Legendary delivery duck gets electrified

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Also known as the box duck, the Citroën 2CV Fourgonnette is a rolling legend in France. Fourgonnette is the carrier version of the world famous 2CV. The corrugated iron carrier, with over 1.2 million sold, marked the commercial boom of the French nation after the end of the Second World War.

Now, with the help of Italian bodybuilder Caselani, the current model of the Citroën Berlingo family van transforms into a Stromer in the guise of Fourgonnette. Fabrizio Caselani, owner of Caselani Automobili, is an expert in Citroën conversions and transforms the ë-Berlingo into a restored modification (Restomod) of a different kind.

from boat to duck

Caselani is a rabid Citroën fan and has already made his money by producing boat hulls made of plastic. But at heart, he loves not only the sleek trunks that curl around the Mediterranean and northern Italian lakes, but also the Citroën brand – probably more than any Frenchman. As early as 2017, Citroën developed a body kit based on the Citroën Jumper for a retro Berlingo to mark the Type H’s 70th birthday.

Above all, he was fascinated by the iconic Fourgonnette delivery van, produced on the basis of the Citroën 2CV from 1951 to 1987. And it is precisely this fickle delivery classic that Caselani breathes new life into a small series of 200 cars: a new Fourgonnette and a stack of banknotes in two weeks – even electric if desired, according to the current Citroën ë-Berlingo.

Duck dress family van

The new electric Fourgonnette no longer has much in common with the old wheeled small truck – its rickety doors and thin cutting disc-size tires: the grille, bumper, fiberglass wheel arches and plastic planks on the sides, with its front part completely transformed from the Berlingo and consisting of a radiator, It looks like the legitimate successor to the 2CV box van. It drives like a normal ë-Berlingo.

There’s a small vertical window at the back, rounded top and bottom – plus chrome apps pay homage to the 2CV. There are also ten original pastel shades from the 1960s and 70s when it comes to color selection. In fact, the project was approved with an “Oui” from the Stellantis Group and thus received official approval from the brand owner – after the final design was checked, of course.

“We are proud that our bestseller, Berlingo, has been relaunched by Caselani, inspired by the legendary 2CV Fourgonnette, which left its mark both in Citroën history and in the automotive industry,” says Pierre Leclercq (50), head of design at Citroën. .

modern retro duck

What is missing from the new E-Fourgonnette, however, is not only the clicking sound of the roller duet, but also the understated equipment of the early Franco loader. The modern screens behind the steering wheel and in the center of the dashboard shine without any retro appeal. But inside, the new version hasn’t completely changed, except for the optional wooden loading area.

While the new version will also be offered with a four-cylinder petrol engine, most of the nearly 200 customers will likely opt for the electric version. The Restomod’s driving performance and electric range of around 250 kilometers is unchanged compared to the regular e-Berlingo model with a 50 kWh battery pack. This is the end of the road at a narrow speed of 135 km/h.

A complete conversion, including a Citroën ë-Berlingo with a 260 Newton meter 100 kilowatt (136 hp) electric motor, costs CHF 57,167. Anyone who already owns an ë-Berlingo and wants it to shine in the Fourgonnette design will have to pay CHF 16,470 for the conversion, except to transport the car to Lombardy.

Source: Blick