1939 CITROËN Traction 11 BL Cabriolet

No reserve Flagship of one of France’s most emblematic motorcars Highly elegant cabriolet Rare model and attractive estimate No registration title Chassis n° 421015 The Citroën Traction is a mythical car which revolutionized the world of the automobile. It was produced from 1934 to 1957 and came in several generations. The 11 BL model started to leave the production line in 1937 in sedan, coupe and cabriolet versions. It differed from the previous series by a larger body, a rack and pinion steering, an 11 HP engine, a new instrument panel and refined upholstery. The design of the cabriolet is attributed to Jean Daninos, then a young engineer, who will later become the boss and creator of the Facel Vega. To meet André Citroën’s wishes, the cabriolet was to have four seats, but «given the difficulties of lengthening and reinforcing the hull, we had to give up», Daninos explains in his memoirs. At the time, it was also imperative to reuse a maximum of parts from the sedan to limit production costs.  The roadster borrowed front end parts from the sedan and a stern was dug to receive the spider intended to accommodate two young children. This solution also helped to justify the fact that the car can carry four passengers. The last convertible models will be manufactured in 1939: no other model will be assembled after the Second World War. All models taken together, there would remain today approximately 450 convertibles certified as authentic out of the 4,672 produced at the time, as counted by the specialist Olivier de Serres, including the 200 manufactured in the British factory of Slough and the 145 assembled in that of Forest in Brussels. The example in the Anna Lisa collection is authentic as evidenced by its chassis number and the documents in our possession. It is in excellent condition after having benefited from an old restoration of beautiful workmanship. In its off-white color, topped by its grey canvas hood and its tan upholstery, this cabriolet displays an incredible elegance that reminds us that it was already a sought-after model at the time.