On the dashboard shelf we found a Shell Car Costs Agenda, with some interesting information about a part of the history of this 2CV. In May ’87 it was bought with 69,000 km on the counter. It got new brakes and was serviced. A few kilometers were driven around the block, but then bigger adventures began.

In July it went on a trip through Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal. The petrol station in Venda Nova near Lisbon was the furthest destination. In a month and a half more than 7000 km were covered, with an average consumption of 1 in 20.

In the summer of ’88 another trip was made, this time via Germany and Austria to Yugoslavia. Via Zadar and Zagreb it drove back home to Breda. This time 5000 km were added to the counter, to a total of 87,000 km, again with very economic petrol consumption.

The following year, a few more local trips followed, after which 20 litres were filled up on 2 July 1989 at a reading of 89,525 km. Now we read almost 90,000 km, so not much has been driven since.

We found it in a barn in central France where it had been standing for about 15 years. It was rusting in a few places, but overall it was still in amazing condition. And we think 2CVs from the seventies are so cute! A 2CV4 is now rarer than a ripple bonnet 2CV from the fifties.

So it went back to the Netherlands. We repaired the rust, but left the rest of the car as it was as much as possible. It did get a good wash. It got quite some technical attention, new brakes and tyres. The engine was soon revving up nicely again.

Will you be travelling the same routes again? There are still some blank pages left in the booklet!