1952 Citroen Traction Avant 11 BL |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1952 Citroen Traction Avant 11 BL

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Mileage~50,728
TransmissionManual
Engine1.9L
LocationStoke Newington

AUCTION CLOSED

1952 Citroen Traction Avant 11 BL

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

The Traction Avant is the original Gallic charmer, technically astute paired to beautiful design.

Citroen's reputation for being one of the world's most technically daring brands started with the Traction Avant in 1934. Notable for its ‘front traction’ drive layout, independent suspension and robust monocoque body, the car was also praised for its superb road holding and intuitive gearbox. Fitted with a variety of power units, the definitive engine is the 1.9-litre which complimented its famed ride and handling. As a post-war example of the Traction Avant, this 1952 is the Type 11 model with the longer wheelbase and a wider track, with the favoured rack and pinion steering.

Imported into the UK directly by its owner thirty years ago, she literally fell in love with the car at first sight. Mechanically sound, the car will need an interior and body renovation but has a very solid base to bring up to scratch. As a Traction AvantRi club member, the car has seen a considerable benefit of regular attention from Traction Avant specialists over the last 30 years. The owner, as well as the local Stoke Newington community where it lives, will undoubtedly miss it.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Geraldine the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Every time I go out in it, people just smile and wave!

Geraldine fills us with the background of the car which could easily be the basis of an exposition for a French film. She came across the car while she was living in Arras, Northern France in 1990, and instantly fell in love with it after spotting a postcard advert in the local cafe. She contacted the owner and promised to return to France six weeks later, after negating a deal.

Mechanically minded with an interest in classic cars, she kept the car in France and used it around the town until she moved back to the UK in 1991. Having been swayed by its charms, she decided to ship the car to the UK. Used as an occasional car, with regular journeys to classic car shows, as well as the odd trip back to France it has seen regular mechanical attention throughout the years. She has decided to sell the car with considerable regret because she no longer has access to its garage and now spends much of her time overseas. Geraldine will be on hand to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Geraldine

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The Art-deco era design adds to the car's sheer elegance.

Wheels and Tyres

The Michelin tyres are in good shape, they’re likely to be older than 15 years though, but have good sidewalls and the tread is well within the legal limits.

The steel wheels show signs of age, but nothing that a minor overhaul couldn’t fix. View the image gallery to see the detail.

Bodywork

The chassis is solid in the right places, but it will need attention to the floor pan as age has caught up with prescribed areas. The main areas appear to be around the boot floor and on sections of the front footwells, but a check on the bottom of the C pillars (where the suspension mounts are), engine subframe, and body shell look more promising, with the inner wings and the sills in generally good condition.

The bottoms of the doors, rear valance and sections of the front wings show bubbling as is often common with cars from this era. The bodywork is largely free of dents, with the panels fitting well. The doors open and close as well as you could expect for a 70-year-old car, with no noticeable obstruction or straining from the hinges.

Paint

The paint finish is even throughout and has a reasonably good sheen considering the age of the car, there is a handful of minor scratches and blemishes to the surface of the paint, with the most notable damage being observed on the nearside front wing but overall the car presents well.

Glass and Trim

The glass is in good shape, with nothing more than light age-related marks, they’re all free of cracks or chips. The glass rubber and trim are in good shape.

The chrome trim is on the whole in reasonable shape but some of the body embellishments have pitted somewhat, but the fittings are all complete and are ripe for renovation.

The car comes with a pair of new chrome bumpers and over-riders, along with a set of new chrome hub caps. The headlamps are in good shape and the rear lenses also function but will need a level of attention.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

If originality is what you are after, then this interior might tickle your fancy!

Seats and Carpets

The Interior is complete and while the fabric seats, door cards and the remnants of the carpets are in need of recovering or replacing, it oddly suits the demeanour of the gallic Traction Avant experience.

However, as we take off the rose-tinted glasses, all of the seats would really need recovering, although they retain a healthy firmness. The carpets have worn and would need replacement, and although there are signs of tide marks noted in the fabrics (perhaps Chardonnay?), all appear to be dry. The door cards too are candidates for renovation. The headline is discoloured through the passage of time and the area around the rear window will need attention.

Dashboard

The dashboard has a wonderful patina, with all of the trim, switches and controls intact with the expected signs of age noted. The dials and controls are said to be functional.

The glovebox retains a plate which is said to document the first owner's name, as well as the original maintenance document that is still attached to the inner side of the glove box lid. A 12V power outlet has also been fitted to the car.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel is intact and displays 70 years of use, with the exception of the faded centre cap logo, it has lasted well.

The gear lever is in line with the dashboard but again in good shape considering the age. The car also retains its beautifully detailed window winders, which all operate perfectly.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The car is easier to live with than its 1930s styling would suggest.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine sounds pleasantly robust, with a mild rattle which is part of the characteristics of the engine. It starts up with no hesitation, and with a little choke runs smoothly with no noticeable shaking and no excessive smoke coming from the exhaust.

It is clear that the car's mechanical side of the car has been well-taken care of, with no evidence of fluid leaks or suggestions of overheating. The engine presentation is robustly functional, with decent ancillaries, hoses and pipes.

The three-speed gearbox engages well and shifts into second and third with ease. There are no reported issues with the clutch, with no knocking coming from the driveshafts. Please view the mechanical video to hear Geraldine's descriptive analysis of how the car drives.

Suspension and Brakes

The steering doesn’t produce any knocking and is vibration-free at the low tested speeds. The braking felt even, with no juddering or fade. Watch the video to see the car in action on the road.

The Drive

On the road, the Traction Avant, performed remarkably well betraying the car's 1930s roots. Happily keeping up with low-level London traffic, demonstrating a remarkably agile feel.

The ride at low speeds remained compliant, soaking up the road ruts and speed ramps with no knocking or thudding heard. The owner testifies that the car copes with longer journeys capable of reaching surprisingly high speeds. Manageable in the buzz of the town, the car would equally suit the open cruising countryside roads.

Electrics and Other

This example has seen a 12V conversion which has improved the car's usability considerably. It comes with a selection of new chrome exterior trim parts, which can be viewed in the images gallery as well as its original roof rack.

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History and Paperwork

It has seen regular attention in the hands of a specialist

The car has seen attention in the hands of John Gillard of Citroen Classics, who has addressed the car's needs throughout its UK history, with invoices totalling £8,000 with additional spending also said to be carried out.

Much of the spending covers the servicing, welding and the engine. A deeper dive into the invoices show that the cooling and fuel system, exhaust, brakes and electrics have seen overhauls, including a 12V conversion. The owner has more invoices for work carried out, which will be added on request.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
03-05-2011	MOT	42,795
27-10-2007	MOT	42,619
26-05-2006	MOT	42,000

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Key Details

ModelTraction Avant 11 BL
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date1952
CC1,911
Mileage50,728
HistoryLast 30 years
ColourBlue
Interior ColourGrey
Interior TrimCloth
Chassis #11BL585794
Engine #4MPVB78AZ02341
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
Former Keepers1
Tyre BrandMichelin
LHD or RHDLHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~31 years
Key FeatureLong ownership, rolling restoration

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All Videos

Vehicle Location

Stoke Newington, London

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Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information.

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Seller : GeraldineW

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4 Comments

paraicm

2 years ago

Can u disclose the reserve ? Paraic mooney

Kulraj Salh

Admin

paraicm

2 years ago

If the reserve is met, it is indicated in the bidding dial. Just ~10 minutes left to bid… Good luck. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

GeraldineW

Seller

2 years ago

Thanks for your interest in my car. As said in ‘meet the owner’ I no longer have access to a garage and now spend half the year over seas, it’s time for someone else to enjoy and cherish my much loved car.

peterfox

2 years ago

Nice car why are you selling please

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Vehicle Location

Stoke Newington, London

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