Real Road Test: Citroën H van! The corrugated shed on wheels

The Citroën H van was incredibly advanced for 1947, and remained in production until 1981. Front-wheel drive, monocoque construction, all-independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering all feature here, as does the engine from a Traction Avant and a three-speed gearbox. But what is it like to drive? Contains a fair degree of noise this one!

Don't forget to like the video if you like it, and share with your friends if you really like it! Thank you all.

[andrewbuttigieg]

Extra ribbed for your driving pleasure. 😉

[jaggass]

Nice to see one that hasn't been converted into a coffee van. The original engine didn't have an oil filter and the oil had to be changed every 1500miles. Another popular conversion is the Ford Pinto engine

[JS-]

They did make 1.6 for extra-misery😄
Ignore that farting Fiesta 🤣

Just love these videos and that magnificent commentary.

[mickles]

Traction Avant test coming soon... I am genuinely excited for that one. They're beautiful.

[split_pin]

The thing I like about your videos is no silly intro. Straight into the content. Great to see an original one still surviving.

[AJT]

Surely one of the most iconic vehicle designs of all time? So nice at last to see a proper review of one

[TGGroot]

I had one in 1978. Great van for a camper. We had iT for 8 years and drove around Europe. We had a great time with this van. We passend 100.000 kilometers with iT and painted every part to prevent it against rust. I am sorry i ever sold thee car. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[briuk]

I'll have a Large, Iced, Decaf, Sugar-Free, Vanilla Latte With Almond Milk please.

[EricksonJunior]

Instantly liked the video because of the patination! I love to see old vehicles just being used for what they were built in the first place, and not just being a museum piece.

[gosportjamie]

A friend of mine did have a diesel H van back in the early '90s. Even at the time it was glacially slow, he said continental drift was faster. His main family transport at the time was a London Taxi with the Land-Rover diesel engine and an automatic gearbox, which, apparently, felt like a supercar in comparison...

[grayfool]

I was going to ask why they never went to a four speed box, then I realised I already knew. Because Citroen!

[dirkjan]

When Ian goes for a car. I think the conversation goes like this. Seller: the car is not in a good state but there are new wipers on it. Ian: I buy it 😜😊

[kenhanson]

The screen wash and wipe demonstration is very exciting. No one else ever does that. More please.

[petetube]

Good choice of location. That church square looks very like those found in villages across northern France. We do appreciate these little details!

[MrNegativecreep]

As cool as it looks, it seems like something where the novelty will wear off very quickly. I can't even imagine doing 300 miles in one, let alone 3000

[heartlanda]

The shift pattern makes sense when you think of them as being used in sets .
First opposite reverse as your going most apt to be using one or the other at low speed, then second and third as a set when moving at speed on the road you only need one or the other .

[tonys]

Now you know what it was like to be a tramper in the 50's and 60's, all commercial vehicles were slow and noisy. An heater was unknown, two wipers an absolute luxury. The split screen ones often a single wiper. One soon knew if it was overheating, the cab filled with water vapour. Hazard warning lights also unknown as standard in commercials until the 70's. Any commercial was often many years behind cars in innovations and design. Fleet owners did not like change as it was expensive in stocking parts if things changed often. When buying a new vehicle they wanted it the same as the others they owned.

[roverchap]

Wobbly lines on the speedo look like the album cover for Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures. It could almost be intentional except the H van pre-dates it slightly.

[Jay]

These vans are great, I especially love the patina on this example. Great video!

[philcrockford]

Watched Edd China revamp one of these, think he got a conversion kit for a 2 litre Ford Pinto engine from a Sierra because the stock unit had no oil filter and needed an oil change every 3, 000 miles