CITROEN Traction Avant 11B Family 1935-1957 Photos, engines & full specs

Citroen introduced the Traction Avant (Front-wheel drive) on the market in 1934, a car that managed not only to save the French automaker but also remained in production until 1956.

Andre Citroen tried to get the most advanced technologies on the market and put them into a mass-produced vehicle. While the Traction Avant, or TA for short, was not the first front-wheel driven vehicle nor the first with unibody construction, it combined more elements that made it a successful vehicle, although Andre Citroen didn't enjoy that success since he died in 1935.

The German carmaker DKW already proved in 1928 that the cars didn't need a chassis, and the Americans from Cord produced their first front-wheel driven vehicle, but Citroen combined these two elements. In addition, it put them into a vehicle that still resembled the same shape as the cars from that era, with long and curved wheel fenders and a narrower engine compartment. Citroen also installed the gearbox in front of the engine. That led to a very long wheelbase for a car of that size. The tall greenhouse and the four doors allowed an easy ingress and egress. At the back, the sloped bodywork hosted the trunk.

Inside, Citroen went even further with the design and created ample room for both front and rear passengers. Moreover, since there was no transmission tunnel to cross the car, the rear floor was flat. It was a true five-passenger vehicle. At the front, the carmaker installed an in-dash gear stick, which also cleared the floor. The speedometer was in the middle of the dashboard and also incorporated the odometer, the temperature, and a few other gauges, inside the dial.

But the underpinnings of this vehicle was the one that brought its success. The front wheel independent suspension, the rear Panhard-rod type of drivetrain, and the hydraulic brakes led to a pleasant drive for its customers.