Road trip joy with my quirky, head-turning beauty
Gary Magwood: Wheels reader Occupation: Retired auto racer and Wheels columnist The Car: 1955 Citroën Traction Avant
OK, I have to admit that I’m a “dyed in the wool” Citroën fan: A couple of 2CVs that I sold to a guy in California, a Dyanne Truckette, a couple of DS Safari Wagons, a GS in England, a ’69 DS21and now a 1955 Traction Avant.
I’m a car guy and Citroëns have always intrigued me because of their quirky design and engineering.
I purchased this Traction Avant a couple of years ago from a fellow enthusiast in Trois-Rivières, Que. I always thought this model — designed and produced originally in 1934 and manufactured up to 1957 — was elegant and very advanced technically.
From what I’ve read, Andre Citroën, the creator, actually bankrupted the company because of the complexity of this car. The combination of its unibody construction, frontwheel drive, torsion bar suspension designed for radial tires and a relatively spacious interior were most unusual for the era. As a result, the company was bought by the tire giant Michelin, who still owns PSA Peugeot Citroën today.
The appeal of this particular car was due to a “sensible” restoration and the unusual raspberry-andcream colour combination. The majority of Traction Avants produced were black with a few other muted two-tone versions. The car was solid, started and ran well and didn’t leave an oil slick when moved!
The drive, about 500 kilometres from Trois-Rivières to Belleville, Ont., was trouble free and most enjoyable. A steady 90-100 km/h was easy to maintain.
My first extended road trip was from Belleville to Miami in March 2016. By using the smaller state highways and staying off the Interstates, the drive was great fun.
The first destination was the Amelia Island Antique and Classic Car Show and Auction in the northeast corner of Florida. Then a quick trip to Miami to drive the famous Miami Beach strip where my Citroën got as much attention, if not more, than the continuous parade of Ferraris and Lambos; lots of thumbs up! After servicing the car at an outdoor oil change shop near Okeechobee, I pointed her back north.
Sadly, the trip ended on a ramp truck in Watertown, N.Y.
The transmission had sprung a leak and, without realizing it, I had kept driving until it ran out of oil and seized.
Another road trip to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for the annual Citroën Owners Club meeting, ended on a ramp truck as well. Two of the old Michelins shredded a few miles apart, so with only one spare, it was a call to CAA. New tires were ordered right away when I got back.
Since those initial setbacks, the car has provided me with many pleasant road trips in and around Ontario to take in several antique car gatherings and local show and shines. Always interesting to meet other old car guys and get to trade stories and talk a little shop. All in all, a good “vintage car ownership” experience. Show us your candy: Got a cool custom or vintage car? Send us high-res pictures (at least 1 MB) of you and your family with your beauty, and your story. We like photos — the more the better — of the interior, trim, wheels, emblems.