CITROEN DS - HISTORY: 1/3
There are 75 years the interesting and colorful history of automotive Citro n began Citro n presented in 1934, the first cars drive the front wheels and started a revolution in automobile production.
Andr Citro n was born in 1878. A student successfully, he attended the Polytechnic School in Paris and worked for a time with the car company Mors In 1905, at the age of 27, he founded his first company, Andr Citro n Co., which was changed Soci t Gears Citro n Citro n Cog factory in 1913 also in 1913, Citro n founded another company to take advantage of a patent he had regarding carburettors This company was located aujourd 'hui Quai Javel Quai Andr Citro n in Paris at the beginning of his career, Citro entries impressed by the production methods of Henry Ford introduced the use of the assembly line in 1908 for the Ford model T in Citro n US realized it had to analyze the methods of production and that it had to be divided into simple logical steps to calculate the industrial production of an item mathematically.
With the outbreak of the First World War, Andr Citro n received a commission in 1915 to produce 7,500 75mm grenades - good work for a small business na Citro could convince the French Ministry of Defense that could provide amounts much larger with industrial production the company grew rapidly and in 1918 he held 80,000 square meters quai de Javel in Paris where, in 1914, there was still garden allowances 12,000 people were occupied producing grenades atop production reached 20,000 pieces the company has been very progressive in social canteen and a kindergarten were like a dental clinic attendance during the war Citro na started to think about the day after he spoke of building 1000 cars per day at a price that would allow everyone to own one of his cars.
In 1919, the first Citro n auto was produced - type A with a 4-cylinder engine of 1326 cubic cm 10 HP fiscal capacity, it was capable of a top speed of 65 km h was able to order six bodies different styles directly from the factory, at a time when we got the chassis and engine manufacturers and others had completed a bodybuilder of your choice Even the spare wheel and lighting were included in F7,205 the price from June to December 1919, n Citro has produced 2,500 cars in 1920, they had already produced 20200.
Also in 1920, Citro n first half-track autos called half-track testing using Adolphe K patents progresses In impassable regions they were very helpful, and reliability have improved the reputation of Citro n as that automaker half-tracks are not used by the armed forces, in road construction and agriculture, but also by different post offices, the Swiss PTT which equipped their half-track with skis in front .
In 1921, the first Citro n Taxis appeared on the streets of Paris The big news at the Paris Motor Show in October was the 5 hp Type C, a real car for people with 856 cubic cm engine, 60 km h top speed, available as a Torpedo with two seats the car was first available in the summer of 1922 and was sold only in a lemon yellow small car was a hit in 1924, he was presented as three seats on the third seat was in the back in the middle and the passenger put his feet between the front seats This version, called Tr fle Clover Leaf has gained much fame until March 1926, it remained in production with only minor changes - about 90,000 were built and quite a number still exist today.
After B12 1925 B14 was introduced in 1927, driven by a 1538 cubic engine cm with 22 true horsepower This was followed by C4 in 1929 also in 1929, the C6 was introduced - the first six cylinders Citro n 2442 cubic cm, and the first Citro n to reach the 100 km h.
Andr Citro n has been very successful in attracting public attention with advertising campaigns developed in 1922, airplanes wrote the name Citro n in the sky above Paris; in 1925, the name Citro n could be played on the Eiffel Tower 200,000 lightbulbs were necessary and several kilometers of cabling.
17 December 1922-7 January 1923, an expedition Citro n crossed the Sahara desert by automobile for the first time, from Algiers to Timbuktu, a distance of 3200 km, an average of 150 km per day with 10hp B2 half-tracks - a huge effort for the period.
From 28 October to 26 June 1924 1925, a new expedition, the famous Black Croisi re Journey Black crossed the African continent from Algeria through Kenya to the Cape of Good Hope.
On April 4, 1931, the Trust re Yellow Yellow Journey began in Beruit The goal was to reach Beijing with half-tracks like C4 and C6 Between there were deserts, glaciers, mountains and war zones A C4F reached 4,208m and set a world altitude record for cars in the Himalayas, part of the way through, the roads are not passable and cars had to be taken apart, completed and rebuilt after the February 12, 1932 the cars triumphantly reached Beijing.
Since early 1932, the C4 and C6 were equipped floating electric motor was mounted in a new way, using a Chrysler patent The engine was secured with rubber mounts instead of being bolted directly to chassis, eliminating major engine vibrations the first cars using this new engine mounting were recognizeable with a stylized swan before the Citro n double chevrons.
In late 1932, types 8, 10 and 15 followed, called Rosalie after Citro n Rosalie 8 that covered 300,000 kilometers in 134 days with an average of over 93 km h and break not less than 106 world records more tracks similar monitoring and proven reliability of the small Citro n.
Andr Citro n announced its products not only to adults Soon he produced toy cars to capture the attention of children - future clients The first words he wanted them to be able to speak were mom, dad, Citro not.
The first clouds on the horizon Citro n appeared after the Wall Street crash of October 1929 and the ensuing global crisis in 1933, on top of the crisis, Citro n rebuilt factories Quai de Javel completely, in order to have sufficient capacity to produce its new model imminent huge halls were built 6,000 guests were invited to the grand opening recreation is a big challenge for the company in April 1933, he was a strike which served to amplify difficulties cars didn t sell well abroad because of exchange rates and the restrictions introduced some countries against foreign products at the end of 1933, Citro n had so many debts that Michelin had to be called for 'financial aid.
In a short time, the Traction Avant Type 7 was developed - a car that was radically different in all respects to other cars of the uni-body long-standing, front wheel drive, torsion bar suspension, to name features the most important the first plans even called for an automatic transmission with two speeds - a feature that had to be abandoned the most important feature is that the car was about 20 cm lower than his predecessors and contemporaries - with equal space or even inside thanks to the low center of gravity and front wheel drive, front wheel drive has superb handling.
In April 1934, production began - at the beginning of 1303 cubic cm and 32 good enough horses to 95 km h, but many small problems of the same year, much better versions with 1529 cubic cm and 1911 cubic cm for 7S sport - top speed 110 km h were presented the car was then called 11HP and made the traction before name known around the world with only small changes in the production he remained until 1957.
following body styles were offered by the factory Citro n.
called short wheelbase L g re sedan convertible and Worth False-convertible.
12cm wide and 20cm medium wheelbase, called Grand Sedan, Convertible and false convertible.
Same size but more another 20cm wheelbase Int and Family Driving pool.
In 1934, about twelve prototypes famous 8 cylinder front traction were built - the 22cv Three of them were presented to the public at the Paris Salon They serial production has never seen and none of them are known to exist today.
During the same car show, Citro na showed a commercial in which you can see a new Traction Avant pushed over the edge of a high cliff 8m He landed on his nose, is thrown back, lands on nose again, and is on its four wheels after rolling one window is broken, all the doors open and close the car drives off on his own.
At that time, all the weaknesses of the 4-cylinder model were eliminated, but for Andr Citro n it was too late December 21, 1934, the company went bankrupt Andr Citro n died as a poor broken man July 3, 1935.
Under Michelin the company developed more in early 1939, the 11CV Commerciale on the long wheelbase was introduced more importantly, the Traction Avant 15 Six was introduced with a top speed of 130 km h and legendary driving skills Her 2867 cubic cm 6- cylinder with 77 hp gave the Queen of the Road Queen of the road capacities are still quite modern the underworld also liked this special fast car, he was soon known as the gangster limousine Police with 4-cylinder models had great difficulty following their enemies.
During World War II the production has virtually ceased available cars were used by the German occupying forces and the resistance R French After the war, the pre-war models were produced again, but only a range limited was offered cars were still loved by business people, doctors and rich farmers in the years following the Second World war, most pushups were delivered in black and s most people remember Unfortunately, s Convertible and Coup are not built over after the war only a few bodybuilders produce small series or unique objects of open cars in Switzerland are famous companies like Langenthal, Worblaufen and Beutler.
At the Paris Auto Show in 1948, the 2CV was introduced smiling by all, comfortable car 375 cc began a long life in the world.
In 1955, we begin to see the end of the Traction Avant The D esse The Goddess, was introduced and the car world was once again surprised by Citro n It's not the car of tomorrow, it is today's car it's just that all the other cars yesterday was one of the advertising slogans, in fact, it was and continues to be an unusual aerodynamic car - with front-wheel drive, adjustable hydraulic suspension height, power steering, semi-automatic gearbox, we talked about the direction of the wheel securely and more.
However, it took until 25 July 1957 at the latest famous Traction, a 11HP Family, left the production line.
Today, owners and friends of the Traction Avant are united in the clubs of classic cars worldwide Spare parts are played, the meetings take place in Switzerland there must be about 1000 different versions Traction Avant left.
The Citroën history, history, Faux Cabriolet Convertible Sedan.