A 2CV with four-wheel drive. That in itself is special.
But Citroën apparently thought it could be even crazier. Why use complex differentials and a classic 4x4 drive if you can simply... put a second engine in the back?
And so, one of the most bizarre, rarest, and today most sought-after versions in the history of the 2CV was born: the Citroën 2CV Sahara.
Two engines. Two gearboxes. Two fuel tanks. And above all: a lot of character.
This is the story of a 2CV that was built to reach places where a regular Duck would have turned back.
Why did Citroën actually build a 2CV 4x4?
To understand the Sahara, we need to go back to the 1950s.
The regular Citroën 2CV had already proven its worth. It was simple, light, cheap to run, and thanks to its famous ride comfort, surprisingly suitable for bad roads.
But in areas where paved roads were more the exception than the rule, it could be even better.
Think of agriculture, oil fields, remote areas, and former French colonies in North Africa. There was a need for a simple car that was cheap to maintain, but could also drive through sand, mud, and difficult terrain.
A Land Rover or Jeep could, of course, do that too.
Only that was not exactly a 2CV.
And so, a rather unusual solution emerged.
Two engines in one Citroën 2CV
The genius of the Sahara lies in the simplicity of the idea.
At the front is an air-cooled twin-cylinder that drives the front wheels. At the back is… another one. This second engine drives the rear wheels.
No traditional 4x4 drivetrain that mechanically connects the front and rear axles. The Sahara simply has two separate drivetrains in the same car.
One at the front and one at the back.
It sounds like someone thought of it during a long evening at the pub.
But it worked.
The driver could use both engines for four-wheel drive. The special thing was that the car could, in principle, also drive with only one engine. Not fast, of course, but in the event of a breakdown in a remote area, that could be very useful.
For a car designed to fend for itself far from civilization, that wasn't such a crazy idea at all.
And where is the petrol then?
Anyone who has ever looked under the bonnet of a 2CV knows that Citroën didn't exactly have square meters of space left over.
With a second engine in the back, the lack of space didn't improve.
Citroën also found a solution for this that no manufacturer would probably get through a safety meeting today.
The Sahara had two fuel tanks under the front seats.
The filler openings are in the front doors.
Indeed.
You open the door and there is access to the fuel tank.
That detail alone makes it clear that this car comes from a different era.
How do you recognise a real 2CV Sahara?
From a distance, for someone not familiar with 2CVs, a Sahara might just look like a somewhat strange Duck.
A connoisseur will quickly notice that something is wrong.
Or rather: that a lot is right.
The most striking detail is the spare wheel on the bonnet. That could hardly be at the back, because the second engine had taken up residence there.
The rear also reveals the special technology. Extra cooling was needed for the rear engine, which caused the bodywork to differ from that of a regular 2CV.
In addition, there are specific details such as the fuel fillers in the doors and, of course, the adapted controls for the dual drive.
It's one of those cars where you walk past it at an oldtimer meeting and then suddenly think:
"Wait a minute..."
And then you turn back.
Was the 2CV Sahara fast?
No.
But that was not the intention at all.
You don't buy a Sahara because you want to be first at the next traffic light. The interesting part only begins when the asphalt stops.
Due to its low weight, long suspension travel and four-wheel drive, the Sahara was exceptionally good on bad roads and rough terrain.
That actually fits perfectly with the philosophy of the 2CV.
A regular 2CV has also never tried to impress with horsepower, top speeds or spectacular figures. Its strength lies elsewhere: simplicity, lightness and a chassis that can handle much more than you would expect at first glance.
The Sahara added a good helping to that.
From practical workhorse to rare collector's item
The big problem?
The Sahara was expensive.
After all, you got almost two drivetrains for the price of one car. As a result, it was not nearly as commercially attractive as Citroën might have hoped.
According to the article that inspired us for this blog, production was limited to a mere 694 units. Part of these were also used intensively in the conditions for which the Sahara was built.
And cars that are chased through difficult terrain for years simply have a lower survival rate than models that were polished every Sunday and driven to the baker's.
The result is obvious.
An original Sahara is rare today.
Very rare.
And therefore highly sought after by collectors.
A 2CV with twice as much character?
Two engines unfortunately do not mean you get twice as much 2CV.
But the Sahara perfectly shows why the Citroën 2CV continues to fascinate so many years later.
Citroën didn't try to solve the problem by suddenly converting the 2CV into a heavy off-road vehicle. They started with what was already there and came up with a simple, idiosyncratic solution for it.
Need more traction?
Then we'll just add another engine.
That kind of logic is almost unthinkable today.
And that's exactly why we find it fantastic.
Would you dare to use one for what it was made for?
Suppose tomorrow a perfectly restored Citroën 2CV Sahara stands in your garage.
What do you do?
Do you safely put it inside, cover it with a cloth and only take it out in dry weather?
Or do you do exactly what Citroën once built it for and look for an unpaved road?
We suspect that many 2CV enthusiasts with their heads would choose option one…
…and with their hearts for option two.
We already know what our heart says.
Getting the Sahara in your garage will be difficult. Luckily, a piece of 2CV passion won't be.
Finding an original 2CV Sahara is not for everyone today. But fortunately, you don't have to own an extremely rare 4x4-Duck to bring a bit of that Citroën passion into your home every day.
At De2pktjes.shop everything revolves around the same love for the Citroën 2CV and its family.
From T-shirts, hoodies and caps to mugs, accessories and metal decorations for your garage, office, mancave or living room. Designs for people who drive a 2CV themselves, used to own one or still dream of that first Duck in the driveway.
Because a 2CV is ultimately never just an old car.
Anyone who has one understands that.
→ Discover the collection of De2pktjes.shop and bring a piece of Citroën 2CV into your home.
FAQ
How many engines does a Citroën 2CV Sahara have?
The Citroën 2CV Sahara has two engines: one at the front for the front wheels and one at the rear for the rear wheels.
Is the Citroën 2CV Sahara a real 4x4?
Yes. The Sahara drives both the front and rear wheels, but does so in a special way: each axle has its own engine and gearbox.
How many Citroën 2CV Saharas were built?
According to our information, only 694 units were built, making the Sahara a particularly rare 2CV version today.
Why does a 2CV Sahara have a spare wheel on the bonnet?
Because a second engine was mounted at the rear. The traditional luggage compartment was therefore not available for the spare wheel.
Why is the Citroën 2CV Sahara so special?
The combination of two engines, four-wheel drive, a very limited production and the typical simplicity of the 2CV makes the Sahara one of the most special and sought-after variants in the history of the Citroën 2CV.