The front wheel traction or front wheel drive was first introduced in 1928 in United Kingdom, but it only became popular in 1934, when Citroen released the Traction Avant.
Living Legend edit
Citroen Traction Avant is a living legend. Even more, it can be considered a legend on wheels. Traction Avant is one of the most famous models ever constructed by the famous car builder Citroen. It is not as popular as the legendary DS, but Traction Avant was the first model from Citroen’s portfolio that used the front wheel traction.
Front Wheel Traction edit
However, the Traction Avant was not the first car in the world with this type of traction. There were at least another three models that included this mechanical improvement, the Alvis FWD 1928 (United Kingdom), Cord L29 1929-1932 (USA), and DKW F1 1931 (Germany). Even so, the first model that made history happen was Citroen Traction Avant.
Models edit
Although it is known as Traction Avant, the official name for this car is
- 7CV,
- 11CV
- or 15CV.
The difference stands within the engine. The 7CV model used a 4 cylinder engine with 1.3 liter; 11CV included a 1.9 liter model, while the 15CV has a 6 cylinder engine with 2.9 liter that produced up to 75 HP. The Traction Avant also had three different chassis frames, sedan, coupe and cabriolet.
Second World War edit
Traction Avant, advanced model from a technical view for its time, was produced between 1934 and 1957. The front wheel traction and the independent suspension with the busbar also on the front wheel helped this car became one of the most comfortable models of that time. Citroen Traction Avant was the favorite car of gangsters during the Second World War. The Traction Avant was only the beginning. Its predecessor, DS, succeeded in creating a living legend as well. In the end of its carrier, Citroen released the 15H version. This version of Traction Avant included the hydro pneumatic suspension. This suspension became a signature of Citroen.
Conclusion edit
Traction Avant is not only an important model for Citroen, but also a milestone within the global car history.