1951 Citroën Traction Avant – Project Profile

Every classic car is, in some way or another, evocative and captivating. It’s what makes them classics. There are some, however, that really stand head and shoulders above the rest. Classics that even people with no interest or knowledge of such things find themselves engrossed with. Cars like this Citroën Traction Avant for example. It was a revolution in terms of design. It was the first front-wheel drive, monocoque car. This meant Citroën’s designers could make the Traction Avant low and sleek, but also incredibly spacious due to no intruding, separate chassis. Others had made front-wheel drive, of course, but the Traction Avant was the first mass-produced example, and it was even so advanced as to have crash protection integral to its design.

It was also brilliant to drive, with fully independent suspension, good brakes, direct, communicative steering and a comfy interior. You could quite easily use one every day in 2023, they’re that good. And that’s why this week’s project of choice is the 1951 Citroën Traction Avant pictured here. A rare, right-hand drive model, it’s in need of some love, but is by no means a lost cause. This could be your way into Traction Avant ownership, given mint examples are fetching mega money these days. Go on, chuck a bid in!

What is it?

As we touched on above, it’s a 1951 Citroën Traction Avant, thus making it an 11. It’s powered by a four-cylinder, 1.9 litre petrol engine mated to a three-speed manual column change transmission. It was built in now rare right-hand drive configuration, and went off to live in dry South Africa before coming back to the UK in 1964 when it was thought to be owned by a high-ranking British Naval officer. However, it wasn’t UK registered until 1983. It’s complete, it has stacks of paperwork and while it’s not currently a runner, the engine does turn. The car was used a great deal in the UK for pleasure and some club rallies as covered in the vast amount of documentation that comes with the car.

Why is it a project? 

This old Traction has been in dry storage for many, many years. It looks pretty darn solid though, and while it is showing its age, it’s all complete, present and correct. It’s a remarkable find in that respect. The car will of course need a complete mechanical overhaul, and probably a re-wire, too. Happily though, the body and glass all look decent, though the chrome is obviously in need of refurbishment, as is the interior. It’s still glorious in its unapologetic red, but there is plenty of wear and failed stitching to address. Fundamentally though, there is nothing to say you couldn’t sort the mechanicals out and then enjoy the car complete with its hard-earned patina. It’s what we would do. An ‘oil rag’ restoration as people in heavy knit jumpers call it.

What should you look for? 

Once again, this is a car available on Car & Classic Auctions, meaning we have done all the hard work. So grab a brew and head over to the listing for this 1951 Citroën Traction Avant and pore over all the details, the history and the hundreds of pictures. We’ve been in, around, under, and above this old jalopy, so you can see everything in great detail.

What should you do with it? 

If we were buying it, we would get it running, give it a full overhaul, rewire it and then, well, that would be it. The Traction Avant is a car to drive. With a bit of age and genuine patina to it, it would be a less intimidating prospect to use on the regular. Plus, with a machine polish and some solid graft, it looks like it would shine up a treat. We would have the interior retrimmed, and we’d go nuts there, make it look like new. Palatial and immaculate inside, but honest and with a story to tell on the outside. Perfection.