1951 - Citroën Traction 15 Six D - Lot 48

Lot 48
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Estimation :
20000 - 30000 EUR
1951 - Citroën Traction 15 Six D - Lot 48
1951 - Citroën Traction 15 Six D Queen of the road French road registration Chassis n°702098 Engine n°MO-101 / PM 07519 Bodywork n°EH09613 - Iconic car and most sought-after D version - Only two owners in almost 35 years - Quality restoration some twenty years ago - 6796 kilometers on the odometer and a few old invoices - Well-maintained, simple service to be scheduled - Attractive presentation and estimate The Citroën Traction, or "7" as it is officially known in reference to its French tax rating, is a car that revolutionized the automotive industry from its launch in 1934. It was a concentrate of the most modern technical solutions of the time, including front-wheel drive, monocoque structure, four-wheel independent suspension and hydraulic brakes. Against this backdrop, the model's development and debut were a little chaotic, but improvements were soon made, reliability improved and a whole range was offered. By 1937, the Traction had become such a success that Citroën was the leading French manufacturer. Nevertheless, competitors such as Ford, with its V8 engine, were having some success at the top end of the market, so in 1938 it was decided to add a six-cylinder engine to the Traction. The birth of the Traction 15 Six was discreet and its look very sober, just as Pierre-Jules Boulanger, then head of the firm with the chevrons, wanted it to look, since he wanted it to resemble an 11. The 15 Six is in fact simply an 11 B body, with no wheelbase changes but a longer hood, to accommodate a smooth, high-performance cast-iron engine with six in-line cylinders, 2.8L displacement and 78 hp. Able to reach a top speed of 135 km/h and average 100 km/h thanks to its exceptional roadholding, the 15 Six was quickly dubbed the "Queen of the Road". It was available in a range of body styles, including cabriolet, not all of which were designed by Flaminio Bertoni, the coachbuilder responsible for other legendary Citroën models such as the 2CV and DS. In the early 15 Sixes, the engine crankshaft turned (to the left) in the opposite direction to the 11 hp block, earning the early models the name "15 G". Re-launched after the Second World War, the engine's direction of rotation was restored (to the right, like the 4-cylinders), and the 15 Six became a D as opposed to a G for cars produced up to May 1947. A number of evolutions, such as straight, massive bumpers in 1950, a domed trunk in 1952, and hydropneumatic rear suspension in 1954 (15 Six H model), would appear over time. Despite its high price, this "Super Traction" was a success, and its career lasted until 1957. The Citroën Traction shown here is a 15 Six from the D series, with straight bumpers and round trunk with visible spare wheel. It was launched in 1951 and has had only two owners since 1990, the last one in the early 2000s. It was the latter, a great connoisseur of the marque, who carried out a complete restoration between 2000 and 2002, in accordance with the rules of the art. The quality of the work carried out is all the more perceptible today, as the car simply displays a slight patina that is perfectly coherent and homogeneous, despite the fact that he has used it regularly, covering several tens of thousands of kilometers on board. The car appears to be in good working order, although a service check is recommended for a car with 6796 kms on the clock, sold without an up-to-date MOT. Black in color with gray mohair velvet upholstery, its classic configuration is particularly enhanced by its excellent state of presentation, with bright paintwork, impeccable adjustments and shiny chrome. In addition to the car's overall condition, which speaks for itself in terms of its authenticity and the attention it has received over the years, a small folder of invoices accompanies it. This Traction 15 Six is unquestionably a worthy representative of André Citroën's masterpiece, in its most luxurious six-cylinder variant and in its D version, probably the most sought-after, as it is more reliable than the prestigious but capricious oleopneumatic (H). A choice piece that will enrich any collection with its heritage symbolizing the automotive elegance of the 1930s and French automotive know-how.
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