Tree-mendous! Auction of unique wooden Citroën 2CV breaks world record
The final price of €210,000 was the most expensive ever for one of France’s most iconic vehicles
The car has broken records, but is unable to drive on French roads
Michel Robillard
The previous record price for a Citroën 2CV has been smashed, with a unique wooden model selling for more than €200,000.
An auction near Tours on Sunday (June 4) saw the completely wooden-framed car sell for €210,000, around €40,000 more than the previous record.
Created as a labour of love by French carpenter Michel Robillard, the car was sold to Jean-Paul Favand, founder of the Musée des Arts Forains in Paris.
The car will likely end up on display in the museum – but will have to be carefully transported to the capital by other means than driving, as the car does not have a vehicle registration.
After spending five years creating the wooden Citroën, Mr Robillard says he is ready to move on to his next project.
Next project will be ‘even crazier’
The Connexion recently showcased the wooden car in an article, in which Mr Robillard revealed he spent around 5,000 hours on the project.
Using various types of wood – including walnut, pear, apple, and cherry – the car has a sleek finish, whilst still retaining the aura of one of France’s most classic cultural icons.
It was expected to reach between €150,000 and €200,000 at auction, so the final sale price means the former carpenter’s toil was well worth it.
Described as a “car unique in the world” by auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac on Sunday, the car apparently “drives perfectly,” for whoever is behind the wheel.
The stumbling block for the new owner taking the car out for a spin, however, is that the car does not have vehicle registration, and therefore cannot legally drive on public roads.
Despite Mr Robillard’s difficulty in parting with his beloved Citroën, he is already beginning plans on his next project, which will be the creation of a DS21 Cabriolet coupé, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the DS model by the same carmakers.
The project is “even more crazy,” than the wooden 2CV and will be “the icing on the cake,” of his achievements, he believes.
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