The Citroën Acadiane is a small commercial vehicle produced from 1977 to 1987. It was derived from the Citroën Dyane, was available only in left-hand drive, and was replaced in the end by the Visa-based C15 van.
Citroën Acadiane at a glance
| Maker | Citroën, France |
|---|---|
| Production | 1977–1987 |
| Derived from | Citroën Dyane |
| Built | 253,393 |
| Payload | about 500 kg |
| Body styles | two-seat commercial, and Mixte with rear bench |
| Roof | corrugated over the load area |
| Suspension | heavier duty than the Dyane, with a load-sensitive rear brake limiter |
| Gearbox | four-speed, top gear used as an overdrive |
| Tyres | Michelin 15×135, 10 mm wider than 2CV and Dyane |
| Replaced by | Citroën C15 |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Citroën Acadiane
1977: a Dyane with a box on the back
The Acadiane was derived from the Dyane, which itself sat on 2CV mechanicals. The name was a pun on AK Dyane, since Citroën had long used the AK prefix for its light commercials; there is no connection with Acadia or Acadiana. Only left-hand-drive cars were made, and total production reached 253,393.
What set it apart from the Dyane
The van had heavier-duty suspension, a slightly altered chassis and a rear-brake limiter whose action depended on the load. The driver and passenger doors had wind-down windows, where the Dyane used horizontally sliding ones. In line with many Citroën light commercials, the roof of the rear bodywork was corrugated to add rigidity at little cost. The maximum payload was approximately 500 kg, although handling suffered when the van was fully loaded. The car left the factory on Michelin 15×135 tyres, 10 mm wider than those of the 2CV and the Dyane.
Two bodies and four gears
The Acadiane came as a two-seat commercial or as a Mixte with sliding rear windows and a removable rear bench; the Mixte also had a passenger sun visor, which the commercial version lacked. The four-speed gearbox had a top gear normally described as an overdrive: progress could be maintained in it, but further acceleration was generally impossible, and third gear was enough to reach 80 km/h.
The Geri and the end
A pickup variant called the Citroën Geri was built by Cimos in Yugoslavia from 1981 to 1985. Production of the Acadiane ended in 1987, and the Visa-based C15 van eventually took its place.
Design and features
- Dyane base: 2CV-family running gear in a small van body, left-hand drive only.
- Load-dependent brakes: a rear-brake limiter that reacted to how much the van was carrying.
- Corrugated roof: cheap extra rigidity over the load area.
- 500 kg payload: with handling that deteriorated when fully loaded.
- Mixte version: sliding rear windows and a removable rear bench seat.
Citroën Acadiane versions
- Commercial: two seats and a plain load area.
- Mixte: rear bench, sliding windows and a passenger sun visor.
- Citroën Geri: a pickup built by Cimos in Yugoslavia from 1981 to 1985.
The Acadiane came from the Dyane, which in turn came from the 2CV, and it was replaced by the C15. More cars are in the Citroën collection.
Video: Acadiane Oasi
Video by CDSCITROEN on YouTube.
Sources
- Citroën Acadiane, English Wikipedia: production, payload, suspension, gearbox, Geri
