Citroën - Traction Avant 11BL - 1954

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Characteristic French classic: Citroën Traction Avant 11 BL ('Légère') from 1954 in timeless black
• Powered by the 1,912 cc four-cylinder gasoline engine (56 hp) linked to a manually operated three-speed manual gearbox
• Equipped with a well-kept gray fabric interior with matching headlining and door panels
• Equipped with an active Dutch registration
• Includes extensive VRT appraisal report (class 3, valued at €16,000)

HISTORY/OVERVIEW:

The Citroën Traction Avant is regarded as one of the most groundbreaking and influential automobiles in the history of the European automotive industry. The model was designed by engineer André Lefèbvre and industrial designer/sculptor Flaminio Bertoni and entered serial production in 1934. As one of the first mass-produced passenger cars, the Traction Avant combined front-wheel drive with a self-supporting monocoque body and independent torsion-bar suspension – innovations that would set the standard for modern car manufacturing. The 11 BL (where 'L' stands for 'Légère', i.e., the lighter and more compact body variant) was praised for its excellent handling and comfortable ride. This particular example dates from 1954 and is finished in black lacquer with a gray fabric interior. The vehicle has an active Dutch registration and is accompanied by an extensive appraisal report from 2016.

EXTERIOR:

The bodywork has been restored in the past and is in good condition. The black paint shows light usage and aging marks befitting an age of over 70 years, but retains a well-kept appearance and gloss. The chrome on the distinctive grille, headlights, and trim pieces is in neat and authentic condition.

INTERIOR:

The cabin features stylish gray fabric upholstery. The seats, door panels, and headlining are in a neat, well-preserved condition (as also noted in the accompanying appraisal report). The classic steel dashboard and the original control elements from the 1950s are complete and present.

ENGINE AND MECHANICS:

The vehicle is powered by the proven 1,912 cc four-cylinder gasoline engine with 56 hp, paired with a three-speed manual transmission. The engine starts easily and runs regularly. The car drives well, accelerates smoothly, brakes appropriately, and the transmission shifts without issue.

DOCUMENTS:

The vehicle has a valid original Dutch registration certificate. In addition, there is an extensive VRT appraisal report (drawn up on 16 November 2016 by an acknowledged registered appraiser, with quality class 3 and an appraisal value of €16,000), including photo attachments and inspection reports of the various components.

It is recommended to view the vehicle before making an offer to avoid disappointment. To arrange an appointment, please contact Catawiki. The vehicle can be viewed in Muiderberg, the Netherlands. Bids exclude transport and export, unless otherwise stated. Arranging transport, ownership transfer, and any export documents or registration costs are the responsibility of the purchaser. Worldwide transport can be facilitated upon agreement at favorable rates."} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }