Straightline

Desiring a truly unusual Citroën 2CV to add to an already eclectic collection, Lane Motor Museum commissioned Dave Burnham Citroën Repair in New York to fabricate a replica of a one-of-a-kind Citroën Cogolin. This vehicle was known in France as the 2CV Bicéphale, or the 2CV with two-heads. It was a reconnaissance vehicle used by the fire department and constructed by joining two 2CV front halves.
 
The vehicle was the idea of Colonel Hourcastagné who was with the Fire and Rescue service in Cogolin, France. The Fire and Rescue service used a Citroën 15-6 as a part of their fleet. One night while on patrol, Colonel Hourcastagné found the narrow mountain road blocked. Unable to turn the car around, he was forced to reverse down the road for several miles aided only by a fireman with a small flashlight.  This incident gave him the idea for the need of a robust vehicle that could be driven forwards or backwards with the same ease.  Thus the creation of the “two-headed 2CV” came to be.
 
Two 2CVs were bought that were equipped with semi-automatic clutches. The two front sections were welded together – but the two parts functioned independently as each had its own engine. Power can be applied to all four wheels, and both sides can be steered. During off-road driving, or when traversing difficult passages, the vehicle can use the advantage of two engines. Even though the engines are not connected, one can pull the car in first gear while the other pushes in reverse.
 
The Citroën Cogolin first went into service in the late 1950s and remained in service for 20 years. The vehicle was given the numerical designation “60” and carried the fire department’s radio.  The number was painted on the hood so that the vehicle could be easily recognizable and contacted from the air by helicopter.
 
The 1952 Citroën Cogolin replica joins other unusual Citroën 2CV’s to include: a 1962 Citroën 2CV 4x4 Sahara, a 1977 Citroen 2CV (amphibious), and a 1978 Citroën 2CV (4x4 Voisin).
 
More on the Lane Motor Museum, which located minutes from downtown Nashville, can be found here.