Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
20th September, 2023 10:00
1950 Citroen Light 15 Traction Avant
Desirable Slough built, RHD example
Estimate
£9, 000 - £11, 000
Registration No: NKX 446
Chassis No: 134160
MOT: Exempt
Desirable Slough built, right-hand drive example
Engine overhauled and dampers/ driveshafts replaced within last 10, 000 miles
Current ownership since 2015
Offered with a history file including buff logbook
Introduced at the April 1934 Paris Salon, the Traction Avant was a technological tour-de-force thanks to its unique combination of a monocoque chassis, front-wheel drive, torsion bar independent suspension, hydraulic brakes, and (from 1936) rack and pinion steering. Powered by a 1911cc four-cylinder OHV engine allied to a manual transmission, the Light 15 versions produced at Citroen's Slough factory boasted wooden dashboards, leather upholstery, and 12-volt electrics.
A desirable Slough built, right-hand drive, ‘small boot’ example, chassis 134160 was manufactured new in 1971 and was supplied new to the United Kingdom, being registered on the 1st of April 1971 and delivered to the first owner on the 8th of that month. In preservation as early as the 1970s, 'NKX 446' was runner-up at the Citroen Car Club's 1973 Malvern Concours and belonged to Tony Crowley of West Sussex for some thirty-five years.
In 2004, the Light 15 was provided with substantial improvement, being entrusted to Traction Renaissance Services of Gloucestershire for various works thereafter including a reconditioned water pump, new rear engine mount, new clutch, and a stainless steel exhaust. Then in 2005, a full engine overhaul (new timing chain/ gears, piston and liner set, conrods, main/ big-end bearings, inlet/ exhaust valves, core plugs, reground crankshaft, machined cylinder head, etc.) was provided, again by Traction Renaissance Services.
Forming part of a private collection before the vendor's purchase, the vendor has owned the Citroen since 2015, and informs us that all the Traction Avant has required during his ownership has been regular servicing. Starting readily and running well during our photography session, the ‘NKX 446’ is offered with a history file that contains original repair manual, instruction book, and spare parts catalogue, a large collection of previous invoices, numerous past MOT certificates (back to 1973), sales literature, a buff logbook, and current V5C document.
