I happen to be in France this week and a few days ago was walking down the Boulevard Saint-Michel in Paris when out of the corner of my eye I spied something I never thought I would see in traffic. I was able to snap a couple of pictures just in time.
The light changed as soon as I snapped the first picture but I was able to get the rear view as well. Seeing Perry’s post on the CX made me decide to put these up since it is fairly timely. The grande dame had no problem keeping up with the modern traffic, I kept my eye out for the rest of my walk but did not see her again. C’est la vie!
It’s the bigger “Normale” version as well (Normale is french for “Brougham”). Have been thinking of writing about that. The difference between the Sport and the Normale isn’t only that the Normale is longer, but that it is wider as well. Like they chopped the car in four parts and dragged them out in its corners.
It seems they raised the roof too but kept the windshield the same.
Definitely need a CC on the TA. So many different variations, would love it if you included the commerciale.
All the variations are a bit bewildering. We need a CC Complete Guide to the TA.
The six cylinder 11 is the one I’ll take.
The 6 cylinder model was the 15, like the one shown (2870 cc). The 11 was always a 4 cylinder (1911 cc). There were several versions: Légère (Light), Normale, Familiale, Commerciale. But no six Légère. AGB
That’s what the brain said, but the fingers wrote “11”. A not-uncommon neurological phenomena for me.
‘Normale’ means ‘normal’. To differentiate it from the ‘Legere’ (means ‘light’) which used the old 7CV’s shorter and narrower body dimensions.
None of the above words means Brougham or sport. I’d try a different method of studying French if I were you.
:o)
You’re in France? Cool. And the Traction Avant is such a neat car! I have the Bburago model in 1/24 scale and the Maisto version in 1/18. Amazing that they were built through the mid-’50s, but then, they were so advanced that they could do so.
So, if you find yourself in a Citroen dealership, is there any chance you could snag a brochure for a fellow Curbsider? 😉
They were still in production after the DS was launched advanced in 1934 is putting it mildly.
Tom, if I happen to see one I will stop, but we’re in the south now and I have not seen one nearby. We did stop in the one on the Champs in Paris but there were no books/brochures, just a few concept cars (the Cactus), and Loeb’s current WTCC car along with a bunch of branded stuff for sale.
The Cactus is not a concept (anymore). I’ve got a feeling this will become a success. It’s light, practical, roomy, fuel-efficient and it has a clean (almost simple, in the good sense of the word) interior. And it’s relatively cheap.
Enjoy your stay in France !
Thanks, I will! I should have been more clear, the car in the Champs showroom was in fact labeled as the 2008 Concept Car and obviously nt a production example. Half of the showrooms on the Champs are used as displays for either old or current concept cars, more or less current race cars (or static display versions thereof), and also flagship cars as opposed to the cars that “normal” people would own or shop for. I do agree that the Cactus should do well (at least in France).
By the way, it’s weird reading CC in this “time-shifted” way as you and the other Europeans readers as well as the ones down under read it. CC is obviously on a North American timetable with articles during their day and nothing in the night (your and currently my day).
The next and first CC of this day for you and me will arrive at 13.00….while they are still asleep in the Wild West.
G’day Johannes. Race you to the next CC.
There’s no reason our first post of the day can’t go up a few hours earlier.
That Cactus is an intriguing car; I like it. What an unusual name. It sounds like something Yosemite Sam would drive!
Here’s hoping you find some more cool Gallic CCs while overseas. Thanks Jim!
Great find indeed and such a nice looking car I doubt it is parked on the street. I have only been to Paris, TX so someday I am going to have to get over Paris, France and check out the place.
Going by the dust, it doesn’t get out that much.
I seem to remember a remark on CC (from Paul perhaps?) on the lines of “in France, light panel damage is part of the registration process”, so safe to say that the Mercedes MPV has been properly registered.
My Xsara is designed for Paris push parking you cant damage it by running into it at low speed.
I can’t disagree with that remark except maybe to substitute “light” with “moderate”. And after driving around for a week now, I completely understand it. How people drive large cars here is beyond me but I have seen a couple of Expeditions, a Hummer H2, an ’82 TransAm ( black over gold) and several new Camaros. The small cars often exhibit more damage than the large ones, probably due to total overexuberance or misplaced confidence on the part of the drivers.
American cars Always caused admiration in France “He can afford the fuel”
An SUV, especially a Range Rover was “Il a une maison dans la campagne” He’s got a week end house in the country.
A Hummer? Well I’d better keep my opinion to myself, but the French adore V8’s and gas-guzzlers.
French road tax is paid in the price of the fuel, so that is why they Always tried to manufacture economical running cars.
Like the guy in the early eighties in a 911 Turbo on Place de la Republique, going round and round and round and round…
“a 911 Turbo on Place de la Republique, going round and round and round and round…”
I remember a very similar thing when I visited W. Berlin in the ’80s: some joyriders tearing around a traffic circle surrounding a monument, probably the Victory Column. The car was a convertible, I forget which kind.
I suppose I remember it because I didn’t see much of that kind of frivolity in Germany.
A local classic car rental company has one of these available for hire it is a light 15 like that one but Slough built RHD new.
Nice catch!
One advantage of the Traction is, it’s already lowered for the street-cruiser crowd.
Chouette! Great catch, Jim. Watch out for guns poking out of the windows.
Nice catch!
I recently (well, a few months ago) passed one on the Autobahn. The kids, knowing what a special car this is, really loved to see one in the wild. Right afterwards, we got into a looong construction zone with posted speed limits alternating between 80 and 100 km/h. The TA seemed quite comfortable cruising at 90-110 km/h, and had no problem keeping up, so I got to enjoy the sight of those gigantic headlights in my rearview mirror for quite a while.
Now we put the famed CC effect to the test. If I see TA in Indianapolis today, any lingering doubts in the metaphysical power of this site will be forever erased. 🙂
Trans Am?
There are still a few of these at large as dailyish drivers in London – I probably see one a month, and not always the same one either!
There’s a Ram ProMaster in the first picture. That is, one of its European counterparts. In this case probably the Peugeot or Citroën of the quadruplet.
Look behind the TA on the curb of the first picture, there is a slightly smaller van as well which are all over the place here. There are several brands of the same thing – you know it, Johannes, it’s the one with the slight bump in the roof at the top of the front doors. The back is very square, pretty much like the older, lower, more square Ford Transit of the early 90’s I think. I know there is an Opel version and I think at least one French and maybe even an Italian of this one.
Renault Trafic. I’ve been driving my mate’s around Melbourne while he’s holidaying in France.
Opel Vivano
Renault Trafic
Nissan Primastar
This is a serious contenter of VW’s transporter.
Actually and I speak of experience my company has two, as good as the VW or maybe even better.
A 115 HP DCTI diesel engine and the ride is so good it always makes me wonder why I still drive a normal car.
Here’s a picture of the 2014 model, just launched :
I’m driving the last gen. Transmission is a bit crunchy in lower gear but a surprisingly easy driver.
Opel Vivaro. Second picture on the right, the blue van. Another one ?
I think that’s Opel’s O.
That new one looks good, no more bump in the roof.
French vans are like French cars, they are often suprisingly good and then the warranty runs out ! The tragic residuals and absence of older examples confirms this is not a hunch !
There is good reason none have been sold in the U.S for over twenty years, The few that were sold before made sure of that !!!
Sorry Peter tend to diagree and I own (NOT lease) 6 or 7 vans.
Used to be all DAS Mercedes.
But Sprinter built quality and running costs are disappointing.
A Sprinter IS a Sprinter,it wants to do 100MPH all the time.
I was very very sceptical with our first Renault Master.
But a six-speed, 125 Hp, integrated radio, airco, cruise control, all on the Renault and we often make long hauls.
‘t was approx 1/3 cheaper and better equipped than a Sprinter was.
After 450000 Kilometers it broke because some idiot mechanic fitted a wrong size cambelt set -too narrow-
Running cots, fuel consumption, parts prices driver’s comfort, loading capacity and built quality I can see no reason at all to ever return to Mercedes.
‘t is sooner the opposite : Mercedes smallest Van is built by Renault for 100%
It is my understanding this was Charles de Gaulle’s favorite car. I can understand why.
Back in the late 1970’s our local Alfa Romeo dealer had one of these for sale that my dad test drove. It was from the early 1950’s and was in pretty nice shape. We drove it up and down several two lane roads and it didn’t seem that much slower than our Renault LeCar but it was obviously much, much cooler. My dad didn’t buy it and the dealer sold it pretty quickly unlike most of his used cars that seemed to stick around his lot for years.
Citroen is one of my favorite car companies because of the Traction Avant, the DS and the SM. What company other that Citroen could have built the CX and have it called conservative compared to its predecessors?
Hey, I just noticed the Brassiere Cafe in the background. Wonder what it’s like in there… 🙂
And yes, I know that’s not REALLY the word!
A couple I know has a few TA’s , nice cars I think , I’d love to drive one some time .
-Nate