We found this AZU in a barn in France. Unfortunately, there was no Carte Griseor other history with it. So we requested a building certificate from Citroën and looked at details in and on the car. And then you often get quite farin reconstructing its past.

The certificate confirmed it was a car from January ’71 and that it was built in the factory in Levallois. The paintedregistrationon the car is also from ’71 and shows that it was delivered new in the department of Aisne (02).On the windscreen there are still tax stickers and the insurance certificate from ’91 and ’92, so it was still driven there then.

On the dashboard shelf we found a few shabby photos of the AZU and one of them showed an advertising sign on a facade. “À La Pomme Rose” is written on it, via Google Street View we suddenly found ourselves in front of a flower shop in the hamlet of Moulot, near Clamecy in the department of Nièvre. The barn opposite was also visible and once housed this van before it left for the Auvergne, where we found it.

This AZU-A is from the last model year, with the small ribs, still a 425cc engine, but already 21hp. In ’72 the ribs became wider, a 435cc engine was used and the type designation changed to AZU-B, later called 250.

The chassis is perfect. The floor plates, footwell, sills and rear beam have been renewed. We only cleaned it externally and left it as much as possible, to retain its sympathetic appearance. Of course, some adjustments can still be made if desired.

We have also been busy with the drivetrain. New brakes, tyres, a fullservice. With the declaration from Citroën, we obtained a registration number from the RDW again. With that, it can go back on the road. As a company car for a flower shop…?