Page "Citroën 2CV" Paragraph 19

Citroën finally unveiled the car at the Paris Salon on October 7, 1948.

The car on display was nearly identical to the 2CV type A that would be sold the next year, but it lacked an electric starter, the addition of which was decided the day before the opening of the Salon, after female company secretaries had trouble using the pull cord starter.

Walter Becchia had designed in a space for a starter motor to be mounted, even though Boulanger had forbidden them from fitting an electric starter.

The car was heavily criticised by the motoring press and became the butt of French comedians for a short while.

One American motoring journalist quipped, " Does it come with a can opener?

" The British Autocar correspondent wrote that the 2CV " is the work of a designer who has kissed the lash of austerity with almost masochistic fervour ".

Nevertheless, Citroën was flooded with orders at the show, and the car had a great impact on the lives of the low-income segment of the population in France.