Meindert is active in care for the disabled on a daily basis and his GP advised him to give space to a car hobby for balance in his life. His GP later complimented him on his choice of French voitures and for the fun and healthy abnormality.
By: Dirk de Jong
This story is about the Acadiane that is now 'in treatment', because Meindert cannot be said about this. The order version of the original Citroën 2 CV came on the market in the 50s and was replaced by the Acadiane in the 70s. Compared to the 2 CV, the Acadiane was actually a luxury model and, like the 2 CV, was often used by the middle class. It was of course unmistakably related to the 2 CV. The photos show that the chassis and engine have now been overhauled. The body was still in a fair condition and required less attention.
A second life
There are no more of this Acadiane model. In fact, more and more are falling off. That makes it extra special that Meindert wants to give this Acadiane a second life with the help of friends and the necessary perseverance.
No addiction
For Meindert, the classic car hobby is only fun when things get a bit out of hand. And that is actually already the case, because there are still two French classics in his garage. It's not addiction, it's enthusiasm. You need that if you have a busy job in disabled care. In this way, Meindert can enter the garage with a big smile every week to bring this Acadiane project to a successful conclusion.
Curious?
His other mobile loves are a 2 CV that he bought 30 years ago with a rusted chassis that was replaced by a better one. This car is technically perfectly maintained to always be ready for summer rides.
Multi-year plan
His Peugeot 404 Pickup is the hobby project. He is dealing with that project together with his sons. The engine has already been replaced and a five-speed gearbox has been fitted. The car will remain as a monument of the 60s for the time being. And that is no problem because the ownership and work together with his sons is already great. If you can get out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life with your car hobby and then even lose track of time, how better can you have it?
Also read:
- De Citroën Acadiane by Evert van Benthem
- History of the Citroën 2CV. Part One. TPV, French and Belgians
- History of the 2CV. Part two: 1960-1974. Differentiation, growth and innovation
- History of the 2CV. Part 3. 1974-1990 (slot)
- 100 years Citroën. The company car history. Part One
- 100 years Citroën. The company car history. Part 2 (slot)
In the mid-90s I was offered one at a birthday party: "Who wants to buy a car from my brother for fifty guilders?" Fifty guilders, I said yes right away. It turned out that the Acadyane had been standing still for a while, the owner had put it aside for family expansion and bought an old Daf 33. That is why the battery was empty, but it turned out to be under warranty and the Kwik-Fit company did not make any effort, gave a new one, the Acadyana started right away and also passed the MOT without any hassle. We painted it with flowers, because the standard color, like that of Meuurd, was a bit boring.
Ridden for years and never had any problems, the brakes were renewed once and of course the normal maintenance, but everything that is duck-like is proverbially reliable.
Until he caught fire exactly on the day he had to be inspected. My then wife started it to go to the garage, suddenly smoke came from the front and she came burning with it into the workshop, where they were shocked of course. And so suddenly there was a blackened Acadyane and I had to look for a replacement. That became a Volvo 66.
The garage owner and I were both with the Voluntary Fire Department and we decided to use the Acadyane there as a practice object. That was simple: as soon as you started it, it automatically set on fire and then it could be extinguished again. We also sharpened it, cut it, sawed it and threw it under water and finally disposed of it in the scrap iron container.
And then there was a fight with the tax authorities for years. I kept getting bills for Motor Vehicle Tax. So I sent a notice of objection stating that the car was scrapped. The tax authorities wanted an indemnity certificate and I did not have that. So I had the Chief of Fire write a note that the car was scrapped. The Tax and Customs Administration did not consider this to be an indemnity certificate. Then I had the Municipal Secretary write an official letter, with stamps and I know what else. The Tax and Customs Administration did not think that was sufficient, they wanted an indemnity certificate. I ended up paying road tax for another three years on a car that no longer existed and filed another fourteen appeals and suddenly, without notice, it stopped.
Ridden in many Ducks and Acadianes for years. Went with wife and three children in and Acadiane to many countries in Europe. Children in the back, in the straps on a homemade wooden bench. And the luggage at their feet and in the back. Fantastic cars. Hang quietly behind trucks at 90 km per hour.
I once had one that ran on LPG. With such a pin in the exhaust. And when it was fun to compete away from each other by pricing the LPG price so low that I could drive 200 km for a knaak, it was still a party with the noise. Only he drove only a short time at 100, and you could hardly pass a truck when the traffic light once turned green. And I don't want to talk about uphill.
I used to drive a 2cv with a trailer tent to Austria with 2 children and 2 dogs and the well-known Palma tray as a trunk extension. We made the round trip without any problems. We used the truck crawl track to get up the mountain. Many thumbs up from the German drivers who loved it ..
Feel related to this Acadian man! Fortunately, there are more people who deal with their jobby this way! I am working on the Project Ami 6 myself. So rotten that it is even worth little on scrap iron. But soooooo much fun to do. Three-quarters replaced and the rest re-welded, so to speak.
As for the Acadiane: Have ao. also half an Acadiane. Back is Acadiane. Front and chassis is Ami super with 1015cc engine and gear shift. It has become an Acami super. Must now be checked again after 30 years of storage….
I'm curious what that looks like ...
Nice and super practical car, that ACA. Many companies and farmers had an affordable, spacious and reliable pack mule. Private individuals had a comfortable discovery / camper van with a mattress in the back. The ACA drove like an AK but was more luxurious with, for example, turn windows, ventilation grilles and a better aerodynamic line (at least, that's how it looked).
The ACA was also in use as a recognizable service vehicle at Citroen dealers, such as Gabriel in Eindhoven. In yellow (jaune mimosa?) With blue chevrons and the company name behind the second side windows and large chevrons on the bonnet. Drove around for years as a lifesaver 😉
The ACA garage is succeeded by a white C15 with red chevrons, a visa with tray. We bet (with Gabriel) at the time that it would be followed by a ZX with a tray. But it never happened.
There was an AX with a tray ...
Even AX with butt .. on the Asian market
The simplicity itself, what is not there can not be broken!
At the time my parents had an Acadiane for our restaurant orders .. great car!
Unfortunately sold before I turned 18 and was legally allowed on the road .. had a cent to buy a car ..
It was funded with the proceeds from the sale of my CD50, a CB350F… also nice.