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In
the late fifties, Citroën's model line up comprised the 2 CV and the D
Series, the former being designed to cater for the bottom end of the
market and the latter aimed at the upper echelons. There was a yawning
chasm between these two extremes and the company undertook a number of
design studies including the Cocinelle and the C-60 in an attempt to plug the gap.
The
rise of the middle classes throughout Europe created a demand for a
more luxurious,stylish and faster car than the 2 CV while remaining
economical to run - the company had hoped the ID 19 would fill this
role.
In
1959, Pierre Bercot laid down the design brief: - a large boot and
seating for five in a car that must be no longer than four metres and
no hatchback. This latter restriction meant that Bertoni was
obliged to create a classic three box design and in order to provide
sufficient room for the rear passengers, he was obliged to use the
reverse slope rear screen that had been pioneered in the USA by Ford's Mercury division and in Europe by Ford of Great Britain with their Anglia.
A
number of different engines were considered - a flat four comprising
two 2CV units with a displacement of about 950 cm3, the 610 cm3 flat
twin developed by Panhard,
or to develop a larger capacity version of the flat twin from the
2CV. It was felt that using the Panhard flat twin would result in
the new car competing with the Panhard 24
which was under development. By this time, Panhard was being run
by Citroën. The decision was taken to use an enlarged version of
the 2CV engine and for the 24 to be a two door car only.
Due
to budgetary constraints, the decision was taken to develop the 2 CV -
a new 602 cc engine and a new, much less utilitarian body but fitted to
the 2CV chassis and employing that car's interconnected
suspension. Flaminio Bertoni came up with the design that he
later described as his favourite.
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