Citroën 11

El coche que adelantó su tiempo

Known in Spain as the Citroën 11 and, occasionally, mistakenly referred to as the Citroën Stromberg, the Citroën Traction Avant was the first mass-produced automobile with front-wheel drive, an innovation that would forever change the automotive industry.

Launched in 1934 from France by the Citroën company, it was designed and produced entirely at the Javel plants (Paris) and Quai de Javel. Its technical development was led by André Lefèbvre, an aeronautical engineer, and Flaminio Bertoni, an Italian designer based in France—two key figures in the history of the French automobile.

The model incorporated a revolutionary structure: the monocoque body, that is, without a separate chassis, which significantly reduced weight and lowered the center of gravity. This translated into greater stability and safety—two concepts still little valued at the time.

More than just a car, it was a collection of advances: independent suspension, hydraulic brakes, and a modern architecture that laid the foundations for the automobile of the future. Production lasted until 1957, achieving success both in the civilian market and in the military and political spheres.

This model was pioneering not only because of its advanced design but also its performance: it incorporated independent suspension, hydraulic brakes, and rack-and-pinion steering, elements that made it agile, reliable, and perfect both for undercover missions and high-speed getaways. Its most common engine, the 1.9-liter of the model 11, reached a top speed of 136 km/h, remarkable for its time.

Gestapo Headquarters

Chapter 1

…Don’t thank me, I can still change my mind about your fate. —Then he made a gesture to his driver to indicate he should open the Citroën’s door…

Did you know…?

🔹Adopted by the French army and requisitioned by the Germans after the 1940 occupation, the Traction Avant ran both across the sands of Libya and the ice of Stalingrad, becoming one of the most versatile vehicles of World War II.

🔹It was the emblematic car of the Maquis and the French Resistance, easily recognizable during the Liberation by the white-painted FFI (Forces Françaises de l’Intérieur) letters on its doors.

🔹After the war, it became the fetish car of the Paris underworld: it appears in real life as the vehicle of the Traction Avant gang and in cinema as the car of Pierrot le Fou.

🔹In 1952, the model received a significant modification: a rectangular rear trunk, more functional and with space to place the license plate.

🔹And a little-known fact: the suspension of the Citroën Traction Avant served as a test base for the development of the hydropneumatic suspension that would later revolutionize the Citroën DS in the 1950s.