The 2CV mirror: a feature that gradually appeared on the Deudeuche
Unveiled to the general public for the first time on 7 October 1949 at the Paris Motor Show held at the Grand Palais, the 2CV was initially launched without any mirrors at all, either inside or outside the car. This was by no means unusual for the time: although the very first car rear-view mirrors appeared as early as the 1930s, very few mass-market cars were fitted with them at the time. It was not until the 1950s that the first exterior rear-view mirror appeared on the 2CV, fitted only on the driver’s side, in a round, swan-neck design attached directly to the hinge of the hinged window on the front left door, without any drilling into the bodywork. This design evolved in the mid-1960s into a trapezoidal plastic model, this time secured with screws to the door panel – a design that remained unchanged until production ceased in 1990 at the Citroën factory in Mangualde, Portugal. Long regarded as a mere optional extra — with only the interior rear-view mirror having been compulsory since the late 1960s — the left-hand exterior rear-view mirror was not fitted as standard on saloons until 1971. It was not until 1 July 1972 that regulations finally made a driver’s-side rear-view mirror compulsory for all passenger cars. Commercial variants of the 2CV, such as the Acadiane, adopted the same design, sometimes with an extended arm to accommodate a wider body.
2CV left, right and interior mirrors: which model to choose?
Unlike the left-hand mirror, the right-hand mirror was only fitted as standard on the very last model years of the 2CV saloon: it was not compulsory at the time and remains so today. Citroën did, however, offer it as an accessory for drivers who wished to fit one. 2CV vans, on the other hand, were fitted with them much earlier, as the decree of 20 November 1969 made left and right exterior mirrors compulsory on all estate or commercial vehicles where the interior mirror did not provide sufficient visibility.
On mehariclub.com, you’ll find all the parts you need to fit your 2CV, whatever its year of manufacture: gooseneck round exterior rear-view mirror, original trapezoidal left
exterior 2CV rear-view mirror, original trapezoidal right exterior rear-view mirror as well as the
renovation kit for original trapezoidal 2CV rear-view mirrors that can replace a broken mirror or a mirror that has oxidised with time. For the interior 2CV rear-view mirror, there are 3 main references with the old model interior rear-view mirror, the grey interior r2CV ear-view mirror, black interior rear-view mirror as well as a
day/night model, which effectively reduces glare caused by the headlights of vehicles approaching from behind. You should also consider replacing the mounting screws at the same time as the mirror: over time, they can become loose or rusty, which weakens the arm’s hold and may, in the long run, damage the door panel.
