Highlights
- Handsome and well preserved condition
- Interior restoration approximately 4 years ago
- Charming and gentle patina
- Extremely desirable flat boot model
- Desirable pre-war bonnet flaps
The Appeal
Better known as the Traction Avant in its native land, this lovely Citroen was a ground-breaking design when it made its first appearance in 1934. It was to become an integral part of the French landscape for many years, as it enjoyed a long production run all the way up until 1957 - some two years after the launch of the equally advanced ID19 model. RHD variants such as this one were assembled in the Slough plant in Britain, where it was given the name the Light 15. Highly regarded for its excellent handling, and admired over the decades for its dashing good looks, it continues to steal the hearts of onlookers and enthusiasts alike in the modern age.
The example presented here is Slough built, and was exported overseas to South Africa where it has spent pretty much all of its days in the dry and preserving climate, where it was later found in a Barn, completely intact with an extremely well preserved chassis and drivetrain. It would then be recommissioned and treated to an interior restoration, bringing the 15 back to life and out onto the open road once more. To find a vehicle of this age in original exterior condition is extremely rare - classic cars hidden away in South Africa are often like total time capsules thanks to the dry climate.
The History and Paperwork
- Originally registered in 1947
- Built in the British Slough factory (RHD Variant)
- Exported to South Africa, where it would spend its life
- Found abandoned in a barn and subjected to a good recommissioning an interior restoration roughly four years ago
- Republic of South Africa registration documentation
- Brought over to the UK by the current keeper, with all duty and tax paid and registered with the DVLA
- DVLA registration paperwork present
- First UK registered on the 1st of July 2023
- V5C present and correct, ready for transfer of ownership
- Age related plates
- Registered as a historic vehicle making it tax and MOT exempt
- Fitted with front and rear turn indicators to make it road legal
- Recently checked over by a renowned Traction Avant specialist
The Interior
- Handsomely restored while in South Africa
- Red leather upholstery remains in lovely condition with just some dust and debris present in the images
- Both front seats appear to be free from any damage with good stitching throughout, and good piping around the edges
- Rear bench also remains in lovely condition showing some dust and dirt in the images from storage - we’re told these should clean up pretty well! All of the stitching and piping bac here appears well kept too
- Bluemels steering wheel well presented with just some gentle patina showing on the woodwork around the outer rim, and the wire spokes showing their signs of age
- Wooden dashboard panel appears in wonderful condition with no damage to be reported and no delamination or cracking, with all of the switchgear remaining entirely functional with good trim
- Original speedometer with signs of patina across the dial and glass pane in front, with the thin trim piece showing gentle corrosion
- The headlining shows no signs of any of the usual excessive sagging we’re used to, just some small areas lower than others, and all of the stitching lines remain prominent
- Floor carpets sow signs of age however would probably clean up rather well, no damage is noted on the carpets either
- Door cards exhibit some gentle signs of age on the red leather but retain good stitching with no rips or tears on any of the panels, and good brightwork on the handles
The Exterior
- Lovely white paintwork with hints of age throughout
- Bodywork remains in time-capsule condition with no corrosion to be spotted
- At the front, both of the front arches are well preserved with just some sone chips and blemishes in the paintwork
- Both front headlamps are clear and free from any damage with good brightwork trim showing only very minor signs of age
- The central front grill is in lovely shape, with gentle patina on the brightwork outer trim and the odd little dent from stones presenting themselves upon close inspection
- Front bumper bar has good brightwork with some very minor dents noticed on the driver side due to the excellent reflection
- Around to the side of the vehicle all of the bodywork appears straight and true with no damaged panels or misplaced shut lines, everything lines up as you would expect it to
- Some paint imperfections are noticed under the drivers front door and some more chips on the wings
- Pre-war bonnet with flaps present and in good shape for its age, there are some areas of patina and paint imperfections as to be expected
- The car wears very desirable Pilotte wheels, which can easily fetch over £1,000 for a decent set due to suffering from corrosion failure, however this set appears to be in excellent condition thanks to its life in South Africa with just some age related marks and dings
- To the rear everything is as well kept as the rest, with great bodywork free from unwelcome damage
- Some small blemishes in the paint are noticed just above the rear windscreen
- Spare tyre cover is well presented with just some small chips in the paintwork, and a nice brightwork centre
- Rear bumper bar appears lovely with just some small age related marks and blemishes on close inspection
- All rear lights are in good working order and free from any damage
The Mechanics
- 1.9-litre inline-four cylinder petrol engine
- 3-speed manual transmission with a dashboard shifter
- Front-wheel drive configuration
- The keeper tells us that the engine remains in good mechanical health, firing up and coming to a steady idle with no unwelcome noises or uneven firing to be reported
- A new starter motor has been fitted to the vehicle and the spark plug leads appear to be relatively new NGK variants
- Gearbox we’re told also remains in good health with easy confident shifts between gears, and the linkages in the engine bay appear strong and free from excessive play
- The entire vehicle has been checked over by a renowned Traction Avant specialist to ensure it’s up to par and safe for road use
- All of the brakes have been taken off, checked over and cleaned to ensure proper reliable operation
- The owner tells us that the exhaust does have a gasket joint needing replacement, this is the only known issue at present
- Tyres show signs of old age with heavy cracking around the sidewalls and would benefit from being replaced before extended use
Summary
The Light 15 is an extremely handsome and charming automobile in any condition, but to find one with so much originality remaining is quite the needle in a haystack. Not many 70 year old vehicles make it without falling to pieces from rust and misuse, but this example is a proper survivor worthy of the “classic” name tag.
This would make for an outstanding collection piece - you could argue that it wouldn’t look out of place in an automotive museum with its charm and patina showcasing decades of preservation.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
