Author Topic: SOLVED: Djetset #460 - Slough-built Citroen 2CVA 'Major Wanliss'  (Read 1633 times)

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Offline Djetset

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SOLVED: Djetset #460 - Slough-built Citroen 2CVA 'Major Wanliss'
« on: December 12, 2010, 03:56:37 PM »
Before you rush into an answer, please think carefully about what this is and give me full details on this car, including what makes it unusual.  One point on offer, which will increase to two points if you can tell me the name of the customer it was built for!
« Last Edit: December 12, 2010, 04:00:49 PM by Djetset »
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Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #460
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2010, 04:20:02 PM »
Up, up and away?
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Offline franck.kegelart

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Re: Djetset #460
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2010, 11:07:56 AM »
This is a 2 CV made by Citroën's UK subsidiary ; you can see the hood ornament and the opening rear windows, that are specific to british-built 2CVs

Offline D-type

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Re: Djetset #460
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2010, 04:11:15 PM »
It's a 1954 model 2CV modified by Citroen, Slough, for a handicapped customer, Major Wanlis
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Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #460
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2011, 02:03:11 PM »
Well done D-Type, you've got it.  Just out of interest though, to get the full two points, do you know what the modification was to the 2CV for Major Wanlis?  Locked to you.
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Offline D-type

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Re: Djetset #460
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2011, 03:30:41 PM »
I'm afraid I don't know.  I managed to find the car on Google, but the only information was that it was modified for a Major Wanliss.  (Spelt Wanliss not Wanlis as I posted). 
Duncan Rollo

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Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #460
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2011, 06:19:50 PM »
Don't worry, I will give you the two points anyway. This British-built 2CV was modified in Slough for Major Wanliss as a one-off by increasing the roof height and headroom to accomodate his tall frame, and the fact that he was handicapped during the War and couldn't bend down to get in and out of a regular car very easily!  The extra height is more evident in this photo.
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Offline microcars

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Re: SOLVED: Djetset #460 - Slough-built Citroen 2CVA 'Major Wanliss'
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2011, 06:40:37 PM »
thanks for the answer, that was a good one.  I had showed the pic to a few my more 2CV-oriented brethren and they had no clue.
I thought it looked like it was sitting a little "higher" but could not figure out why.

Offline DynaMike

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Re: SOLVED: Djetset #460 - Slough-built Citroen 2CVA 'Major Wanliss'
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2011, 08:40:42 AM »
In the Dutch Citroën magazine CitroExpert (#48 from 2004) is an article about this Wanliss car. Not only the roof and the windscreen were raised, also the drivers seat and the steering column were 1 inch higher, and the fabric roof was replaced by a solid one (even though it still looks like fabric). These conversions were made by Citroën Slough themselves, not by an independent coachbuilder.
In pre-war times Major E.O. Wanliss from Lytham Saint Annes in Lancashire was in Hong-Kong, where he got infected with tuberculosis in his spine. After serveral operations which didn't really help he had to wear a corset and still his back was very weak and he couldn't bend his back or his neck. The 2CV appeared to be the only car with a suspension soft enough for his weak back, but he just needed a bit extra space.
He made several holiday trips with this car, to France and to Switzerland. During one of these trips he had the original 375 cc engine replaced by a 425 cc version, which is still in it, nowadays.
Chassis number is 8530102, engine number looks like OKD6707 (Echange Usine).
Later, after his retirement,  Major Wanliss bought a Citroën DS, and in 1991 the remains of the 2CV were bought by Mr Les Rawstone from Kirkham, who restaured the car.

Offline Djetset

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Re: SOLVED: Djetset #460 - Slough-built Citroen 2CVA 'Major Wanliss'
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2011, 10:52:52 AM »
Wow, thanks for the extra information DynaMike.  An interesting and unique 2CV!
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.