Traction Avant ‘Light 15’

Рет қаралды 7,150

Жыл бұрын

A foray into unknown territory! Driving Spirit commence the restoration of one of motoring’s great milestones, the front wheel drive, monocoque, all independent suspension Citroën Light 15.
A little overwhelmed at the responsibility of driving this vehicle, Simon is unusually quiet as he tackles the task.
Therefore expect further video reports as the work unfolds!

Пікірлер: 24

@truthseeker8483 Жыл бұрын

Drives very nicely I see.......not many vintage cars would go so well.

@jebsails2837 6 ай бұрын

From across the pond. Was totally taken with Traction Avant from watching films of the 30's and 40's ( possibly the Cross of St. Lorine or Casbah). Good luck on your project. Narragansett Bay

@Birashanuman 10 күн бұрын

If you observe the shutlines a little more closely ,especially around the rear doors in this monocoque structure it will immediately become apparent that the gaps are unseemly ,and indeed not uniform: This is indicative of hull distortion/failure , to which the Traction Avant has been prone since its 1934 inception. This is the result of water accumulation in the curved confines of the boat-like hull, which blocked drainage vents have precipitated : Slough built cars are more prone to this than the French built models, reputedly the result of the British models use of inferior quality steel. This is frequently a contentious and specious argument : Any restoration will perforce entail comprehensive straightening and truing of the shell before reinforcement and repair of the rusted inner structures : Having run 3 of these gems, starting with a 1937 12/8 model , and later Slough built Light 15's of small boot and big boot configuration in the late 1950's and early /mid 1960's , I was well aware of the consequences of weakened hulls ... Priority must be given to restored structural integrity and its visual enhancement before the first spanners are turned on mechanical components ....and don't forget to replace those clunky Light 15 universal joints with later ID19 constant velocity joints : Je vous souhaite 'Bon Chance' !

@captaccordion 9 ай бұрын

I can see aspects of it's British build. I've owned Wolseley 6/90's and the interior door handles look identical, so does the door trim material, and the of course there's all the wood. The passenger wiper knob looks a lot like a Rover P4 freewheel knob too.

@TheLRider Жыл бұрын

So so far ahead of the competition.. Still love Citroën.

@FindingDrivingSpirit Жыл бұрын

Not any more, in my opinion. But in their glory days they were sensational!

@660einzylinder Жыл бұрын

I believe some of the very late cars were fitted with the hydro-pneumatic suspension on the rear, to prove the system in production cars just before the release of the incredible DS.

@FindingDrivingSpirit Жыл бұрын

That’s my understanding too. Some of the last Big Fifteens, I believe.

@lawrencelewis2592 Жыл бұрын

@@FindingDrivingSpirit Only in the 6 cylinder models. They were called the 15/6H. There's a guy in Montreal who has about 14 of them. His Slough 6H was restored by John Gillard.

@josdesouza 15 күн бұрын

No windshield wipers?

@smoore9050 Жыл бұрын

Basil moment,😂 "the were, the war"

@Aucard2Tours 7 ай бұрын

Only the English Traction avant had a wood in the inside on doors and dashboard. The first Citroen to get a little bit of wood in the doors where the CX MK2 top spec models. Some Citroënistes consider the CX to be the really first Citroen to have large pieces of wood inside.

@FindingDrivingSpirit Ай бұрын

Except they weren’t actually wood as such. Just faux wood. But no matter. The CX was a benchmark car for me.

@chrisperyagh Жыл бұрын

Nice to see a video with roads I recognise! Didn't they also offer a hatchback version of the Traction Avant? Can't remember if I read that or dreamt it.

@simonthorpe2199 Жыл бұрын

Hello @Chris P - you're right, the long-wheelbase Commerciale had a liftback tailgate.

@chrisperyagh Жыл бұрын

Just out of interest, do you know if replacement CV joints are easily available for them?

@simonthorpe2199 Жыл бұрын

@@chrisperyagh sorry I don't, but a brief online search turned up a UK owners' club with a spares service, and (if you don't mind paying import duty) a vendor in Germany with what looks like a huge selection of parts. Looking forward to seeing how this resto goes. Best wishes, Simon.

@chrisperyagh Жыл бұрын

@@simonthorpe2199 I should be getting a LHD 11BL at some point. It's my dad's one which I've only driven a couple of times back in the early '00s, then it went to France where it's been ever since. He's had it converted to 12v and with an alternator fitted. I've got a pretty good idea of whereabouts you are (just off Water Lane), so once I get it, I'll bring it over if you like.