Two Horses, One Icon

Think of it as a French Beetle. For almost a half-century, Citron's 2CVbetter known as deux chevaux (two horses), a reference to its underpowered enginewas hugely popular with farmers and urban bohemians because of its cheap price and trouble-free engine. Fourteen years after the last deux chevaux rolled off the assembly line, its appeal endures. The essential piece of any car collection, its appeal stretches well beyond France, with clubs active across Australia, Europe, Israel, Japan and the U.S.

The car has long been popular with visitors to France, and now Florent Dargnies, a 24-year-old entrepreneur, has...