Poncin VP2000 restoration project

[Onefella]

Hi from Darwin, Australia. I have just picked-up a French Poncin VP2000 from my local rubbish dump, with twin rear stern-drives for propellers.

The unit is in very bad condition and is probably going to take months, if not years, to repair and get going again. But I was intrigued by the propeller drives when I first saw it, so I decided to commit to a restoration.

As you can see from the photo's, the poor thing has been given a 'custom' camo paint-job, and all identifying marks have been removed. My first job was a long search on google images and the galleries on this site, just to figure out what brand of AATV it was. I now realise I have quite a little oddball of a six-wheeler.

I am an electrician by trade, but also have a background in marine engineering and fabrication, so I am fairly confident I can get this beast going again.

I hope to share my resto job with you guys via this thread, and I'm sure I will be learning much from your forum.

Cheers

[mike d]

Hi one fella, u know what they say. one mans junk is anothers treasure. nice find. good luck and take lots of pics. later mike

[riotwarrior]

Welcome to 6x6world and wow what a find. That is one heck of a neat machine.

Thanks for sharing it with us, and good luck and keep us posted.

[jerseybigfoot]

i like the dog clutches for the props. simple but effective. steer with the sticks

[Onefella]

Thanks guys. Giving her a good clean-out today. I'm reasonably impressed with the engineering involved in the prop drives. Unfortunately the props are missing, so it'll be a bit of guesswork for the prop size.

i like the dog clutches for the props.

Me too, I'm very interested to see what her speed in the water will be. Hopefully somewhere around 5mph.

[phabib]

As you work on this marvel of French engineering, just keep in mind the words of the Car Talk guys from American radio. "The French copy no-one, and no-one copies the French."

[Onefella]

As you work on this marvel of French engineering, just keep in mind the words of the Car Talk guys from American radio. "The French copy no-one, and no-one copies the French."

I like it. That proverb could also apply to British vehicles and engineering.

One thing us Aussies did copy from the French, that I am very comfortable with; The metric system.

[phabib]

Is the company still around? I found a website showing several different vehicles. I don't think the 2CV engine is still being made, but I'm sure there are millions of them out there.

[Onefella]

Apparently the company no longer exists, so transmission spares are going to rarer than rocking-horse poop.

The good news is that the Citroen 2CV is the VW Beetle of France. Also no longer made, but still very popular in France with many enthusiast groups and lots of engine spares available. Apparently nearly 4 million were made between WW2 and 1990.

I remember my Father had one briefly when I was a kid. Among other 'idiosyncrasies' the headlight high-beam was a lever that physically tilted the headlights up a few degrees. Very funny little cars.