Tuesday, 16 May 2006 13:37
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Citroën Traction Avant Type 7C

Written by  J-P Bush
The Citroën Traction Avant was the world’s first unibody front-wheel-drive car. They were made 1934 to 1957. Approximately 760,000 units were produced. Traction Avant, which translates as "front wheel drive", is not the official name. The car was named according to the French fiscal horsepower rating, or CV, used to determine annual car tax levels. However, manufacturers did not change the model name every time a change of engine size caused a change in fiscal horsepower. In 1934, Citroën introduced the type 7, unofficially the 7A. They continued calling the car 7 when the 7B model's larger engine pushed it into the 9 CV tax band.  
  • The 7B was replaced by the 7C halfway through 1935. Fitted with a new 1 628cm3 engine developing 36 bhp and telescopic as opposed to friction dampers, it was available in berline, faux cabriolet and cabriolet body styles. In June 1940 the German Army invaded and occupied Northern France. The war years were characterised by a desperate shortage of raw materials for civilian industry. For the Traction Avant, the last "normal" year in terms of production levels was 1939, and 8,120 of the 7C model were produced. This tumbled to 1,133 in 1940, which was the first year when the plant suffered serious bomb damage – on this occasion caused by a German air attack – on 3 June 1940. Production of the cars was suspended in June 1941; by then a further 154 had been produced in the previous six-month period. The 7C would continue to appear in Citroën price-lists until March 1944, but production of this smaller engined 7CV was not resumed after the war.                                                                            
  • Technical specifications of the Traction Avant 7C:  4-cylinder 1628 cc (72x100) engine 36 hp at 3,800 rpm 9CV. Overhead valves and rocker arms. Horizontal Solex Solex 30 or 30 THD with thermostarter advances to automatic ignition. Water cooling, with pump and fan. Single-plate dry clutch. Three-speed gearbox of which first and second gear synchronized. Gemer box steering. Hydraulic system brakes with drums on all four wheels, Front and rear torsion bar suspension. Dimensions 4.45 x 1.64. Wheelbase 2.91, front track 1.34, rear 1.33. Weight 1025 kg, Maximum speed 100 km/h, consumption 9 litres per 100 km, at 95 km/h. Michelin "Pilot" 155 x 400 (since 1938)












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