A wooden Citroen 2CV sells for 210,000 euros, a tree-mendous ride

A wood-bodied Citroen 2CV, rumored to be the only one of its kind, sold for 210,000 euros ($225,000) at a French auction, breaking previous records for the iconic car. The automobile, which was in excellent condition and was registered in France, exceeded expectations when it was put up for auction in the historic town of Tours on Sunday.

The 2CV’s body was hand-made from wood and has the same iconic curves as the post-war French classic.

It was purchased by Paris-based collector and proprietor of a museum dedicated to former carnival rides, Jean-Paul Favand.

After the bet, Favand told AFP over the phone, “I’m having trouble communicating.

It was described as “much more than a car — it’s a work of art” by the auction house, which gave a guide price range of 150,000-200,000 euros.

As he dropped the hammer, auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac proclaimed the transaction to be a record.

The previous record for a 2CV was achieved in 2016, when the Paris-based auction house Artcurial sold an exceptionally rare 1961 2CV Sahara in almost immaculate condition for 172,800 euros.

The wings of the wooden 2CV were made out of walnut, while its chassis was made from of pear and apple trees.

The bonnet was carved out of a single block of cherry wood using just chisels and sandpaper.

‘Crazy project’

Beginning in 2011, Robillard claimed to AFP that he spent five years and around 5,000 hours building the automobile.

As he washed the car for the auction, he stated, “It’s like my daughter.” “I had three boys, and this was my little daughter.”

The Citroen 2CV, sometimes known as “deux chevaux” or “two horsepower,” was introduced in 1948 as the automaker’s response to the Volkswagen Beetle.

The original engine from Citroen’s later 3CV model is installed in Robillard’s vehicle, providing it the additional power required to move the inherently heavier wooden frame.

For the upcoming few years, he claimed, he had another “crazy project” in mind.

He plans to create a wooden facsimile of another French icon, the Citroen DS, which will mark its 70th anniversary in 2025.

In the 1990s, Robillard, a carpenter since the age of 14, started creating little wooden copies of well-known vehicles.

His intricate work has earned him numerous awards, including one for a Harley Davidson motorcycle and sidecar that took over 500 hours to complete.