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Citroen Arcadiane

Coming to market in the spring of 1978, the Citroen Arcadiane van was launched by Citroen to replace the iconic 2CV light commercial vehicles sometimes known as the 2CV van, AK400 van or the 2CV Au Fourgonette, which had come to market in 1951.

The Arcadiane wasn’t an entirely new design, because Citroen took the load space of the AK400 and then married it to the front end of a Dyane with a raised roofline.

If you’re wondering why, it’s all down to aerodynamics, which are apparently improved and therefore give it better performance and fuel consumption compared with the old 2CV van.

Being a commercial, the colours aren’t extensive on these and you’ve got a choice of white, beige or blue. Pre wrap, this would’ve been blanc Alaska, translating as white Alaska to me and you at home.

A lot of people would end here on the facts, but that’s a lazy take on how the Arcadiane moves on from the AK400, because Citroen made a lot of subtle changes to the new commercial including:

- The load volume increases to 80.4 cubic feet
- The useful load space increased by 6 inches to 5ft 3 and a half inches
- Although not speedy, the 602cc air-cooled flat twin engine has increased performance and can achieve 62mph unloaded on official Citroen tests

There are also discs to front and I believe the suspension is improved, although I couldn’t find official advertising literature to confirm how much this differed from earlier AK400 vans.

All practical and thoughtful changes, but that’s not where it ends, because driver enjoyment and comfort was taken into account too. There was better visibility, new wind down windows which we mention later are an improvement on the side slide windows of the Dyane car, seats are adjustable and probably a given now but a plus point at the time, inertia belts are fitted as standard.

It also has a new rear bumper, but that’s purely cosmetic.

The Arcadiane never hit the cult level of fame seen by previous Citroens like the DS or 2CV and is today a lesser spotted van, but still entirely recognisable and not easy to mistake for anything else!

Production ended in 1987 when it was replaced by the C15. Now before we go for a drive, let’s have a better look at this dash and the rather interesting gear change!