1953 Citroën Traction Avant Six Familiale

For sale with Historics at Brooklands. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Citroën Traction Avant was manufactured from 1934 to 1957
with about 760. 00 units produced. French for 'front wheel drive'. br/>it was designed by André Lefèbvre and Flaminio Bertoni in late 1933
and was one of the world's first front-wheel drive steel unitary
body frame production car. With a low-slung design relative to
its contemporaries. the Traction Avant always possessed a unique
and often rakish look. The original model was a small saloon with
later models. like the '11' and the '15' following on with bigger
engines. In addition to the four-door body. it was also produced as
a two-door coupé with a rumble seat. as a convertible and as an
extended length Familiale. (Family) model with three rows of seats. br/>seating seven adults in comfort.

This is the largest model of the Citroën Traction Avant range
produced. having the eight-seater bodywork and the six-cylinder
engine. The Familiale body. the world's first factory-produced
stretched limousine. had an extra row of three strapontin seats
that could be folded into a recess in the floor. The extra
length can be seen between the line of the rear door and the curve
of the rear wing. The main market for what are now called 'people
movers' were large families and taxi drivers. As a result. br/>six-cylinder versions were comparatively rare. less than 500 were
built before the war and only 450 afterwards in 1953. Indeed this
car is the only known. running example of a Familiale in the
UK.

Built at Quai de Javel factory in Paris. this Traction Avant
with Gregoire suspension and power steering. was first registered
on 9 th October. 1953. where it was used until the late 60 s. It was
then used in Majorca for some years and eventually imported into
the UK in 1973. It lay unused in a lockup garage for 23 years and
in March 1995. the present owner bought a very dusty and cob-webby
vehicle standing on four flat and useless tyres. He overhauled its
mechanicals and set its systems to work again. Rotten upholstery
was renewed. of course. and some steel repairs were needed for its
Mo T test certificate in 1998. Since being re-mobilised in 1998. the
car has driven an astonishing 40. 00 km 3. 00 of those in one month
of 2002 during a visit to the USA and Canada for the 12 th ICCCR
(International Citroën Car Clubs Rally) and 2. 00 km on a trip to
Gibraltar in 2007. In early 2012 it was given a new coat of paint
and new chrome ready for its 60 th birthday in 2013. Together with a
large supporting history file. this very special Traction Avant has
been well loved in its lifetime and is now ready for its next
enthusiastic custodian.

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