Citroen legacy on display at Le Conservatoire

Le Conservatoire Citroen is a Parisian museum housing over 300 cars, concepts, commercials and special interest vehicles that have flown the flag for the double-chevron brand since 1919.

Established in 2001, the building is outwardly unremarkable; it lacks the soaring splendour and open, modernistic style of the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart. But within the 6500m² facility is a treasure trove of vehicles and memorabilia – and up to 4300 visitors a year can testify to that.

Two weeks ago a contingent of Australian journalists in France to drive the C4 Cactus enjoyed a brief tour of the premises. We were fortunate enough to drive three iconic models from Citroen's past: a 1990 2CV, a 1970 GS and a 1970 SM. The 2CV, with its tiny little engine and rifle-bolt gear shift is a shock to the system. Featuring a four-cylinder boxer motor driving the front wheels, the GS was an early rival for Subaru. And the SM was a highly complex, Maserati V6-engined coupe with very direct steering and an incredibly sensitive brake pedal that takes some time to appreciate and use properly.

Paying visitors, as opposed to Aussie journalists, won't get the chance to drive any of Citroen's heritage models, but the Conservatoire remains a fascinating place to visit. Suffice to say, an hour or so is just not enough to take in the legacy of the Citroen brand. Company founder Andre Citroen was an early admirer of Henry Ford's mass production techniques, including the moving assembly line. Citroen adopted Ford's techniques for his own company and began producing cars from 1919, the year after the First World War ended.

Citroen, the company, soon established a reputation for finding innovative technical solutions and leading the industry from the front. With its pre-war (Second World War) Traction Avant – a favourite of current Citroen CEO, Linda Jackson – the company introduced the mass market to monocoque designs. The Conservatoire features an example with the rear-facing engine and front end separated from the unitary-construction body, the Traction Avant being a front-wheel drive model, as the name indicates.

Just before the Germans invaded France in 1940, Citroen had been working on a new car that would be affordable to purchase and cheap to run. Prototypes of the 2CV, the French equivalent to Germany's Volkswagen, went into hiding when the Germans attacked. After the war concluded, Citroen placed the 2CV in production. The car was a favourite and remained in production until as late as 1990.

In the mid-1950s, Citroen introduced the highly advanced DS model, which offered what was a very slippery drag coefficient in its day, and the sophisticated (and occasionally unreliable) hydro-pneumatic suspension.

It's clear from walking through the Conservatoire where the curator's sentiments lie. There are 2CVs by the dozen on display – some in mundane, road-going trim, others wearing motor sport warpaint. But in contrast, there was just one Saxo present.

The DS is a popular model in the Conservatoire, with the standard sedans joined by a wagon and a cabriolet.

In the main reception area, the Conservatoire has a range of merchandise, including history books concerning the marque. But an odd but perhaps excusable omission is the lack of anything to mark the win by a Citroen DS driven by an Australian crew in the 1974 London to Munich World Cup Rally.

Quelle horreur!