1983 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1983 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston

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Mileage~76,263
TransmissionManual
Engine0.6L
LocationLower Earley

AUCTION CLOSED

1983 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

A genuine classic in the most unconventional of terms.

Quite literally a car that needs no introduction, and its contribution to the history of the motor car has been well established. In the 2CV6 guise, the model was originally imported into the UK in 1974, having seen a brief appearance in the '50s, in answer to the fuel crisis. Asides from its excellent ability to sip fuel, the "Tin Snail's" appeal was in its low price, simplicity, comfort and reliability, but also throws in a dose of fun and originality. Practical and able enough to tackle surprisingly inhospitable terrains, the 2CV6 has far more accolades than many of its contemporaries and genuinely deserves to be on the bucket list of cars a petrolhead should try out.

Perched on the top of the 2CV6's line-up, the Art-Deco inspired Charleston was originally presented in 1980 as a special edition. Thanks to its fetching paint finish and original style headlamps, it struck a chord with the public and was placed into full-time production shortly afterwards. Offering an uprated carburettor and inboard disc brakes and a few more refinements meant that the model was retained in the line-up right up to the 2CV6's demise in 1990. This 1983 example has been with the family for 32 years and is used as a local runabout. A solid and well-preserved example, it has a handful of useful bolts-on which do not distract from its charms or ability. Furthermore, the car has an MOT to April 2023, by which time it will qualify for free road tax and will not be subject to a compulsory MOT.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Roger the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Always practical and useable, the Citroen has been part of the family.

Roger and his family bought the car in 1990 after its first owner kept it for the first seven years of its life. Initially used regularly, for school runs, local trips and general errands, the car's practicality and charm were enough for the family to retain the car indefinitely. As a former 2CV6 club car, it has attended local classic car shows over the years and not surprisingly still attracts plenty of attention and goodwill.

Always garaged, its use has gradually reduced to a few hundred miles a year over the last two decades. It is for this reason, that the family have decided to sell the car as they feel it needs to be used and enjoyed. Roger will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section.

Roger

Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

A rare opportunity to obtain an original and well-cared for 2CV.

Wheels and Tyres

The wheels and chrome hub cap embellishment are in good shape, the wheels painted in a matching red to the bodywork. It's not impossible to believe that the Michelin spare tyre is the original. Two of the Firestone tyres were replaced in 2005, the other two are likely to be older, they do show signs of sidewall wear but display plenty of tread.

Bodywork

The car's structural aspect appears to be good, while the inside of the chassis cannot be viewed, the metal plates appear to be in a good state. The bulkhead appears to be intact, with no issues noted within the inner wings. The floor panels and the sloping pedal wells are in good shape, please note that the tape that has been applied to the interior floor is there to retain the wiring for the non-standard lighting. The boot structure appears to be solid.

Externally the presentation is good, with some blemishes noted around the rear off-side quarter glass and the base of the door B pillar. The car is largely free of significant dents.

Paint

The delightful Charleston only "Rouge Delage" with black is in good shape, with a good lustre, some of the black panels show a light sheen of age but are well above the expectations of an almost 40-year-old Citroen.

The only notable paint blemish is below the fuel cap. The coachwork sticker trim is intact and appears to be original, finishing off what is a striking and original example of a Charleston.

Glass and Trim

The glass is in good condition, with no obvious marks of blemishes. The glass rubbers are good, with no evidence of significant perishing. The chrome trim has lasted well with some signs of age creeping through, as evident on the grill embellishment and door handles but the rest, including the headlamps, body and wheel trims, are in good shape.

The canvas roof is very good and clean and rolls back with no issues. The car comes with its original fastening belts. The bumpers have seen a little action, but are generally in good shape.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

A few useful interior modifications do not unbalance this car's utilitarian charms.

Seats and Carpets

The seat fabric reflects the duty of care carried out by the owner, and all are in good shape retaining their legendary comfort. Obviously, not fitted with carpets, the car does have its original rubber floor mats, which are all in good condition.

Dashboard

The dashboard can only be described in the loosest of terms! But it's all there and complete. Some of the plastics have cracked but are overall in decent shape.

The basic instrumentation is in good condition, all are said to function. The car has a handful of extra switches for the additional lighting and also comes with a handful of additional interior additions, including a period Sharp tape deck/FM/AM stereo player with a speaker and a USB charger.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Both the steering wheel and the gear stick are in good condition, with no significant signs of wear. Just showing their are in the shape of some expected discolouration over time.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Mechanically robust and maintained, the driving experience is just one of its many abilities.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine starts up with no issue during the cold start, firing up with its famous unbeatable air-cooled engine, not displaying any knocking or clicking noises.

Once the engine warmed up, the car pulls well through the revs with no excessive exhaust smoke observed during the test drive. The gearbox is smooth and engages well. The clutch has a good biting point with no slippage. No oil seepage was observed on the day.

Suspension and Brakes

The car has seen regular maintenance and attention, so any issues with the braking or suspension have been dealt with. The car handles well, with no squeaking noted from the suspension while the car was on the move. The braking was good, with no vibrations or squealing.

The Drive

Part of the car's charm is that ride experience - an odd combination of buoyancy and roll, the comfort levels have been retained thanks to its upkeep. Obviously one needs to work through the gears, pushing the car to its maximum revs to maintain progress. The gearchange system is intuitive to use, and once the car warmed up it performed perfectly, with no crunching or issues with engagement.

There can't be many other cars that offer such amusement in their low-speed cornering abilities and a demonstration of this didn't disappoint, and it performed faultlessly during the test drive video.

Electrics and Other

The owners have wisely added a few additional lights to the car, reversing light and a pair of front bumper-mounted auxiliary driving lights. The rear fog lights have now been disconnected, ready to be replaced by upgraded LED lights. Roger informs us that one lamp has a loose bulb socket, the other is in working order.

The exterior passenger door handle has trouble engaging, but would likely be a simple DIY job to resolve.

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History and Paperwork

The car has only covered 7,000 miles over the last 20 years, but was always treated to an annual MOT.

Rogers's mechanical background and mechanical sympathy meant that he was keen to keep the car in a roadworthy state. The car, despite its low use, had seen yearly MOTs and any issues have been addressed by local mechanics or 2CV6 specialists. Some of the recent work includes a rear brake rebuild and a new exhaust in 2017, with earlier attention seen to a new clutch, battery and king-pins. Because the car has only covered 7,000 miles over the last 20 years, the mechanical repairs carried out over this period should be considered in relation to its low use.

Roger will be more than happy to answer any questions in the 'Ask Questions' section below.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
16-03-2022	MOT	76,245
13-04-2021	MOT	76,230
04-04-2019	MOT	76,163
04-04-2018	MOT	75,913
27-06-2017	MOT	75,460
28-06-2016	MOT	74,837
03-07-2015	MOT	74,274
16-07-2014	MOT	73,504
13-12-2013	Service	73,082
25-06-2013	MOT	72,539
23-07-2012	MOT	71,818
20-07-2011	MOT	71,455
15-07-2010	MOT	71,378
24-07-2009	MOT	71,251
25-07-2008	MOT	71,063
27-06-2007	MOT	70,822
07-07-2006	MOT	70,588