It’s a similar case with the Citroen 2CV. Each and every detail of the 2CV was well thought-out, though people criticised it when it was unveiled in 1948. But what they would later learn was that Pierre Boulanger, the head of Citroen was clear as to what he wanted from the Deux Chevaux – it had to beat the farmer’s horsecart. Which means it had to ride through a ploughed field without breaking the eggs the farmer was carrying in it, offer enough loading space to carry bales of hay, and run cheaply. Again the classic hallmark of the 2CV is its two-cylinder boxer engine and an ‘umbrella handle’ gear lever. Its uninterrupted 40-year run was a tribute to the engineering brilliance of Citroen, and it suitably silenced its critics by its vigorous performance and versatility. As somebody said of the 2CV, ‘You either love them or you don’t understand them.’
You may say that the Renault 5 does not belong here, in this realm of bugs. But look at it this way, it’s a modern interpretation of the bug concept. We can call it angular bug, if a concept like this exists (perhaps the designers at Renault had only a ruler to pen the 5’s lines). The 5, or the Cinq as it was popularly known in France, was written-off even before it landed on the streets – ‘no one wants a compact, two-door car’, but then fortune turned in Renault’s favour. A year after it was introduced, the oil crisis erupted, taking fuel prices skyrocketing. Conveniently, the 5 was there, stretching the litre to the maximum without compromising on performance or driving pleasure. It became a raging success, and its humorous communication only made it even more popular. The 5 also made an ambitious attempt to woo American buyers as ‘Le Car’, but Renault’s hurried strategy could never back up the product promise. The 5 furthered Renault’s reputation by transforming into a cult car,the Renault 5 Turbo, which had several international motorsport wins to its credit. It may not be cute, but its attributes definitely are.
Lastly, the ever popular Fiat 1100 in 103 E guise. The 1100-103 first made a showing at the Geneva Motor Show in 1953, and in 1957, received its first facelift badged the E. It may be no iconic 500 or 600, even then this series in its various guises was Fiat’s mainstay. Available in as a saloon and station wagon, the Fiat is a neat little runabout that became a very popular model in our own country. With its characteristic idiot doors and rounded boot, the 1100-103 E is a neat looker, and the centrally-mounted fog lamp is a beautiful touch. However, the critical aspect of the car is its unbreakable 1098cc engine, a rorty little powerplant that’s cheerful even today, after 46 years it rolled out of the plant in Italy. Though the 1100-103 would come in various guises in the future, this remains the favourite for most Fiat watchers in the country.
Motoring thanks Pune-based vintage/classic car restorer Prakash Kunthe for assembling these cars in record time for this memorable story.
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