Special: a Citroën Traction Avant 22cv V8
Posted on 02-01-2016 to 18:00 by larssb – 10 Comments”
A very simple idea and the concept for the ultimate luxury: a powerful and velvety-smooth V8 in a French toplimousine. That idea already existed in 1934, when the world almost has been improved with the Citroen Traction Avant 22cv V8. But unfortunately…
There are now more intergalactic spaceships, selfless politicians and stunning X6’and then discovered this V8 version of the legendary Traction Avant. Of the 20 built, it is virtually nothing more to find. One of the probably last, original built achtcilinders would the mid fifties have been observed in Vietnam. And for years, rumors that there is still a 22cv V8 would consist in the succession of a French doctor, somewhere in the North of France. Besides diving there are still messages frequently that there are instances in Madagascar, the Soviet Union and in Switzerland would have been seen, but until today there were never authentic 22-ers found. Not even in Rotterdam.
That was on the Parisian motor Show of 1934 or otherwise. In October of that year on the Citroën stand a number of variants of the Traction Avant 22cv with V8 engine: the cabriolet, family and a normal sedan version, as well as a display with a single V8 motor. Also on this go all sorts of rumors. So would the engine cowlings of the exhibited cars are not open have been because there are no engines in the fore ship would lie. Or would Ford V8 engines are mounted. Some rare photos prove the contrary and disprove the rumour that Citroen never a working V8 would have developed: there is indeed a working Citroën V8 engine in the Traction 22. The promise alone…
The rumors about Ford V8 engines come, incidentally, not at all falling from the sky. In the very short development phase for the unveiling at the Salon makes Citroën in at least four TA 22 testauto’s use of a Ford V8. There is simply no time enough to make their own V8 and to build and test for this model. Because only a few days before the Salon gets the Traction Avant with their own V8 a official type approval. Originally, the 22cv standard also can be supplied, in place of the mounted three gears manual gearbox, but it turned out for the technicians impossible in such a short time, the machine is reliable and kinderziekteloos in the Traction assembly. Because the oil in it constantly hot, got this box of the gentlemen in Quartier and Water the nickname “the deep fryer”. Nice, pommes dauphine, but here was just something to tinker with.
The V8 itself is now a lot less, although this revolutionary design completed in record time. Within a few months had André Citroëns men a V8 with unique ohv class construction on the test bench and in a few prototypes built. Contrary to some rumours, was this block consists of two 11cv viercilinders, such as the designation of the 22cv might suggest. The block was completely newly developed and shares very few components with the 11cv. This was Europe’s first production car with achtcilinder to a content of 3.822 cc and was aimed at a power of 100 HP. In practice, that there are ten less, but still a nasty lot for that time. Also this piece of technical ingenuity had initially suffer from serious problems like overheating and excessive oil consumption. But that latter can even the best happen to you: over 80 years of innovation, further and with a competitive edge through technology.
Optimistic and ambitious were in Paris in the same high tempo the motor aanloopmoeilijkheden addressed by modifications to the exhaust and cooling system, the crankshaft and pistons and what all was needed to finally be the best car in the world to build, is intended for the absolute elite of that time. Le meilleur ou rien. Because that had Citroën in mind, this in itself already enormous progressive concept. The most striking were, of course, the unique front wheel drive and monocoque body. But also the independent front suspension was very particular in that time. Not to mention the exceptional design. That design went something further than how we are today, an E-segmenter inflating and aftimmeren with LED festoons.
The futuristic design remained largely intact, but the Traction Avant 22cv was clearly distinguished from its lesser brethren. The most striking were the sleek headlights, integrated in the custom front fenders with below, the car horns behind their own, chrome-plated grilletjes. That if you don’t honk more. I have the slightly wider grill on, with the double chevron behind the bars and the middle bar are proud to present a chrome 8. The bumpers were partially redundant: on top of the normal bumpers were on the ends of additional sections are mounted. Less noticeable was that the wheelbase of 6 cm was larger than that of the Traction Avant 11. The hood was made 12 cm longer and also slightly wider for the V8 to be able to accommodate and had a single door on each side. Another distinctive detail is the single ventilation opening under the windshield, where the other TA’s there are two. Also had the 22 wide chroomstrip under the windows, continuing on the C-style. The interior is not particularly a lot of the lesser powerful Tractions, however, ran the speedometer now up to 160 km/h. Gás!
But that was it. At the end of ‘34 wrong Citroën in serious financial problems and took Michelin, the main creditor, the innovative tent over. And immediately there went out a spanner in the works Citroëns top model, in spite of all the publicity Citroën already had given and the pre-production models already in the showrooms were at some major dealers. Even before it officially even but one copy was sold, let Michelin cars dismantling or terugbouwen to normal Traction Avant 11 models. Rumor says that there may still be some copies out of the sight of Michelin have remained, and are the holy grails where real Citrofielen still are looking for. There is, in any case, one beautiful replica of a instance around, with a Ford V8 ‘34 in the cabin. Nota bene in the Netherlands. It is a fantastic private initiative, in the absence of an authentic copy of this almost mythical Citroën. Personally I dream for years of a subtly patinated Traction Avant restomod with more than four cylinders (I must me now, to be completely justified, just apologise to the purists: pardonnez mon ignorance!), but an original TA 22 V8 I lie awake. It is a terrible shame that Michelin us at the time, these totally unique and highly advanced beauty remember. Their tires are much better than their decisions.
Gallery: Citroën Traction Avant 22cv V8
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