1938 CITROEN Traction 15 G Saloon 2.9L 3MT (78 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Citroen introduced a more powerful version of the Traction Avant in 1938, namely the 15/6, which was a more appropriate engine for this French Executive sedan.

During WWII, the production numbers for this new version were small. Still, after 1945 the French automaker thrived back again, and the 15/6 was already a prized vehicle. Apart from the vast majority of people who could barely make a living, there was also a new category of customers who asked for more performance.

Designed in the early ’30s, the Traction Avant had a unique design. Since it was a unibody construction, without a separate chassis, it sported a lower ground clearance and a sleeker look. Yet, the front of the car featured the same narrow engine compartment flanked by the two ample wheel arches. The gull-wing style opening hood was continued by a flat, steep windshield. At the same time, on the profile, the four-door bodywork was elegant and subtle, with a tall greenhouse and an almost vertical rear end where the trunk and the spare wheel were kept. Its front rear-hinged doors helped the driver and the side passenger to quickly step down and open the rear doors for those seated in the back.

The interior was not very different than the mundane Traction Avant 7CV. Yet, the automaker considered using more expensive materials, so the seats were no longer covered in fabric but leather. Thanks to the car’s technical solution, the gear stick was mounted next to the steering wheel.

The Traction Avant was the first mass-produced front-wheel drive vehicle in the world. Moreover, its unibody construction and the independent suspension in all corners were other technological breakthroughs. In addition, the 15/6 variant (or 15 G) was powered by a 2.9-liter inline-six (hence the /6), while the 15 was referred to the French tax system: 15 fiscal horsepower (albeit they were actually 16).