Pull up a chair, petrolheads – today’s spotlight falls on a truly special classic: a 1951 Citroën Traction Avant, currently on offer via Bonhams’ online sale.
This isn’t just any Traction Avant — it’s an 11CV/Light 15, left-hand drive, with just over 60,000 miles on the clock (96,000 km).
According to Bonhams, this one is “original & highly original” — a rare word combo in this business. Offered as a rolling restoration project, you can arrange a viewing by appointment. That means you could be wrangling that classic dash-mounted gear lever sooner than you think.
The Traction Avant was a game‑changer. Built from 1934 to 1957, with over 759,000 made, it was the world’s first mass‑produced front‑wheel drive car with a semi-monocoque body. Designers André Lefèbvre and Flaminio Bertoni crafted a car that drove like it looked – modern, low, and poised.
You’d be sitting in a surprisingly roomy cabin. Thanks to the dash-mounted three‑speed lever, pendant pedals and bench seats, it felt a bit like driving ahead of its time. Independent suspension and hydraulic brakes meant it cornered and stopped with an agility few of its contemporaries could match.
This 1951 model runs the 1.9‑litre four‑cylinder engine (the 11CV), a robust unit introduced in 1935 after earlier 1.3 and 1.6‑litre versions proved underpowered. With its long-stroke design, low-rev torque, and simple three-speed gearbox, it doesn’t hurry but cruises comfortably at 60mph, with a top speed flirting around 75mph .
Expect character: a slight cam-chain rattle on start-up, heavier steering at low speeds, and the charming quirks that make these cars so much fun. Hagerty UK says they drive like a ’60s classic wrapped in ‘30s skin.
Restoration Scope: What to Look For
Bonhams describe it as a rolling restoration: ready to wander, but begging for attention. That likely means:
- Rust checks: The Traction’s sills, C-pillars, and jambonneaux (front subframe connection points) are notorious corrosion zones
- Gearbox and drivetrain: These originals were known for synchromesh and shaft wear — little rattles could turn into big rebuilds
- Hydraulics and brakes: Though pioneering in their day, keeping those early systems tip-top requires attention.
The Traction Avant is more than a classic — it’s an automotive milestone. Citroën went bust after its debut in 1934, lost to Michelin, and rebounded to perfect this machine. Its engineering shaped future cars: rack-and-pinion steering, front-wheel drive, monocoque body — the blueprint for modern vehicles.
Plus, it’s a cult favourite. In France it earned nicknames like “Reine de la Route,” and became part of wartime lore—used by both Gestapo and Resistance.
If you’re after a project with pedigree, this Traction fits the bill. It’s solid, authentic, and brimming with story. For a resto-savvy mechanic, it’s a canvas, Restore sympathetically, modernise lightly (maybe hydraulic steering), and keep that soulful engine intact. Then drive it on twisty B‑roads, through French lanes or take it to a classic meet. It’s a head-turner.
Bonhams estimates prices ranging roughly from £9,000 to £25,000 depending on condition and model (Light vs. Normale, four vs. six‑cylinder). Given this one’s originality, it might land at the higher end but worth every penny for the right appreciation.
