The Citroën Traction Avant was manufactured from 1934 to 1957, having been designed by Andre Lefebvre and Flaminio Bertoni in late 1933. The Traction Avant - meaning 'front-wheel drive' - was the world's first front-wheel drive steel monocoque production car and successfully pioneered front-wheel drive on the European mass car market. This method of construction was viewed with great suspicion in many quarters, with doubts about its strength, an unusual type of crash test was conceived taking the form of driving the car off a cliff to demonstrate its strength. Left hand drive versions were built in Paris, Belgium and Denmark, and right hand drive cars were built in Slough.

This example rolled off the Paris production line in 1953, a healthy way through the Traction's production run. First registered in the UK in 1992, the car has had four previous keepers, during which time it has been restored; our vendor advises us that the car has 'no significant rust'. The engine has been upgraded to the later, more powerful, 1955 version, and, in a recent service, been treated to new exhaust supports and wheel bearing replacements. Other recent work includes new Blockley tyres and inner tubes, stainless steel wiper arms and classic blades, chrome-plated bonnet hinge, new indicator and rear light lenses, stainless steel door mirror brackets and mirrors. For added practicality, this Traction is fitted with a 12-volt battery conversion with isolator, thermostatically-controlled electric radiator fan, new alternator and ignition coil, distributor and leads, electric fuel pump, windscreen washers, headlamp flasher stalk, and USB sockets. Overall, this is a great example of a French cult classic - all the best are - presented with lots of hard work already done, meaning its new keeper can simply drive it away. Consigned by Charlie McCreery

Guide Price £7,000-£12,000

Lot details
Year: 1955
Make: Citroën
Model: Traction Avant 11BL
Registration: VSK 140
Chassis No: 620617
Odometer: 65,004 km

* French left hand drive
* Low owners
* Lots of recent maintenance