Citroën Traction Avant

For all enthusiasts who can't get past 'la vlies qui rit' in French; Traction Avant stands for front-wheel drive.

Is that so special? Yes, in the 1930s this was the first production car to have that. The Traction Avant is an iconic car, which everyone knows from television. An example is TinTin, or many famous war films. The car lasted no less than 23 years. Its predecessor, the Rosalie, was a real pre-war. The successor to the Traction was the DS, which already reveals more of the contours of a modern car. Then imagine how long this car remained competitive in the car market. Too bad André Citroën only got to see it live. He died in 1935.

André Citroën was seen as the European counterpart to Henry Ford, where he came up with assembly line production, warranty on cars and daycare for the children of staff. A visionary who also loved the flamboyant lifestyle. He gambled away with celebrities, and after the bankruptcy in 1934 André remained the only creator of the Citroën Traction Avant. Michelin took over the helm. Mr. Citroën will always be remembered as a man with a manual, who came up with brilliant ideas. The panache of that time and his ideas can be seen in the greatness of the Avant in automotive history.

Our Citroën Traction Avant is a special one, namely the 6-cylinder version. This car was delivered to the mayor of Evreux. A mayor naturally orders a car full-option, which means two carburetors, and for example mechanisms under the car for changing a wheel without a jack. The car also has a beautiful quillery steering wheel and an air horn. The current owner is the third, and has been the owner of this classic for 25 years. Now she is looking for a new one, which will give her a breath of fresh air.