These Citroens were destined to be combined into one until the owner found a less needy restoration project. Consequently, he is selling two 1954 Traction Avants, here on craigslist, with an asking price of just $4500. We have Ross B. to thank for this tip! The two cars are located in Phoenix, Arizona, and in case you have a Traction Avant lying around with parts needs, be advised this seller will not sell parts from his cars. He may have learned that was unwise as a consequence of selling the Familiale’s set of front spindles to a Citroen- afflicted buddy (after these photos were taken). Now, the Familiale must be loaded with a forklift onto a trailer for transport. The Familiale is the long wheelbase version of the Traction Avant, with theoretical seating for nine people – three up front, three in fold-out jump seats just behind the fronts, and three in the rear. Anecdotal evidence indicates that with the middle-row jump seats in place, the front seat occupants didn’t have much legroom.
The Familiale has expansive rear quarter windows, distinguishing it from the Normale. This car does apparently retain its jump seats (they often go missing) but its floors are rusty. The seller planned to cut both cars in half and weld the back half of the Familiale to the front half of the Normale in order to avoid rust repair. This strategy makes me hyperventilate, but maybe it makes more sense than I can envision. The base engine in 1954 was the 1911 cc in-line four-cylinder making about 57 bhp; the seller has disassembled this car’s engine, unfortunately. The shift lever for the three-speed manual transmission is on the dash and the pattern takes some practice, as it’s just about the opposite of what we are all used to. The Traction Avant’s strong suit was its handling. The car utilized monocoque construction, the body was set low, and the suspension components included a torsion bar and wishbone arrangement. The engine layout within the chassis contributed to ideal weight distribution. Front-wheel drive and, after 1936, rack and pinion steering complete the package.
The Normale was manufactured in Belgium rather than France which according to the seller makes it rather rare. It is said to have little rust and the seller suggests it could be restored on its own. No word on its mechanical condition.
Production of the Traction Avant began in 1934, and at that time, its boot was flat to the rear of the car, termed Malle Platte. Complaints by customers who didn’t like the restricted access to the rear and its limited capacity resulted in the Malle Bombe, as you see above. In the marketplace, the flat trunk commands a premium but is also rather rare. These two more accessible cars offer the ambitious Citroen fan a lot to work with, in return for a modest investment.
Not sure where the author saw the shift lever, but here it is. Farm gal like you should be able to figure it out( can’t find ’em, grind ’em)
https://citroenvie.com/desciphering-traction-avant-dashboard-control-knobs/
Got to love the French, so unconventional. If I may add a bit, the name “Familiale” means family, in French, and hence the added seats. How one could possibly think 57 hp would be adequate for a family of 9 ( and grandma ain’t no Twiggy) is beyond me. I mean, we have Chevy Suburbans with 454s for that job. Be a slow ride to church. The word “Normale”, are you ready,,means Normal, and presumably, not for a family, if that’s normal for you.
As with all these, got less interest than mud fence building. I could see if they were running and driving, just for the quirkiness, but to restore one of these so far from its home, I doubt many takers. They sure were cool looking cars, eh?
I’ve always loved the looks of these – like sectioned ’34 Fords. I was in Malta in ’67 and there were a few around as taxis and I wanted to ride in one. Never got the chance. All the ones I saw were taken, so I rode in the horse-drawn carriages instead. I’d hand the driver a double handful of Brit/Maltese funny money and say, “Show me as much of Malta as this buys.” Good times, good times.
So, if somebody was to pony up all the money for this very needy pair, would that make him or her an idiot savant?
These cars were used mostly in City areas in Viet Nam. If you could afford the cost they were a higher end Taxi. Saigon had lots of them. Were I was in the Mekong Delta, not too many! We used mainly military vehicles and our feet. VN 67-68
Yes, I saw a lot of them in and around the Saigon area back in 67-68. Being in the 1099th Medium Boat Co. we were mostly on the river but we did get a chance to go to Saigon sometimes.
Thank you guys for your service!
I own a 1946 “Lite 15” in Capetown South Africa which i am restoring. It is the desirable flat back version with exterior spare tire. I am need of a transmission since mine was disassembled in error. Anyone got one?
Roy,
A friend in England had a light15 about 30 years ago, and at the same time I had a Normale. I was amazed at the difference in the 2 cars, especially the light 15 interior with the walnut facia, Jaeger instruments and leather seating, and If I remember correctly, the bumper assemblies were different from the French and Belgian cars.
I don’t think the gearbox was different from the LHD cars, and the shifter, because it’s in the facia, shouldn’t be any different. But the Traction Owner’s Club members should be able to let you know if there are minor differences.
But Bill, there’s an “A” instead of an “R” for reverse,,what the heck does that mean? And Roman numerals for numbers, I wasn’t paying attention to that in school. I mean, who cared when movies were copyrighted? I can’t find why “A” meant reverse.
Howard,
Using roman numerals for shifting points or the gear numbers was fairly common in Europe. If my memory is still good, even VW speedometers were marked I, II, and III for shifting points. This may have to do with Citroen selling significant numbers of cars in locations that did not use the arabic number system, like southeast Asia and Africa.
As for the letter A instead of R, I haven’t a clue, but I will ask some Traction guys I know.
Backwards in French = Arrière
Share your horror at welding 2 cars into one, here, Michelle. The front end of these cars just unbolts and you can wheel the engine and box out with a trolley jack underneath to balance the box, so apart from being dumb, it would actually be dumber. Floors are flat so welding shouldn´t be that hard.
Donor car may have been built in Belgium but that adds no value and the car is obviously a donor. The flat rear lid was on all tractions from 1934 to 1952, so is not rare, it´s just that the later big boot cars had a better survival rate. A lot of the earlier cars didn´t survive WW2 and the postwar demand took time to build up.
The Familiale is LWB, so not bad for legroom, though folding jump seats are never meant for long distance.
@HowardA is correct, the shift is 100% conventional. Reverse up and left, down below reverse, second up and right with 3rd below, It´s a good change,need to take it slow, no synchro on first (but you don´t need it once under way). Never bump start a Traction, it can all too easily break the box.
@Roy Marson : google “Traction Owners Club” and you will find the best place to start. I think British version Light 15 was built in SA, so the TOC may be able to put you in contact with locall sources.
YEss. Such people should be held in custody and forced to
ride in re-welded car until it breaks again. We had here
such an idiot who had a shop and he used accident cars
to make one from two.
Then later some broke apart as they where driving on the
highway with 120, or something around, KM/h.
In addition to several civil suits for fraud, there were also
charges of intentional body injury and endangering public
road traffic. Irresponsible.
British Citroen Light 15’s were built in Slough, UK, I think.
Solosolo,
You are correct my friend! They are said to have many differences between the UK and the continental versions due to a requirement that a certain percentage of the parts and materials for the total car, had to be of British build or supply. Hence large items like the seats were leather.
There is sometimes confusion between the light 15 and the 15/6, as the light 15 refers to the standard 4 cylinder British HP rating, and the 15/6 refers to the 6 cylinder motor built in France.
Ah! La Traction! The one classic Citroën I have had not any experience with. And maybe the SM. But while visiting France for the first time in 1969, our family visited my godmother in Auvergne. I spotted a Traction in the barn. Other than its wonderful body, I remember most the cows tail shifter sticking out the dash. I said to myself, what the h#%% is that? Being 12 years old and not best French (yet), I left my barnfind alone. Some years later I did move to France and learning more about French cars I did fall in love with the DS. Still love it. But knowing the history of Citroen, the Traction Avant was an incredible car thanks to Andre’s vision. Another small detail, well maybe big, the Traction Commerciale had a full opening hatchback door. Awesome car!
Trying to remember the WW2 movie that had German SS officers being driven around in these, The Great Escape, ? With Prewar looks who would notice. There’s a website for movie prop cars, have to look into it.
Howard A — Backwards in French = arrière
This would be a neat looking car if completely restored ! As for cutting car in half and welding two together to make one. two true stories . a VW Mechanic whose shop was next door to where I worked took two VW bugs one with good front end and one hit in the rear cut them in two welded the halves together drove out out of shop. 1 week later weld broke and he drove it back bent in two. Had 74 escort hit in rear (Remains if rht. rear tail light in front RR wheel .) Ins. co. totaled it sold it for salvage. Some one did same with Escort, it was involved in second wreck. Fl. HP came looking for me as shop never changed title to new buyers. Moral , don’t put two bodies together with welds w/o reinforcement.