Citroën - 11BL Cabriolet - 1939
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Description from the seller
We present one of the few remaining original Citroën 11BL Cabriolet units in excellent condition.
Vehicle history:
The car was inspected by Olivier De Serres in December 2021, according to his notes:
Cabriolet Traction 1938
"This car appears in my records and has been known since the late 1970s. It stayed in the Île-de-France region with Mr. Jean Raymond Lemelle, in its original state. It was then purchased in the early 1980s by Mr. Lafond, a dealer in classic cars. It was then restored at great expense and shown at the Rétromobile show in 1983 or 1984, on stands with mirrors underneath to admire the work done by the coachbuilder. It was sold in 1986 or 1987 to Italy where it disappears from sight. It remains dormant within the Anna Lisa collection for several years and now resurfaces with a beautiful patina of an old restoration. The identification number 421015 corresponds in the sequence to a December 1938 number. The numbering is partially illegible/re-stamped. The body is indeed a cabriolet body, with its specific reinforcements."
We have also contacted the Citroën Conservatoire to obtain an authenticity certificate for this cabriolet.
According to their research, the serial number (421015) does indeed correspond to a Traction cabriolet from 14/12/1938.
The hull number, meanwhile, is indeed a 7C sedan number.
In these circumstances, the Citroën Conservatoire will not issue an authenticity certificate.
In December 2021 the car was auctioned and a restoration focused mainly on the mechanical part has been carried out, with the following current results:
BODYWORK & PAINT:
The bodywork’s state in terms of rust, corrosion or past impacts is immaculate; there is not a single sign of rust, the floor is sound, the wheel arches, rear fenders… everything is sound and in excellent condition. Its exterior state is the same as seen by Olivier de Serres on his visit to the vehicle, although the entire bodywork has been polished, all small wear details addressed, wheels painted… an incredible detailing job, the car looks freshly painted, yet retains the patina of more than 20 years of paint with practically imperceptible signs, some small touches have been concealed and must be looked at very closely to appreciate.
MECHANICS:
All mechanicals have been completely rebuilt, finishing the work in March 2025 with invoices and photos of the process.
The engine has been fully rebuilt, sleeves, pistons, crankshaft grinding, 4 new connecting rods and rod bushings, water pump…
A new copper radiator with greater cooling capacity has been installed, thanks to the copper honeycomb radiator and fluid capacity.
Cylinder head repaired, seats of the valves changed, valve guides… carburetor repaired and new ignition.
All joints new, seals, dust guards, full exhaust system, diaphragm clutch, 12V conversion with alternator (we still keep the original dynamo).
The gearbox works perfectly, gears shift smoothly and do not grind, there are no oil leaks since the dual-lip seal system was installed on the crankshaft.
The 4 wheels are new Michelin 165x400.
All brakes are new: cylinders, master pump, brake shoes, drum resurfacing, new bearings, dust guards…
Mechanically the car is perfect, all new and with only 100 km driven to fine-tune its operation, it can cover any distance.
INTERIOR:
The seats are beige leather, to match the color of the vehicle. Door panels in beige leather, trim in leather… The thick-nub carpet is beautiful, with a border matching the upholstery. The hood is new, custom-made. We also have the cover for the hood. It closes perfectly although it requires skill to put on.
The rear seat is also upholstered in beige leather and matching carpet.
DOCUMENTATION:
It still retains its old license plate from when the vehicle was exhibited in the Anne Lise collection.
We currently have an authenticity certificate from FFVE.
We have obtained the history from Nice archives where we know its license plate in 1959 and 1963 and we confirm that it is a true Cabriolet.
Favorable Controle Technique
If you wish, we can assist with transportation, and we even have our own trailer to deliver it at a reasonable price.
Thank you very much for your bid.
We present one of the few remaining original Citroën 11BL Cabriolet units in excellent condition.
Vehicle history:
The car was inspected by Olivier De Serres in December 2021, according to his notes:
Cabriolet Traction 1938
"This car appears in my records and has been known since the late 1970s. It stayed in the Île-de-France region with Mr. Jean Raymond Lemelle, in its original state. It was then purchased in the early 1980s by Mr. Lafond, a dealer in classic cars. It was then restored at great expense and shown at the Rétromobile show in 1983 or 1984, on stands with mirrors underneath to admire the work done by the coachbuilder. It was sold in 1986 or 1987 to Italy where it disappears from sight. It remains dormant within the Anna Lisa collection for several years and now resurfaces with a beautiful patina of an old restoration. The identification number 421015 corresponds in the sequence to a December 1938 number. The numbering is partially illegible/re-stamped. The body is indeed a cabriolet body, with its specific reinforcements."
We have also contacted the Citroën Conservatoire to obtain an authenticity certificate for this cabriolet.
According to their research, the serial number (421015) does indeed correspond to a Traction cabriolet from 14/12/1938.
The hull number, meanwhile, is indeed a 7C sedan number.
In these circumstances, the Citroën Conservatoire will not issue an authenticity certificate.
In December 2021 the car was auctioned and a restoration focused mainly on the mechanical part has been carried out, with the following current results:
BODYWORK & PAINT:
The bodywork’s state in terms of rust, corrosion or past impacts is immaculate; there is not a single sign of rust, the floor is sound, the wheel arches, rear fenders… everything is sound and in excellent condition. Its exterior state is the same as seen by Olivier de Serres on his visit to the vehicle, although the entire bodywork has been polished, all small wear details addressed, wheels painted… an incredible detailing job, the car looks freshly painted, yet retains the patina of more than 20 years of paint with practically imperceptible signs, some small touches have been concealed and must be looked at very closely to appreciate.
MECHANICS:
All mechanicals have been completely rebuilt, finishing the work in March 2025 with invoices and photos of the process.
The engine has been fully rebuilt, sleeves, pistons, crankshaft grinding, 4 new connecting rods and rod bushings, water pump…
A new copper radiator with greater cooling capacity has been installed, thanks to the copper honeycomb radiator and fluid capacity.
Cylinder head repaired, seats of the valves changed, valve guides… carburetor repaired and new ignition.
All joints new, seals, dust guards, full exhaust system, diaphragm clutch, 12V conversion with alternator (we still keep the original dynamo).
The gearbox works perfectly, gears shift smoothly and do not grind, there are no oil leaks since the dual-lip seal system was installed on the crankshaft.
The 4 wheels are new Michelin 165x400.
All brakes are new: cylinders, master pump, brake shoes, drum resurfacing, new bearings, dust guards…
Mechanically the car is perfect, all new and with only 100 km driven to fine-tune its operation, it can cover any distance.
INTERIOR:
The seats are beige leather, to match the color of the vehicle. Door panels in beige leather, trim in leather… The thick-nub carpet is beautiful, with a border matching the upholstery. The hood is new, custom-made. We also have the cover for the hood. It closes perfectly although it requires skill to put on.
The rear seat is also upholstered in beige leather and matching carpet.
DOCUMENTATION:
It still retains its old license plate from when the vehicle was exhibited in the Anne Lise collection.
We currently have an authenticity certificate from FFVE.
We have obtained the history from Nice archives where we know its license plate in 1959 and 1963 and we confirm that it is a true Cabriolet.
Favorable Controle Technique
If you wish, we can assist with transportation, and we even have our own trailer to deliver it at a reasonable price.
Thank you very much for your bid.
Details
Brand
Citroën
Model type
11BL Cabriolet
Year
1939
Located in
France
Mileage reading
1587 km
Registration papers
with French registration
Transmission
Manual
Fuel
Petrol
Colour
Beige
Horse power
11
Cubic capacity
1911
Matching numbers
Yes
Matching colours
Unknown
Service book/history
No
Valid MOT
Yes
Date until valid MOT
October 29, 2027
CoC (Certificate of Conformity) present
No
Certificate available
No
Chassis number
421015
Condition (Paint & body)
Very Good: minor chips or scratches, minor conventional body and paintwork
Condition (Interior)
Excellent: no missing, broken, or damaged parts that require replacement
Condition (Frame & underbody)
Very Good: frame/structure is in a well preserved condition, minor signs of usage/wear
Condition (Mechanical)
Excellent: mechanically sound, no work to be done, no leaks, no service needed
Condition (Overall)
Very good condition: minimal signs of wear
Vehicle registration
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Catawiki always aims to offer you the best possible buying experience. Our experts virtually review and select every vehicle in line with our submission guidelines and we require our sellers to provide the most accurate description of the vehicle. However, providing a fully detailed analysis of the vehicle is extremely difficult, and close to impossible. To guide you, we ask our sellers to provide information about the vehicle’s condition. Please consider that most vehicles for sale are classic vehicles and they often already have a whole life behind them, meaning that even a condition 1 or 2 vehicle might need maintenance to be ready for the road. It is advised to carefully read our submission guidelines that further describe details about the condition grades and types to manage your expectations. Cars are sold “as is”, meaning as described and in the condition they are in at the time of the sale and without any representation, warranty or assumption of liability of any kind as to the condition by Catawiki or by the seller. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from yours, your local garage, or the dealer’s opinion. This does not automatically mean the car does not conform to its description. Before bidding, please check your local legislation regarding vehicle registration. Neither the seller nor Catawiki is responsible for the registration of the vehicle in your country and will not accept a cancellation for your failure to register the vehicle. We also recommend that, if possible, you arrange a viewing with the seller before placing a bid.
Catawiki always aims to offer you the best possible buying experience. Our experts virtually review and select every vehicle in line with our submission guidelines and we require our sellers to provide the most accurate description of the vehicle. However, providing a fully detailed analysis of the vehicle is extremely difficult, and close to impossible. To guide you, we ask our sellers to provide information about the vehicle’s condition. Please consider that most vehicles for sale are classic vehicles and they often already have a whole life behind them, meaning that even a condition 1 or 2 vehicle might need maintenance to be ready for the road. It is advised to carefully read our submission guidelines that further describe details about the condition grades and types to manage your expectations. Cars are sold “as is”, meaning as described and in the condition they are in at the time of the sale and without any representation, warranty or assumption of liability of any kind as to the condition by Catawiki or by the seller. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from yours, your local garage, or the dealer’s opinion. This does not automatically mean the car does not conform to its description. Before bidding, please check your local legislation regarding vehicle registration. Neither the seller nor Catawiki is responsible for the registration of the vehicle in your country and will not accept a cancellation for your failure to register the vehicle. We also recommend that, if possible, you arrange a viewing with the seller before placing a bid.
