When I tell people I'll be using the 2cv as my daily first car, 99% of people's jaws drop and ask the question... "An old thing like that? Won't it fall to bits after a week?" I've found it weird how over the past few years it has gone from being a joke to be treated as a classic "sunday car" by most people...

Your only a young man yet James but remember that very shift in peoples perception that you are witnessing now, because you'll see it over and over again in your lifetime. Look at something 12 years old and it just seems old, but somehow by the time it's 24 years old people are talking about it in reverent terms. It's suddenly 'classic' or collectable. It happens with everything from cars, to plastic star wars figures, you name it. It may sound crazy now, but even the trainers on your feet will be fetching big money as 'vintage footwear' in the year 2035.

IMHO... beware of creating a guilded lily! Go dark anthracite/black for the roof. It'll look fantastic, completing the calm understated charm that you've created for your old Blue Bamboo. By way of a user review, I bought a £159 jobbie from Ecas 6 months or so ago http://www.ecas2cvparts.co.uk/hood-internal-fastening-anthracite-grey-black-p-561.html . It's better than the originals (which I always found to be a bit stiff, with not very stretchy bungies).
Whichever one you buy, don't forget to waxoyl or treat the metal window surround before you install...

Yep, I think you're right about going too far with things, it's just in my nature to push stuff...y'know, like "how fast will this thing really go?" or "What would happen if I did this?....Ooops!

Sometimes it takes a few voices of reason to hold me back from myself, so I appreciate your input. I looked at the ECAS colour options and the Vert Agave isn't there, I'll bet the same is the case with 2cv City. For the moment then I'll do what a wise man taught me to do many years ago. "If in doubt....have a cup of tea!"

Just a personal view but don't go for whitewalls. From experience they soon craze, yellow and the slightest scuff shows up like a sore thumb. The specific tyres I needed for my Landi only came with white lettering so I blacked over the white paint and had them fitted 'outside in'. I know nothing about 2CV tyres but assuming the white banding is on one face only it could be possible to reverse the tyres at a later date assuming they're not directional.