With reluctance, I will be selling my 1964 Citroën HY-72, an H-van camper. It is kept in SW France, in the southern Cantal department, near the border with the Lot and Aveyron departments. The asking price is €25 000.
The pictures show as much of it and its condition as I can – but if there’s more you’d like to see, please ask and I’ll do some more shots.
It has been dry-stored for most of its life, and certainly for the last 25 years. In the winter it has been covered properly when not in use (using a caravan cover).
We were informed by the previous owner in 1999 that it had been built to Citroën’s order as a garage demonstrator. It was first registered in France in 1964 with the bodywork shown as “caravane”. The external bodywork is that of a Currus small school bus, while the camper interior seems to have been finished either by Currus or in the Citroën factory. It is not very much changed since 1964: the fittings are mostly varnished plywood or stainless steel. It has a relatively low mileage – currently still under 85,000km, which would be consistent with it having been used a few times a year for holidays.
The bodywork is very solid and the paint is in good condition.
It had a substantial mechanical overhaul by Techni-Tacot in Provence a few years ago. The engine is the original unit. The overhaul included installing a reconditioned gearbox and matching driveshafts. It is a “longer” box from an HY-78, giving it a slightly higher top speed. It has electonic ignition (1-2-3) and an alternator. The brakes have been overhauled with new flexibles and piping, and they are very good. There is now an after-market water temperature gauge. It has had a replacement radiator and hoses, and it comes with a set of tyres that are unworn and only two years old. I also have the contemporary workshop manuals (as photocopies). The keys are the original set, for all three doors (the driver’s side locks only from the inside, and never had a key lock).
It cannot be of much interest at this price as a food truck: it is in any case the original short wheelbase and un-heightened version. We have used it for camping trips and it has performed without any problems for the 20+ years we have had it. It is very much a 1964-style camper: there is pumped cold water to the sink, a gas hob and gas/electric fridge. There is adequate storage, including bins under the lateral seats, as well as a wardrobe and wine-rack. There is also a storage space above the driver’s/passenger’s seats. The sound system, which replaced a defective 1960s Blaupunkt radio located in the same place, is effective, with FM radio, and SD card and USB inputs, though the sound quality is better when the vehicle is stationary.
If you are interested, one possibility might be to stay in our gîte for a few days and take the van out for a test drive or two. It is a lovely part of France to visit.