Cars

André Citroën introduced his first car to the public in 1919, and within two weeks received 16,000 orders for the Type a 10CV. The company steadily grew through the 1930s, and André Citroën became infatuated with front wheel drive automobiles and began developing a mental picture of the next car his factory would produce. 

The Citroën Ami 8 was presented to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1969. The Ami 8 was far more conventional in appearance than the Ami 6 that it replaced. The reverse-rake rear window of the 6 was replaced by a fastback and the front end got a smoother look.

André Citroën, the founder of Citroën, was first and foremost a communicator. To promote the brand’s products and image, he decided to take Citroën vehicles to the furthest reaches of the globe–from the heart of Africa with its immense stretches of desert to the untamed tracks of Asia.

During the German occupation of France in World War II, gasoline was scarce, expensive, and often unavailable. Several companies offered systems for a vehicle to be powered by alternative fuels such as wood, coal, or charcoal. This car has been converted by Fap Elgazo Tarbes to run on coal. Adaptions were necessary to alter the vehicle from gas power to coal burner.

The Citroën BX was launched with much fanfare on September 23, 1982, at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. It became available to the public in 1983 with many different models being introduced. 

The Citroën D series was the sensation of the 1955 Paris Auto Show. With its advanced hydropnuematic suspension and leading edge styling, the D series was an instant success. The D series was made in the standard sedan style and in the wagon style you see here. This style is commonly referred to as the “break” or “safari.” The D series was first produced with a 1.9 liter engine which was increased to 2.3 liters by the time the car ceased production in 1975. The custom paint job on this car was created by a prior owner’s son who was living in Australia as a show of patriotism in the wake of the September 11, 2001 act of terrorism.