Chris's Epilogue
We collected stickers to illustrate our travels - can't wait to get some more...
When Jacky and I started to talk seriously about doing a road trip to
the UK and back in Aimile, reaction was split into two camps. The larger was
"you both need a check-up from the neck-up". To, "what a
wonderful adventure". Worryingly, there were several
"professionals" in the first group.
Well, would I do it again? Definitely. The 2CV is not a "Grand Touring "car, but there are other ways to do a road trip. I don't think "comfort" was in the original design brief along with driving across a ploughed field with a basket of eggs, but I'm 6 foot and there is plenty of space for me. Although Jacky might dispute that, after having my elbows in her ribs on the twistier bits of road and while negotiating roundabouts. Some cars give me odd aches and pains - the Land Rover Discovery, being one of the worst, but not the Deux Chevaux. The seats are firm and easily repaired with some stout string. Jacky was gradually sinking lower all the way to Blighty. I had no trouble driving up to 6/7 hours a day, which was enough for our purposes. Aimile had no problem keeping pace with modern traffic, even with a 500 kilo payload on the return journey. I am not a fan of having a convoy of frustrated motorists behind me. The motorways were perhaps the exception. On the way out I elected to stay with the trucks, reasoning, that there were no motorways, when she was designed. So extended periods of 80/90 kilometres might generate some unwanted problems. I was wrong. 8555 kilometres on less than a litre of oil is testament to how well engineered and what a sturdy versatile car the Deux Chevaux is. Air-cooled engines are noisier than conventional water-cooled units and droning away at more than 90 on motorways is wearing. I might look in to some form of sound proofing, or I might just stay off the motorways and explore the countryside more.
Techy stuff. I did get my local Citroen garage to change the rubber booties on the drive shafts, new steering joints and brake pads, plus 2 new front tyres (in case we encountered snow). I was lucky that Takis did his apprenticeship in a Citroen garage in Athens and cut his teeth on 2CVs, so changing the points and setting the carburetor up were a walk down memory lane. Worryingly, a veteran of his own road trip to visit his sister in Edinburgh with his huge BMW GS, he still shook his head at our fool-hardiness. He had a huge smile on his face, when we came round the corner on our return. I attribute his work to getting us to the UK safe and sound.
Our break-down still remains a mystery. I confess I did embark on the trip, with the thought in the back of my mind that, if I made it to Shropshire, I could get expert help from Sparrow Automotive. I explained to Pete, where we had come from and where we wanted to get back to. Worryingly, he also commented on our fool-hardiness and regaled us with several stories of even more fool-hardy individuals. I could hear him muttering to Maximilian under the bonnet as JR and I retired to Hereford for the day.
Pete had given me the hard sell to convert to electronic ignition. I suggested he was pushing against an open door and that was first on my list. I elected for the deluxe version with the app on my phone telling me all sorts of nice things, that I might never look at again. It has vacuum advance and retard and you can either choose a stock profile or create your own. Pete changed the jets in the carburetor for E5/E10 petrol. It was source of great comfort to get a definitive opinion on unleaded fuel and valves not burning out. Another reason for my reluctance to not go screaming down the motorway. These 2 items have radically improved the torque and power curve on the engine. I don't know the numbers, but now I'm back on the Island I can compare against previous performance. The engine runs more smoothly and revs better - and I can get up hills in higher gears that would previously have sent me struggling noisily down the box. There has to be an economy improvement too, but I haven't had the opportunity to check it with any accuracy. If you are still driving a car with points, put the above on your Xmas and Birthday present list. You won't regret it.
The rest pretty much come under reliability in
relation to crossing Europe. If you stay local and have a classic car insurance
with break-down cover, look away now. On the other hand, if you are fantasising about
2 weeks touring this summer, you might want to read a bit further. This is also
where Pete was invaluable. You can buy almost every nut and bolt for a 2CV, and
some of them will keep your car going. However it has drawn in some pretty poor
quality replacements, that are not to the original Citroen standard. Pete
changed the coil for a solid state item (actually better than Citroen
original). The original oil filled unit had a reputation for just checking out
for a while (mostly likely source of our mystery break-down), then working
again after cooling down. Just dandy if you are on the motorway. £40 a no
brainer. The charging system was indicating problems. A new rectifier £20. Pete
pointed out the alternator looked tired and if it stopped half way home?
£60. That strange thing you put the oil in, is also a pressure relief
valve for crankcase pressure. Apparently, mine wasn't functioning and it
was pushing oil out of the main bearing seal. I guess it would be obvious, when
changing the points. £80 plus new bearing seal. The fuel hoses got changed. E5
has ethanol in it, which eats rubber. The steering got tweaked and a new
light bulb set. The suspension has a knock, but it was deemed it would get me
home ok. Note to self. The knocking has got much worse and is now top of my
list of priorities along with shock absorbers. I will need to check which ones.
These are obviously cheapos. I’m tending to bounce straight on over rough
corners.
As you might have gathered from the pictures, Aimile is not a cat-walk queen, more a kind of down-home working-class lass. I do spoil her occasionally (I am that kind of guy). On the practical side, Syros is going to be a hard place to live, with a pristine concourse vehicle. If the high sticky-out kerbs don't get you, the phantom parkers in the supermarket will. That's my excuse anyway. I do own a bucket and sponge it's just that we don't get together very often.
Looking forward to our first Island Classic Vehicle rally on the 1st of May. Be interesting to see who comes out of the woodwork.
I hope our journey and blog will encourage you to have faith and be more adventurous.
Enjoy your motoring!
All the best Chris (aka Pugwash.)
PS Don't let Jacky fool you. She really isn't the dizzy blond she pretends to be!
PPS We’ve not quite finished. There will be a lap of honour around Syros on 1st May as part of an antique vehicle parade. See here for photos soon…
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