1953 Citroën Traction Avant BL11 Légère 🇮🇹

In the Nicola Bulgari Collection, France is represented by this Citröen BL11 of 1953, better known as Traction Avant. From its launch in the version Légère (1934) to the final year of production (1957) there were 324,828 units produced.

The Citröen BL11 Légère joined the collection in 1980, when it was purchased directly in France. Restoration was required some years later and began in 1996 ending in 1997. The body, scrupulously in black, was entrusted to the specialist Ferracuti and renovation of the upholstery –  in gray cloth with stripes – was carried out by Autoselleria Massenzi; while, also in Rome, the four cylinder 2.0 liter engine was given a total overhaul.

The car is in a minimalist style, true to French tradition of the time, keeping more or less to the original lines of 1934. This 1953 model, seen through American eyes, is still very much a car of the thirties even though it is actually twenty years newer. Nonetheless, it still has all the elegance of a true historic automobile.

Company
Citroën

Wheelbase
114.6in

Interior trim
Gray cloth

Brakes
front and rear drums

Make
Citroën

Length
172.4in

Engine
inline 4 - 116.7cid

Tires
165/90x16

Model
BL11 Légère - Traction Avant

Width
64.6in

Carburetor
1 carb. Solex 32PBIC

Original Price
$2,235

Body style
4-door Coupe

Weight
2359lbs

Horsepower
59hp @ 4000rpm

Production
24,900

Model year
1953

Exterior paint
Black

Transmission
3-speed manual

In 1933, Citroën needed a totally new model, despite all its financial problems. It would be a revolutionary automobile. To realize these plans, Citroën hired André Lefèbvre as engineer for the project. Flamino Bertoni was responsible for the design of the car (no relationship to Nuccio Bertone, who also does contract work for Citroën).

On March 3rd, 1934, the Type 7 was presented to the dealers and it was a sensation - uni-body, front-wheel drive, independently sprung front wheels, torsion bar suspension, hydraulic brakes, rubber motor mounts for the engine, and so on. Compared to what was on the roads at the time, the car was very low. Thanks to the way it was built, it had no running boards. First, a short explanation for the term “Traction Avant”: It means front-wheel drive and was used by Citroën to distinguish the new models from the models still in production with the same horse power, but with rear wheel drive (propulsion arrière). In the beginning, only the “small” body was produced in Berline, Cabriolet, and Faux Cabriolet versions. The engine grew from 1303 cc to 1629 cc to what would have been a 9CV. But as Citroën had invested a great deal of money into the marketing campaign to launch the new “7” they kept that name.

For the Paris Motor Show in October 1934, Citroën presented the “big” body with a 1911 cc engine, the type we know today as the “Normale” or “Large”. The body is 12 cm wider and 20 cm longer than the small one with similar technical specifications. The small body was now called the “Légère”. The body of the Normale was built in the same versions as the Légère (Berline, Cabriolet, and Faux Cabriolet). Two new variants, the “Conduite Intérieure” and the “Familiale” were added. They were 20 cm longer again and had a third side window.

1938 saw the presentation of the 6-cylinder model: 2 cylinders were added to the 1911 cc 4-cylinder engine giving a capacity of 2867 cc. Also in 1938, the now very rare 11CV “Commerciale” was presented. From the outside this car is recognizable by the two-part hatch door (similar to the pattern the DS estate or many American station wagons use).

In 1946, after the factory was reconstructed, production resumed slowly. Only three models were available: the 11CV Légère, the 11CV Normale (Large) and the 15/6, all in a color that can be described as “nearly black”.

In 1954, even the color choice grew - you were able to order “Gris Perle” (grey) and “Bleu R.A.F.” (dark blue). Two body styles from the pre-war cars were reintroduced: the 11CV Normale in the Familiale and Commerciale variant (but now with a one piece hatch). The 15/6 was available as a Familiale.

At the Paris Motor Show in 1955, the DS was presented to the public, but this is another story! The production of the 15/6 had already stopped. The last Citroën Traction Avant, an 11CV Familiale, was delivered on 25 July 1957, with no big fuss.