Little Book Of Citroen 2cv

The 2CV has become something of a cult car with its unique and quirky design, and the Little Book of CitroAn 2CV provides a brief but fascinating look at this enduring motoring icon. The book looks at the history of this unusual vehicle from its prewar conception right through to the last car to roll off the production line in 1990.

After the Second World War Europe was in economic crisis and manufacturing lay in ruins. Materials were in short supply, and factories were forbidden from building aircraft. There was a need for cheap, economical transport, but acquiring a new car was difficult, and secondhand cars were not as readily available as they are today. By the 1950s, a myriad of economy cars had appeared on the market to fill this vacuum. Former aircraft companies – and even a refrigerator manufacturer – turned their hand to producing tiny cars that were often quirky and eccentric. Many of these little cars earned the nickname ‘bubblecars' due to their bulbous shape. The 1960s brought with it new levels of affluence, and these microcars almost faded from view. But today, they are enjoying a resurgence of popularity, with many becoming highly-prized collectors items. Increased traffic levels and fuel prices, and a greater awareness of environmental issues, have also created demand for a new generation of microcars, and car makers have responded accordingly with exciting new designs. Illustrated with over 70 colour photographs, this book celebrates the best of these weird and wonderful motoring marvels.

Now in its second edition, the little book of smart is newly updated, with extra pages and more illustrations to expand the story of the world's most innovative car brand. It's a fascinating tale, told succinctly and in an entertaining style, complemented by full-color photography throughout. And as the most up-to-date smart book on today's scene.

Motor trikes have been around since the dawn of motoring, with many starting out as utility vehicles or prototypes of cars. But trikes haven’t died out or become mere relics of motoring history – companies all over the world still produce them today, and many will convert a motorcycle into a trike. Trikes are not only huge fun, but can also be a lifestyle choice. They are as diverse as the people who ride them, and this book illustrates the vast range of machines available. The reader will discover a plethora of trike designs and layouts from the late 19th century to the present day. Some influential designs include Piaggio’s three wheeled vehicles, the Morgan three wheeler, and the Harley-Davidson Servicar. The book also features the products of companies that convert motorcycles into trikes, and shows some mass-produced examples that you can buy today. Then there are the weird and wonderful machines built by individual enthusiasts – a testament to their engineering skills and true eccentricity ...

Richly illustrated and entertainingly written, The Big Book of Tiny Cars presents lively profiles of the automotive world’s most famous—and infamous—microcars and subcompacts from 1901 to today. From tiny homes to little lending libraries and even tiny food, people everywhere are resetting the premium they put on size. Fact is, the automotive industry has a “tiny” history going back to the car’s earliest days. Beginning with the Curved Dash Oldsmobile and continuing through prewar classics such as the Austin Seven and Hanomag Kommissbrot, The Big Book of Tiny Cars is truly international in scope. Witness diminutive cars like the Bond Minicar and the BMWIsetta introduced to fuel-deprived postwar Europe, and continue through the classic 1950s microcars and ’70s subcompacts, right up to today’s tiny cars and electric vehicles (EVs) fromthe likes of Smart and Fiat. In addition to iconic curiosities like the frog-like Goggomobil Dart, the futuristic Sebring Vanguard Citicar, and the three-wheeled Reliant Robin, you’ll read about more familiar classics like the VW Beetle, MiniCooper, and Crosley Super Sport. Other manufacturers represented include Honda, Datsun, Mitsubishi, Trabant, Heinkel, Renault, and Messerschmitt, to name a few. Each car is profiled with an entertaining and informative history and a fact box. Imagery includes archival photos, period ads, and modern photography. In all, more than 100 cars are included, from the weird to the sublime. Gas, diesel, or electric…tiny cars have a rich and curious heritage reflective of motorists’ concerns for their pocketbook, the environment, or both. The Big Book of Tiny Cars is your ultimate collection of microcars, minicars, bubble cars, kei cars, subcompacts, and compacts that have been built, sold, and driven all over the globe for 120 years.

Illustrated with a unique collection of high quality photographs and written by an authority on Citroën cars, this concise book tells you all you need to know about the famous 2CV.