The Classic Citroens, 1935-1975 [Hardcover]

John Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786421711 | ISBN-13: 978-0786421718 | Publication Date: February 10, 2006

When the final list for the Car of the Century competition was announced in November 1999, only one company had three finalists: Automobiles Citroen. All three models--the Traction Avant, the 2CV and the DS 19--were developed during the era when the company was owned by the Societe Michelin (Michelin Tire Company). All three were created by the engineer Andre Lefebvre and the stylist Flaminio Bertoni. This industry recognition highlighted the unique Citroen-Michelin affiliation, demonstrating anew how this relationship made the automaker the benchmark for progressive design and creative engineering within both the international automotive community and the general motoring public. This work provides the first in-depth examination of the Citroen-Michelin era, focusing on the interrelationship between these firms in the development of the revolutionary Michelin X radial tire and its impact on Citroen's avant-garde automobiles. From its origins in 1919 under the watchful eye of Andre Citroen, a history of the automaker's early years is provided. Next, the author takes a detailed look at the cars of the golden age of Citroen: the Traction Avant, the 2CV, the DS/ID, the GS/GSA, the CX, and the Citroen-Maserati SM. The innovations, the unique designs, and the new standards of technical excellence that these cars offered are all fully covered, heavily illustrated with rare photographs of the classic automobiles.

Editorial Reviews

Review

No car fan will want to be without --Midwest Book Review

A must-have --Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car

Reynolds' writing remains a joy to read --Citroenet

About the Author

Author and journalist John Reynolds is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and the Society of Automotive Historians. He lives near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, England.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (February 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786421711
• ISBN-13: 978-0786421718
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #767,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice cover, nothing different inside, June 25, 2006

By 

Gregory J. Murray - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Classic Citroens, 1935-1975 (Hardcover)

This is a nice book with lots of info and to many black and white pictures, it was recommended as better then the rest. I found it to be just the same. There are so many things to illustrate such as Specialties GH and Robergel accessories for the DS and other Citroens, yet all you keep getting is more of the same. As I said nice book but nothing new.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Classic, May 5, 2007

By 

Citroën Quarterly (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Classic Citroens, 1935-1975 (Hardcover)

Is this the definitive English language book on our Classic Citroëns that we all have been waiting for? Well, John Reynolds does his best. This is perhaps his finest work detailing the design, development and production of our favorite models; Traction, 2CV, H Van, DS, Ami-6, SM, GS and CX. These are the cars that Monsieur Bibendum built, for it was in 1934 that André Citroën was forced, by bankruptcy, to cede control of his eponymous firm to the Société Michelin. Of course it can be argued that the Traction was the engine that drove the firm out of debt, but it was on Michelin tires. The Michelin Tire Company embraced this takeover like no other and Mr. Reynolds makes the argument that they had been itching to get into the automobile business for quite awhile. When the opportunity presented itself they did not hesitate.
While Bertoni, the designer, and Lefébvre, the engineer, were held over from the Citroën regime it was Michelin management that gave them the creative freedom to build on the success of the Traction. Mr. Reynolds makes a good argument that it was Michelin and their interest in tires that led to the amazing road holding of the 2CV and the hydraulic suspension of the DS, because after all isn't it the tires that connect the vehicle to the ground and any thing that can be done to improve this, the inertia dampers of the 2CV or the hydraulics of the D, makes the tires job easier.
The publisher has made the curious choice of printing this excellent text on off white matte pages which helps neither the text nor the black and white images stand out. Glossy white pages, sharp photographs, and a few more pivotal images would have made this book a classic. It is well written and informative and does deserve a spot on your bookshelf but not on your coffee table.
Citroën Quarterly
[...]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From changing demand and influences on technology and design to the politics underlying changes and decisions, May 20, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Classic Citroens, 1935-1975 (Hardcover)

The one auto company which had three finalists in the final list of the Car of the Century competition in 1999 was Automobiles Citoern: all three models were developed during the time the company was owned by Societe Michelin, and all were created by engineer Andre Lefebvre and stylist Bertoni. THE CLASSIC CITROENS: 1935-1975 to be sure is a specialty item - but one no car fan will want to be without. Included are black and white photos of the various cars and plenty of background history of models, production line appearances, technical specs and changes in design and engineering, and more. From changing demand and influences on technology and design to the politics underlying changes and decisions, THE CLASSIC CITROENS tells it all, imparting a great deal of background on auto industry history as a whole, in the process.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch