From The Classifieds: 1951 Citroen Traction Avant
Even before the radical DS model was introduced in 1955, Citroën was a bold technology leader. No other cars from the mid-1930s were quite like the front-drive Traction Avant.Its proportions were unlike just about any other four-door sedan on the market: it was longer, wider and lower in a way that changed perceptions of what a passenger car should look like, and it perplexed its competitors by shooting a few technological salvos across their bows.
The conventional rear-drive configuration, or the concept of bolting the body onto a ladder frame chassis, or making do with live axles was not for Citroën: the Traction Avant was front-wheel drive, used unitary construction and utilised torsion beams as the suspension medium for the independent wishbone front suspension and the beam-axle rear.
All these features not only imbued the low-slung Citroën with rakish, low-slung style, they also contributed to weight reduction, which helped not only in performance and fuel economy, but also gave the Traction Avant higher levels of on-road security than most other cars of its time.
Standing the test of time
The concept was good enough to keep the front-drive Citroën alive for 23 years, in numerous guises using four and six-cylinder engines and including short and long-wheelbase models (there was even a nine-seater), a five-door hatchback, two-door coupe and convertible – and a ute.
Citroën also planned a 3.8-litre V8-engined version but the project was abandoned following the company’s filing for bankruptcy and its takeover by Michelin in the same year the Traction Avant was introduced.
That the Traction Avant remained in production for so long was remarkable. What is also remarkable is that many of the engineering concepts it featured in 1934 remain standard procedure for the bulk of passengers cars produced today.
The four-cylinder 1934 model was only about 100mm shy of today’s Toyota Camry in overall length, was significantly longer in wheelbase (it measured 3086mm, or more than a Holden Commodore) and stood only around 100mm higher. Most notably, its slightly more than 1.1-tonne weight was remarkably low and achieved without the designers needing to recourse to the light-weight technology available today.
No passenger car looked quite like a Citroën Traction Avant in its day and, even by today’s standards, it stands out with its low-slung style.
Owning a piece of history
Among the countries that produced Traction Avants was the UK, where right-hand drive versions were built for local consumption at a plant located in Slough, west of London, as well as being shipped to various markets, including Australia.
And that’s where this 1951 Traction Avant 11BL, on sale through carsales.com.au, originates from.
The 1911cc four-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission Citroën, which currently lives in the Brisbane suburb of Wilston, was given a bare-metal restoration, along with a mechanical rebuild covering engine and transmission, in the mid-2000s. The owner claims it is not possible to find a better example.
A price of $29,000 has been put on the gorgeous burgundy French beauty, which will be sold with a roadworthy certificate, as well as registration through to December 2017.
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