ixo-MODELS
Series – Junior
CIX000044 – CITROEN Traction 11
1958 TAXI Madrid (Spain)
Die Cast
Scale 1:43
Retails for $22.00
Released 2006
Condition Stock as issued
ixo advertised this model as 1958, however production of Citroen Traction stoped in 1957. It could be that 1957 or previous years car(s) entered into taxi service in Madrid in 1958?
CITROEN “C” Traction Avant
In 1934 famous French manufacturer started production of their “C” type that is better known as Traction Avant a French for “frontal traction”. This legendary car was in production from 1934 to 1957 with approximately 760,000 cars of all variants were sold. It was designed by Andre Lefebvre and Flamingo Bertone in 1933 –early 1934 and it was the first mass produced front wheel drive car in the world. Please note that Cord produced FWD before Citroen but production was in very low numbers. Citroen Traction introduced arc-welded monocoque frame or unibody, that allows achieving lighter weight compare to traditional for the time body-on-frame design and lower center of gravity and it also contributed for special appearance of the car. For the time it was a revolutionary technology for car industry and for a long time many didn’t believe that such design could provide adequate body strength. Now practically all cars with exception of only large size cars, SUV and pickups, have unibody construction. The car has very advance for the time suspension including independent front suspension. The design also had a transmission located ahead of differential and front axle and the engine behind it. All of these contributed to the car’s advance handling characteristics. Due to the unibody, front wheeldrive and special layout of gear shift mechanism, pendant pedals and handbradke control the car has very spacious interior.
The original model 7A was powered by 1.3L l4 engine by it was replaced in 1934, very soon after the car entered into production, with 7B & 7C models that had more powerful 1529 and 1628 cc l4 engines. Based on French fiscal tax horsepower rating “CV” later models equipped with a four-cylinder 1911 cc engine was designated as 11 CV and one with six-cylinder 2867 cc as 15CV. Due to its unibody construction and advance suspension type the car was much lighter than other car of the time. It was capable of 100 km/h or 62mph that considered very fast for the era. In addition it had very low gas consumption using only 10 liter per 100 km (24 mpg). Fast speed, good handling and low gas consumption made this car very popular with Police force.
Traction 11 was built in two versions as “L” – light that had same size as 7 models and normal 11 that had a longer wheelbase. Most Citroen Traction was produced as 4-door body but it was also available as 2-door coupe, convertible and with an extended body length. In 1939 Citroen introduced a hatchback –type “Commerciale” that was well ahead of its time. Production was suspended during the war but in 1954 it was reintroduced with one-piece tophinged tailgate. Same number of other prototypes was produced but never entered production.
In 1954 Citroen introduced hydropneumatic self-leveling, high-adjustable suspension that was fitted to the rear wheels. This experimental suspension was installed on limited numbers of 15 CV that were designated as 15H. The hydropneumatic suspension in fact these cars were a field trial for the legendary Citroen DS that was introduced on the Paris Auto Show on the following year.
Citroen Traction was built in Paris, Forest, Belgium, almost two thousand were built in Germany and right-hand drive cars were built in Slough, United Kingdom. Car made in UK were somewhat different, they had 12V electrical system, had distinctive radiator grille and different bumpers, they were equipped with popular in UK wooden dashboards and leather seats and some models were equipped with sliding sunroof. UK produced approximately 26,400 cars.
This car can be seeing in many movies about WW II were French Resistance fighters or Gestapo agents driving in it. It also was featured in many spy movies, for example in James Bond “From Russia With Love”.
The Citroen Traction Avant is a legendry car that influenced car design development and evolution in many ways and thus secured its place in car history. As a die-cast car models collector I would say no serious car collection is completed without a model of Citroen Traction.
