TÜV meets 2CV at September the 25th 2011 in Wuppertal.

First ride with my number 3

My intention was to visit this meeting with my number 2, because the conversion process to a station wagon was done in cooperation with the TÜV in Wuppertal. Two weeks before the date of the meeting I tried to get the licence plate at the traffic authority in Weilburg. There I was told that I had to request for a special paper at the traffic authority in Marburg, because the conversion process had to be approved by another officer. So I mailed the TÜV expertise, the registration document and my passport to the mentioned office. Of course I transferred 40 Euros to the given banking account. "Don't ask for the status of your request because it is useless!" was written multiple times at the Internet pages of those office...
Nevertheless, one week before the date of the meeting I requested for the status. Letter from you? We did not receive! Money from your banking account? Yes we have received! Super - taking bugs for nothing seems to be no problem for this institution...
So I mailed the whole papers once again - all in vain! The necessary document was delivered after the meeting...
Somehow frustrated I took the decision to drive to Wuppertal with my number 3 which I had purchased three days before - more or less undesired. A 2CV owner living close to me offered his vehicle for sale and I had a look at the car. He wanted to get 2500Euros for the Citroän, but the road test disclosed that the engine made serious trouble and there were audible sounds while driving in the first gear. The original chassis was almost brand new as well as the four tyres and the bodywork wasn't too bad. I had an engine and a gearbox in my garage and the replacement would be no problem. I offered 1000Euros and Horsti agreed. He told me to strip the car and sell the single components if he would not get those price and Frank was already looking eagerly at the chassis. I did not want this 2CV to disappear from the road!
After readjusting the valve clearance and the ignition timing (which was adjusted to maximum preignition), the knocking of the engine decreased. If the engine runs to Wuppertal and back it would be good enough for an overhauling procedure - that was my plan or else plan B would come into effect (see below). I met Bernd at the Autobahn exit Neuwied and the engine was running fine. Some kilometers before we reached Wuppertal, the knocking from the engine increased noticeable, but we made our way to the destination.
The meeting was great! Sunshine, old and new friend at the TÜV area and the organizers had cared for good musik and meal. The trophy for the oldest 2CV was handed to Bernd and somewhen it was time for the ride back home.

The mountains around Wuppertal ask for the whole 2CV power and the knocking of the engine became louder and louder. After a short jerk of the engine I stopped at the breakdown lane and opened the bonnet. The fan wheel was loosened and I reassembeled the device. Bernd and I decided to try to make the way to a parking area, because we were standing right in front of the motorway interchange of Hilden, which wasn't a comfortable place for a rest. In the middle of the motorway interchange, the engine stoped rotating with an audible sound. A visible piston rod is not normal for a 2CV engine. Bernd with his 12HP Citroën would be no good tractive unit, but 200m in front of us we saw a police patrol recording a car accident. They called for another police car which pulled my 2CV away from the motorway - thanks!
The ADAC moved number 3 pickaback to the next depot of this automobile club. From there I was driving home with a unearthly new car. Number 3 was brought back home by a 3rd class transport one week later. The lady at the telephone of the ADAC asked: Manufacturer? Citroën! Type of vehicle? 2CV! Year of construction? 1985! Kind of damage? Piston seizure! After theese informations she wanted to contact the knacker, but the driver of the breakdown van had instructed me to insist that my number 3 is a collector's vehicle and worth bringing home.
Now number 3 is back in my garage, waiting for a new drive...