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Citroen Car Clubs
Citroen is a French car manufacturer with a history of design innovation that stretches back to the early 1900’s. The company’s founder Andre Citroen was born in Paris in 1878 and obtained an engineering diploma from the ‘Ecole Polytechnique’ in 1900. Citroen joined the French army and served for 4 years as an engineering officer, during which time he visited Poland and witnessed the use of wooden, double helical gears being used in water driven machinery. He was impressed by the ability of the gears to carry large loads, both quietly and without damaging the wood of which they were made. When Andre Citroen returned to civilian life he created ‘Engrenages Citroen’ and began making steel versions of the gears he had seen in Poland. He also designed the double helical ‘Chevrons’ logo which is still found on Citroens to this day. By 1910 Citroen had built up many contacts in the automotive industry through his gear manufacturing company, these contacts included the French car company ‘Societe Nouvelle Des Automobiles Mors’. The Mors company produced large, high-end models and were suffering due to depression in France. Production fell to just 10 cars per month and Citroen was called in to improve production techniques in the factory. During a trip to the Ford factory in America, Citroen had been amazed by the production line system being used and quickly set out to mirror these techniques for Mors. In a short period the factory was producing over 100 cars per month and Citroen had helped to develop one of Europe’s finest mass producing factories. During World War I Citroen used government backing to build a huge munitions factory capable of making 35,000 shells a day using a similar production system and by the end of the war he used his new factory to start building cars. In 1919 the company had become ‘S.A Andre Citroen’ and the ‘Model A’ was launched. Due to a market leading price and many standard features including electric lighting and starting, a soft top roof and a spare wheel, the model was a great success. By 1921 Citroen was building 20,000 cars a year, this was more than Peugeot and Renault could manage between them. The ‘Model B’ soon followed but an even greater success was the 1922 ‘Model C’, a much smaller car aimed largely at the female market, which would go on to sell 88,000 units in just four years of production. During the 1930’s Citroen, like many companies, was hit by worldwide recession and by 1933 the company was taken over by one of its creditors, Edouard Michelin of the Michelin tyre company. Andre Citroen was forced to retire and died in 1935. Under Michelin ownership Citroen developed the famous ‘Traction Avant’ series which featured Front Wheel Drive and Torsion Bar suspension giving the models a distinct advantage over their rivals. The ‘11CV’ was available in various body styles and remained in production until 1957. In 1949 the ‘2CV’ was launched and went on to be a worldwide cult classic. Another notable model was the ‘DS19’ or ‘Goddess’ which was launched in 1955 and featured adjustable hydraulic suspension. Michelin sold Citroen to Peugeot in 1973 and throughout the 80’s and 90’s many Citroen models were simply re-engineered Peugeots. Today Citroen offers a wide range of models including the ‘C3’, ‘C4’ and ‘C5’ as well as the popular ‘Picasso’ MPV range. Citroen owners and enthusiasts can join one of the car clubs listed in this directory including the Citroen Car Club, the Traction Owners Club car club and the Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain car clubs. |
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| Just Car Clubs Great Hucklow
, Derbyshire, SK17 8RG, United Kingdom - Show map - Tel: 01433 639095 Email: justcarclubs@global7.co.uk Copyright �© Just Car Clubs 2012. Directory Software and Car Covers by global7.co.uk. |