Citroën Traction Avant
Unveiled in 1934, the Citroën Traction Avant was a bold gamble by André Citroën. Designed in record time by engineer André Lefèbvre and sculptor Flaminio Bertoni, it brought together several innovations that transformed the car of its day.
It was one of the first mass-produced cars with front-wheel drive. Its monocoque body, with no separate chassis, made it lower, lighter and stiffer than its rivals. Combined with torsion-bar suspension and hydraulic brakes, it offered remarkable roadholding. Low and elongated, it stood out against the tall, angular cars of its time.
The cost of its development ruined André Citroën, and the company came under Michelin’s control. But the car was a lasting success: produced until 1957, with around 760,000 built, it became the car of Resistance fighters and gangsters alike, and an icon of French cinema.
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