1969 Citroen Dyane 4 Luxe For Sale

1969 Citroen Dyane 4 Luxe, in AC 317 Paille Brulée.
XAX 191H ‘Xavier’.
I am looking to sell my remarkably original, unrestored, October 1969, LHD Dyane 4 Luxe.
I am downsizing my collection of classic Citröens; a Dyane and Méharis, to make way for my next Méhari restoration project.
You will probably know that the Citröen Dyane is a derivative of the earlier 2CV. The Dyane model was introduced in 1967, as a prospective replacement for the 2CV. Whereas the last Dyane was built in 1983, the 2CV continued in production until 1990.
I bought this Dyane, XAX 191H, from an elderly chap in Plouegat Guarand, near Lanmeur in Finistere, Northern France, on 22 June 2012. When I bought it, I had spent a long time looking for the best well preserved Dyane that I could find. I asked a French friend to contact the vendor to explain, in French, that I would look after his pride and joy. Mr Landouar, who also owned WW2 military vehicles, agreed to sell.
It was collected and transported to the UK on a car transporter for me.
Very soon after registering the car, I drove ‘Xavier’ from my home in Monmouth to Harrogate, for the International Citroën Car Clubs Rally in August 2012.
I sold my other Dyane, the same colour as this one, last year.
‘Xavier’ is a very early, ‘6 window’ Dyane 4. Dyanes came in two equipment levels in 1969. Xavier is a ‘Luxe’, the basic spec. He has ‘fablon’ covered hardboard, not moulded plastic door cards and one sun visor. A ‘Luxe’, unlike the higher spec. ‘Confort’ model, would not have been equipped with a spare wheel carrier under the bonnet or a rear boot shelf. I have added these two features.
‘Xavier’ has a 435cc engine. At this age, the engine was not fitted with an external oil filter. This is a 6 volt car, with a Dynamo on the end of the crankshaft, not a separate Alternator. This means that this engine has no fan pulley or fan belt.
The ignition system on ‘Xavier’ is not started with the key. The ignition key is used to turn the power on, then the engine is started with a ‘pull’ starter, not unlike the choke system.
I still have the original roof that was on ‘Xavier’ when I bought him. This was cracked and leaked, so I bought and fitted a new, colour matched canvas roof, from Matt Damper at ‘Matt’s Soft Tops’. I still have the original fabric radiator winter ‘muff’.
435cc engines are high revving engines. The original crankshaft was noisy, so I had the original engine, gearbox, braking system and electrics professionally rebuilt, by Pete Sparrow in Hereford. I’ve been driving and enjoying the car since. It starts, stops and drives very well.
The car has its original, body Citröen chassis. It’s never needed any repairs. There’s the original, body colour painted engine undertray. ‘Xavier’ has the wonderful, early Dyane, upside down metal door handles, the metal ‘T’ boot handle, the stainless ‘Citroën’ strip on the rear panel and the little removable inspection hatch over the fuel tank. The fuel tank is a plastic replacement for the original steel one. The plastic tank was on the car when it arrived.
It has an ‘organ pedal’ throttle on a Solex 34, single choke carburettor and original, rare, Dyane-specific pull starter knob and choke knob.
The front and rear bumpers and grey plastic inserts have been replaced with new, old stock parts.
The original chassis, bodyshell and panels of this car are unbelievably well preserved. It’s a car originally from the South of France and it’s spent the last two or three decades under cover, so it’s just not rusted. There are blemishes, of course; It’s nearly 56 years old. There are a few ‘dings’ and some isolated surface spots, but this car is remarkably sound in the places where Dyanes rust. The windscreen panel and bonnet hinge, doors, tailgate and bonnet are in very good condition. The front and rear floors, boot floor and cills are also largely rust free.
The paint has been locally refreshed in a few places. When the car arrived, I noticed that the front wings had been painted the wrong colour brown, so I matted the paint and sprayed them with a colour matched cellulose. There are no obvious signs of any panel repairs.
The chassis, body underside, suspension and running gear have been undersealed by the previous owner. I had the underside and hollow panels pressure treated with ‘Waxoyl’ in 2017 and I have recently ‘Lanoguard’ sprayed the wheel arches and suspensions arms and covered any gaps underneath the car.
The CV joints have been regreased. The steering rack seems good, with good track rods. The original, small drum braked gearbox works as it should.
The brake master cylinder has been replaced with new, as have the front brake cylinders and shoes in my ownership..
The rear brakes have had new, flexible pipes, new slave cylinders and new shoes in my ownership.
Wheel bearings have been replaced as necessary. Kingpins are good.
As well as the brake overhaul, Mr Sparrow’s work, in late 2017, included a full engine rebuild, including fitting a good crankshaft, a new, Valeo clutch and 123 electronic ignition, a dry coil from Ecas and an overhaul of the rod operated, Solex 34 carburettor.
The engine shrouds and heat exchangers have been cleaned and left ‘dans son jus’.
New heater pipes are fitted.
The orange fabric front and rear bench seats are rare, surviving originals. I have replaced seat rubbers as necessary. Otherwise the seats are in very good, usable condition.
In 2013, I had upper seat belt mountings carefully welded to the ‘B’ posts, at the correct height, so that I could fit Citroën three point, inertia seatbelts for the front seats.
There are five, good Citroen wheels, painted in the correct AC140 colour, with good, early original enjoliveurs (hubcaps) and centre bolts. Each have a old, but good, 125r15 Michelin X tyre fitted. The spare wheel sits on the late Dyane wheel carrier under the bonnet.
There is a rare, organ pedal throttle front rubber floor mat in decent condition. The rear mat is very good.
The rare, light grey ‘fablon’ ‘Luxe’ door cards are in really good condition.
There is a late Dyane rear load bay metal shelf, with its elastic straps.
Both Cibie headlamps are very good, in metal back boxes, with yellow bulbs. The headlight surrounds have been replaced with good, original chromed steel ones.
Black and silver front and rear number plates are fitted. The original, silver on black French stencilled rear numberplate remains under the UK one.
An electric washer pump is fitted for the screen washers, with a momentary switch fitted in a bespoke plate under the dashboard.
A USB double charger is fitted to the side of the binnacle above the glove shelf.
The rare, black, early Dyane-specific ‘T’ shaped ‘Quillery’ steering wheel is present. Unusually, it has only one, very small crack.
For the right offer, I will leave the correct, original, ‘egg’ shaped gear knob with the car.
A secret immobilizer switch is fitted.
The original jack, wheelbrace and wooden chock are present.
The car has Historic Vehicle tax status, so is zero rated for road tax. It’s also legally MOT exempt and ULEZ exempt.
have the new type V5C in my name. It’s registered to my home address near Monmouth, South East Wales.
I have paperwork and a photographic history and record of the work that has been carried out, which will come with the car.
I have a photograph that was taken by the French owner in 2012. It shows 84474 kilometres. The current reading is 90365 km (56150 miles). That’s 5891 km (3660 miles) in just under thirteen years; an average annual mileage of about 285. . .
This particular combination of a six light’ Dyane 4, with a 6v, crank dynamo, pull start engine was only built for five months. I know of only two of this particular type of Dyane in the UK.
‘Xavier’ may be one of the best preserved, early Dyanes in the UK. I am therefore seeking offers in the region of £8,750 for this amazing, unmolested survivor of an early, LHD Dyane 4, in a very rare, short lived colour.
Inspection visits are recommended and welcome. I will happily take prospective purchasers on a proper test drive. If required, I can deliver to the buyer by driving locally, or by trailer within the UK, for an agreeable financial consideration.
Thank you for looking.
I expect to be Taking this Dyane to the 2cvGB National meeting at Martha’s Down Campsite, Chicklade Road, Hindon, Salisbury. SP3 6DJ on Friday and Saturday 18th and 19th April, if you want to look it over and have a test drive.
Paul Brice.
2cvGB Méhari Registrar.
“