A curious mixture of romantic visionary and practical businessman, André Citroën was determined that economic depression and a contracting car market would not prevent him introducing a revolutionary new model, which he was convinced would ensure the future of his company. It did just that, but not until after Citroën had lost control of his empire when a minor creditor commenced legal proceedings against him. Within two years, new owner Michelin had paid off all of Citroën's debts. Citroën's brainchild, the 7C 'Traction Avant', broke new ground in almost every aspect of production car engineering on its launch in 1934. Unitary construction of the body/chassis, front wheel drive, all-independent suspension sprung by torsion bars, hydraulic brakes, synchromesh transmission and a four-cylinder, overhead-valve, wet-liner engine were all incorporated in the new car at a time when the majority of its rivals employed a separate chassis, cart springs, sidevalve engines and mechanical brakes. This ground-breaking specification would have counted for little had the result not worked in practice, but the Traction soon gained a well deserved reputation for exceptional stability and exemplary handling that endures to this day. The 1.3-litre original was soon superseded by larger-engined versions, the 1.9-litre 11 Legère model being known in Britain from 1938 as the 'Light Fifteen'. Production resumed after WW2 and lasted until 1957, when the Traction Avant was replaced by the equally revolutionary DS. Built just a year before that transition, this is a benchmark example of that model, quite typically finished in a somber black paint scheme, lifted only slightly by pale yellow disc wheels and a single thick waist line. The interior, is again typically simple, comprising grey vinyl seats, with light grey/blue covers and fawn door panel trims. The car has clearly been cosmetically freshened at some stage but that work itself now shows some age also. Generally the car may best be described as tidy and complete, though it has not been run for a number of years until recently and we do advise that pre-cautionary re-commissioning and checking over be completed before returning it to the road. Without reserve
A curious mixture of romantic visionary and practical businessman, André Citroën was determined that economic depression and a contracting car market would not prevent him introducing a revolutionary new model, which he was convinced would ensure the future of his company. It did just that, but not until after Citroën had lost control of his empire when a minor creditor commenced legal proceedings against him. Within two years, new owner Michelin had paid off all of Citroën's debts. Citroën's brainchild, the 7C 'Traction Avant', broke new ground in almost every aspect of production car engineering on its launch in 1934. Unitary construction of the body/chassis, front wheel drive, all-independent suspension sprung by torsion bars, hydraulic brakes, synchromesh transmission and a four-cylinder, overhead-valve, wet-liner engine were all incorporated in the new car at a time when the majority of its rivals employed a separate chassis, cart springs, sidevalve engines and mechanical brakes. This ground-breaking specification would have counted for little had the result not worked in practice, but the Traction soon gained a well deserved reputation for exceptional stability and exemplary handling that endures to this day. The 1.3-litre original was soon superseded by larger-engined versions, the 1.9-litre 11 Legère model being known in Britain from 1938 as the 'Light Fifteen'. Production resumed after WW2 and lasted until 1957, when the Traction Avant was replaced by the equally revolutionary DS. Built just a year before that transition, this is a benchmark example of that model, quite typically finished in a somber black paint scheme, lifted only slightly by pale yellow disc wheels and a single thick waist line. The interior, is again typically simple, comprising grey vinyl seats, with light grey/blue covers and fawn door panel trims. The car has clearly been cosmetically freshened at some stage but that work itself now shows some age also. Generally the car may best be described as tidy and complete, though it has not been run for a number of years until recently and we do advise that pre-cautionary re-commissioning and checking over be completed before returning it to the road. Without reserve
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
