From Our Man in Tuscany: a Citroen Dyane

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I initially thought Our Man in Tuscany - who's now visiting Rome - had gone artsy on us, tilting his camera to add dynamism and a slight sense of claustrophobia to the lead photo.  And maybe it was intentional.  But a look at his subsequent images suggests otherwise; the way the Polo's jammed in behind OMiT's subject - a charming Citroen Dyane - speaks volumes for the genuinely confined nature of Rome's la strada and the resultant scarcity of parking. 


The Dyane is, basically, an upgraded 2CV that was built to take on rival French manufacturer Renault's R4, examples of which OMiT has fortuitously already sent us: (https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2025/09/from-our-man-in-tuscany-renault-4.html and https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2025/09/from-our-man-in-tuscany-another-renault.html).  Although a not insignificant 1,443,583 Dyanes were manufactered in France, Spain, Iran, Yugoslavia and Portugal, their production run started after, and ceased before, that of the 2CV (1967-83 -v- 1948-90) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Dyane).  

The 2CV topped the Dyane in numbers built, too, with just shy of 4,000,000 examples, still falling well short of the R4's astonishing 8,100,000 units (ibid.).  Not close and no Gauloises, either.


Did you enjoy this post?  If so, why not browse the rest of the uppermiddlepetrolhead site?  There are loads and loads of classic, sports and performance vehicles featured, as well as stacks of car shows and motorsports events.  Even better, you can follow either the 'blog itself or do so via Upper Middle Petrol Head's Facebook page.  And please do like, comment and share!




U M P H

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