The 1950s Citroën 2CV Radar: A Unique French Hand-Built Car by Robert Radar

Mechanical Whimsy - There’s something endlessly charming about how post-war Europe embraced creativity on wheels. Scarcity gave rise to innovation, and few examples better capture that spirit than the enchanting yet obscure Citroën 2CV Radar — a unique creation by Belgian Citroën dealer Robert Radar. It's a car born not from a major automaker’s drawing board, but from the mind of a passionate man with racing roots, mechanical precision, and an eye for unconventional beauty.

The Citroën 2CV Radar in its full form, showcasing the two-tone fiberglass body with distinctive flowing lines and compact proportions. (Picture from; QuirkyRides in X)

Robert Radar, a trained mechanic with racing experience from the roaring ‘20s, poured his ingenuity into creating something exceptional. After years of hands-on experience with Citroën and running his own garage in Liège, he designed a roadster in 1956 that was unlike anything else on the road — sleek, curvy, and distinctly French, yet built on the famously utilitarian Citroën 2CV chassis. His creation was so unconventional that it still turns heads today with its surreal, almost dreamlike shape.

A closer look at the front profile reveals the smooth bonnetless nose and rounded curves that give the 2CV Radar its whimsical character. (Picture from; Facebook)

Visually, the 2CV Radar is a car that seems torn between the world of engineering and artistic sculpture. From certain angles, it looks like it belongs in a museum of modern art rather than on a city street. Its exaggerated curves, wing-like rear fenders, and bulbous proportions might strike some as odd or even whimsical. But that’s precisely what makes it stand out. It's not trying to mimic the sports cars of its time; it boldly carves its own path, unafraid of looking different.

Robert Radar originally built the car as a minimalist open-top roadster, like the one shown here, with later versions gradually evolving into fixed-roof coupés. (Picture from; Corfo.JouwWeb.be)

Robert Radar initially built the car as a minimalist open-top roadster, with later versions evolving into fixed-roof coupés like the one shown here. This is the kind of car that walks the fine line between “weird” and “wonderful,” and ends up owning both labels with confidence.

Front view of a bonnetless red Citroën 2CV Radar roadster, showcasing its fluid fiberglass curves, distinctive grille with Citroën chevrons, and exposed headlamps—an example of Robert Radar’s minimalist, hand-built design. (Picture from; Corfo.JouwWeb.be)

The body is crafted entirely from polyester — a cutting-edge material at the time — with an organic flow that almost seems to melt into the road. From the exaggerated, flowing rear fenders to the low-slung nose and minimalistic grille, this car radiates aerodynamic ambition and creative freedom. One of the most distinctive features is its roofline: a fixed hardtop that seamlessly curves into the body, contrasting in color (usually white over deep red or burgundy) and housing what appears to be a rear window from a Citroën DS, cleverly repurposed as a windshield. Even the bumpers and side trims feel custom-made, cleanly integrated into the design without distracting from the smooth surface. Every curve, every bulge, serves both form and function, a visual poem written in fiberglass.

Robert Radar behind the wheel of his creation, the ‘Radar’, a uniquely styled vehicle based on the Citroën 2CV platform. (Picture from; TotalKitCar)

Step inside, and you’ll find the simplicity of the 2CV still present, but wrapped in a slightly more elegant shell. The dashboard and interior layout remain faithful to the original, but with subtle upgrades like improved trim and modest upholstery enhancements to match the Radar’s grander presence. Don’t expect luxury, though — this was still an affordable, lightweight roadster designed to retain the spirit of the 2CV’s simplicity.

A rare coupé-style variant of the 2CV Radar, featuring a two-tone fiberglass body and elegant roofline, photographed at a vintage car gathering. (Picture from: M124a.LiveJournal)

Under the skin, things get more interesting. Originally powered by a standard 425cc flat-twin engine, Robert Radar didn’t stop there. He boosted the performance by upgrading to a 500cc displacement and fitting a dual-carburetor setup. With a reinforced suspension system and the addition of a stabilizer bar, the Radar wasn’t just a showpiece — it could reach up to 120 km/h, a genuinely impressive feat for a car that started life as a humble people’s vehicle. Light weight, clever aerodynamics, and a peppy heart turned it into a surprisingly spirited drive.

Rear view of the Radar, highlighting its sculpted fenders, minimalist taillights, and the DS-sourced rear window repurposed as the windshield. (Picture from; QuirkyRides in X)

What truly sets the 2CV Radar apart is how rare and it is. After Radar built a few bodies himself — some assembled in his own garage, others sold as kits — Citroën Belgium became intrigued. From 1959 to 1962, they produced about 60 fiberglass bodies, of which only 20 were completed as full vehicles. The production process was split between facilities in Belgium and even extended into northern France, involving several craftsmen who ensured the assembly quality met the unique vision.

This is one of the earlier models of the 2CV Radar, shown with a bonnet, with an optional windscreen available to customers at the time. (Picture from; TotalKitCar)

Changes were made during this limited production run: some lost the original bumpers in favor of sleeker side bars, the door handles disappeared, and the body was slightly reworked to ease access to mechanical parts. But the soul remained intact — a quirky, sculptural reinterpretation of the 2CV that was both accessible and unlike anything else Citroën ever offered.

These are two roadster variants built by Robert Radar on the Citroën 2CV chassis—one on the left featuring a bonnetless nose with smooth curves, and the other on the right equipped with a full bonnet and lacking a windshield. (Picture from; Classic And Recreation Sportscars in Facebook)

The 2CV Radar even played a minor role in history. It appeared at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair and in showrooms, proudly wearing its uniqueness like a badge of honor. For 75,000 Belgian francs — around 25% more than a regular 2CV — buyers could own something exceptionally rare, fun, and fashionably French.

Rear view of a pastel-blue Citroën 2CV Radar roadster lacking a windshield, highlighting its fluid fiberglass curves, exposed cockpit, and minimalist rear styling. (Picture from; PreWar)

Only a handful of these rolling sculptures survive today, with perhaps fewer than six known examples still in existence. Each remaining car is a rolling tribute to Radar's vision and the post-war spirit of creativity. They may look a bit odd today, parked among modern machines, but that’s exactly what makes them so captivating — they were never meant to fit in. | ovoIP1fIXmI |