Citroën HY Van Food Truck On Campus

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 09/02/2020 at 23:33 • Filed to: Citroën, Dots

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My brother let me know that the Citroën HY Van food truck was back on campus so I rushed over to take a gander. Good thing I rushed, as I managed to have a nice little chat with the owner before he left for a lunch break.

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According to Svend in the previous post, it was last registered in the UK in 2018. This backs up what the owner said. It’s a 1971 model with the 1911 cc engine. He said it was originally a flatbed that was retrofitted in England for food truck duty before being imported here. It makes sense as there is a wall between the driver’s seat and the cooking area.

I’ve never seen an HY van before, this being just my third Citroën I’ve seen, the previous two being 2CVs. I must say I was not disappointed. These things are quite striking in person. I especially love how the front tapers to a point. It’s just so effortlessly handsome despite almost no efforts being made whatsoever to style it.

Perhaps more surprising is how small the thing is. Specifically the Citroën is just so narrow!

The owner said he likes it because it can fit in a normal parking spot while retaining almost as much interior room as a conventional step van. His donut making stuff fit nicely in the back while leaving room to move around.

Note the three part rear doors. Since it used to be a flatbed I imagine the roof of a regular HY was used since it uses the usual flip up rear hatch and license plate mounting position (the real Georgia plate is in the front window).

You can clearly see the cut line from where the flatbed was built upon. That wheelbase really leaves so much room for activities, doesn’t it?

Not too large of a menu but it’s also a small van. He said he thought about expanding into a gluten free menu but couldn’t fit another fryer in when I mentioned why I was chatting and not buying anything. I waited until there were no more customers so it’s ok. He was more than willing to talk about the van with someone who could appreciate it. The proprietor talked about how he was opening a permanent location next year though I can’t remember the city.

This angle of the HY Van is so iconic. The suicide doors swooping down to the step point on the fender actually didn’t give me the impression of easy ingress or egress but I also didn’t see them open. The interior was spartan as you might imagine but free of trash and very clean.

I asked him if he though the unique van brought him any more business and he said yes. Apparently it is very popular at festivals as even people who don’t know what it is can recognize it for something special and out of the ordinary.

I was told a story about how his mechanic rebuilt his first Citroën engine at 8 years old. Not sure how accurate that story is but clearly the van is well looked after. I didn’t get to hear it in action but I saw it drive by from the window of a dining hall a few minutes later. He had been getting ready to leave.

I hope I see this plucky little Citroën around some more. He asked me about locations on the other end of campus and I told him about how the dining halls aren’t as good but there are also other restaurants close by. I might see him again every now and again as he has had some success here. In either case, the HY Van sure made my day.

E90M3 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 13:35

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I used to walk that street everyday. 

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 13:37

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I’m guessing he’s parking on the curb to level the van, which may be acceptable on campus, or he gives freebies to campus PD and all is well.

Nice van though . I’ve always thought they were quirky enough to enhance business visibility without being obnoxious.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > onlytwowheels 09/02/2020 at 14:00

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I wonder if anyone has ever fitted the suspension from a DS to a HY...

onlytwowheels > BaconSandwich is tasty. 09/02/2020 at 14:16

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Google makes it appear that a hydro suspension was offered on the a mbulance HY vans.

This photo shows the rear lowered for easier loading, unloading. It’s unclear what other functions it may have offered.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 14:16

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Like how it looks. There is a kit made for the Citroen Relay (aka Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Ram Promaster).

VW Max > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 14:19

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That's so cool! I just started college too but because campus is so small there are sadly no interesting cars. Although the one time I have wandered off campus I found an F-Type and an old Elantra wagon. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend 09/02/2020 at 14:45

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That’s amazing. I like that more than most kits to make a car look like another car. And you could totally do that to a Ram Promaster. The only problem is you’d be stuck with a Ram Promaster.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/02/2020 at 14:48

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Yes, it is definitely something you would recognize. I don’t think the campus police are getting any freebies but the curb is nearly sunk to the street level in that spot so it makes sense to park on it. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/02/2020 at 14:51

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That actually makes a ton of sense. I never knew that was a thing. I bet those would make great ambulances as long as, well, wait, speed is also a factor. There’s plenty of room in the back to work though.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > VW Max 09/02/2020 at 14:55

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Congratulations! This particular college has a rather large traditional campus except it is located inside one of the densest cities in the southeast so there’s always something to do. Well, when Rona isn’t ruining the fun. It’s been hard to meet new people without in person classes except for the few people I go to studio with.

If there is one thing Atlanta doesn’t have a shortage of it is cars. Already I’ve found a classic Fiat 500, a Fiat Panda incorporated into a terrifying sculpture, and, well, some pretty terrible donks. And lowriders! A nd donks booo!

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/dots-shockingly-distasteful-mods-edition-1844739370

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-like-lowriders-and-donks-can-suck-it-1844750289

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/a-sneaky-fiat-thought-it-could-hide-from-me-1844778338

I didn’t quite expect to see a Citroen but I’ll take it! Such a quirky little van. Perfect for a food truck.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > E90M3 09/02/2020 at 14:56

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I don’t very often. There isn’t much reason for me to go to west campus though Willage does have better food. 

E90M3 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 15:49

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All there used to be over there when I was in the ULC, which is apparently called the Nelson-Shell, was Woodruff dining hall. I didn’t have a meal plan then. I either cooked or ate at the house then. This was back in 2009/2010 when I was a second year. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > E90M3 09/02/2020 at 15:59

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First years have to buy a dining plan, so here I am. It’s nice but maybe not quite nice enough for how much it is. Now, Willage has the best dining options on campus. 

E90M3 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 16:14

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I remember that. I was in Glenn my freshman year and Woodruff was too far, so it was Brittan for me.  North Ave dining hall got built when I was living there, 2010/2011. Didn’t matter to me as I didn’t have a meal plan then either. 

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 16:19

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I’m guessing this should/could be available on air suspension ambulances everywhere.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/02/2020 at 16:24

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What you don’t want is a rough ride while trying to save someone’s life. 

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 16:29

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I’ve only been transported to the hospital by ambulance once. Since it was over 30 years ago, my mem ory of the ride is not crystal clear, but I believe it was a truck like ride.

VW Max > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 17:12

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My parents are from Atlanta so I’ve spent a not insignificant amount of time there. Even though I’d mostly go back and forth from the same few places I’d see an insane variety of cars.

I’m b ad enough at meeting people even when there isn’t Rona messing stuff up so I’m really struggling. I kinda know 2 people not counting my roommate and I really don’t know what to do.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 20:07

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This is AWESOME! Yup, definitely a long-wheelbase truck chassis...there were a lot of variants for that long wheelbase version, I think there was even a version designed for carrying livestock at one point...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > VW Max 09/02/2020 at 23:39

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My dorm floor has a discord and we occasionally play online games, mostly free ones and someone has Jackbox. Among Us is a great free game on mobile except it is currently so popular the servers are always full. It’s a little weird for me because I’m usually outgoing but a combination of COVID outbreaks at the frats and a very heavy load of school (well it is architecture after all) has kept me from socializing much.

Atlanta is a fascinating place. I love walking around downtown as there is always something new to see. Despite being a relatively new city by East Coast standards there is so much rich history around every bend. From the railroad gulch to the viaducts to Olympic relics to the city’s tall buildings, there is so much going on. I especially like to pick out forgotten evidence of the city’s railroad past (and present).

Yes, the car scene is much more diverse than most other major cities I’ve been to (not many) but an annoying percentage of that diversity is donks and I don’t like them. And the motorcycle people can get a little annoying sometimes.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/02/2020 at 23:40

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I wonder how those Mercedes Sprinter ambulances ride? They’ve pretty much taken over the ambulance industry.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > E90M3 09/02/2020 at 23:42

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Their dining options have gotten a lot better as of late (from what I understand) and there are lots more places set to open in the next few years. Tech Square has lots of options too but I’m too cheap to buy Moe’s when I have a dining plan. 

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/02/2020 at 23:48

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Majority of ambulances in these parts are still use F series chassis.

Sprinters may ride similar....

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/02/2020 at 23:49

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So from what he indicated it was something like this when he had it outfitted in England.

You can actually see where the door used to be so maybe it was just a normal van chopped up before he put the roof on it again?

Because it’s different than something like this

What really struck me about them is how small they are. The front makes it look fairly wide in photos but it just isn’t. They’re very compact. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/02/2020 at 23:52

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Pretty much all ambulances around here are almost exactly like this except the usual red livery . It was shockingly difficult to find a picture of a US spec one. Maybe people just stay away from these in the rust belt? Not sure where you are located.

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 00:11

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This is the one for my town.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/03/2020 at 00:18

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I think I was just forgetting about the fire department. They still operate those F350 based ones. Well that one says F550 so maybe it was those. Hard to tell from a distance. 

Pretty much every hospital uses the MBs though. Some of them outsource the ambulance duty to a different company that operates a fleet but others keep it in house. 

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 00:27

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Rural here, hospitals may do ambulance service in some places, but not any place I have lived. Neighbor 2 houses away is a retired Medflight pilot, which gets utilized quit e a bit due to time and distance necessary for trauma care.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/03/2020 at 00:39

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I've always lived in semi urban / suburban areas so it may just be different. There are around 3 or 4 different names you might see on ambulances during a short drive 

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 00:49

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For many years, my BIL was a weekend paramedic for AMR, but that was   in much more dense l y populated southern New England.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/03/2020 at 00:56

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I really wonder how those rural response times differ from more dense areas. 

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 01:07

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Since the most of the FDs are volunteer, with maybe 2 on any given shift, it’s longer than you’d probably want. Paramedics usually arrive on scene in their personal vehicle with the basics. Ambulance may arrive before or after, usually the latter.

Most FDs are under staffed, the old guys are not being replaced at the rate they are retiring. One of the local HS has an excellent training program now which may help. Otherwise, they’ll go off to the big cities for better opportunities.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 09/03/2020 at 01:15

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That's not something I'd ever really thought about before. I did wonder how the logistics worked with the EMS vehicle being at the fire department. 

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 01:21

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Rural living has it’s benefits and challenges.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 01:57

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You mentioned size a couple of times or so, so I found a nice larger one for you. The guy still (since the 1960s) uses it to go camping with eight other members or the family, yep, nine people in this high roof H van converted into a camper.

Here’s one that’ll peak your interest.

Citroen HY Filca Camper and later Filca Camper Trailer.

A U.K. company that makes ‘vintage food trucks’.

https://vintagefoodtrucks.com/

Some of the Citroen Rely/Jumper HY conversions out there.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 02:04

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Here in the U.K. 

They ride really well. A bit wollowy at speed.

Many are now the Citroen Relay/Fiat Ducato/Peugeot Boxer type.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 02:24

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Dang, would have been nice to find this before oppo rally ended! I didn't find a French vehicle. I'm sure I've seen some Citroëns here in LA but not when I needed one. 

XJDano > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 08:19

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Holy crap.

https://okaloosa.craigslist.org/bfs/d/miramar-beach-citroen-hy-food-truck/7176535929.html

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend 09/03/2020 at 08:57

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We get the Ducato here as the Ram Promaster. It is widely regArded to be steaming unreliable pile of crap for most applications. I know an Oppo has one. It’s the MBs exclusively that the hospitals use, though many fire departments use an F350-F550 based one with a built out box. The MBs never are chassis cabs.

This is an older one from before they were widespride while they were still being sold as Freightliners (and Dodges).

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > XJDano 09/03/2020 at 09:08

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That’s actually not that bad for a food truck. Once built out with counters and everything they can run you much more than that, though that one is smaller and less capable.

It has not been mechanically modernized, so it is a beast to drive. In current state, it is best trailered and moved from lo cation to location or set up indoors. It’s a collectors vehicle that doubles as a sto re.

Haha, well, they are slow but not that slow. The guy I talked to drives his on the original powertrain everywhere so not sure about that claim.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/03/2020 at 09:09

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I couldn’t find a French vehicle and Dusty disqualified my life sized mural of a 2CV. It would have been nice but he didn’t start coming around here until last week.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend 09/03/2020 at 09:15

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I noticed the company almost exclusively converted HYs and 2CVs and other Citroens.

What is this one? I’m intrigued. It seemed to start out life as the pickup variant from what I could see.

The idea of having a rear that can extend within  the wheelbase is genius. You lose a little width but it’s worth it from what I can see.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 12:25

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It’s a 1969 Citroen H with a body built by Cirrus with a Filca Trailer.

The Citroen H van mostly sold as the HY. But there was also the HX lower load capacity, HP flat-bed pick-up and HZ and HW (greater load capacity.

I like that the police version was called the ‘panier a salade’ (the salad basket). Lol.

I like that a U.K. company makes a VW Double Back with a module that extends electrical out the back.

XJDano > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 09/03/2020 at 20:16

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turbo & a 5speed... that was probably some coin!!! 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > XJDano 09/03/2020 at 22:27

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What sort of engine is under there? I wonder if they did a full transverse drivetrain swap.