Customer Reviews

The Classic Citroens, 1935-1975

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

[...]

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

I have enjoyed reading the book,it has substantially increased my knowledge of the marque.IT has been well researched and includes some hitherto unpublished information .It is marred however by numerous technical errors.

This is a fantastic read. The title is little deceptive with book covering the period up to 2000. Not for the light-hearted and best read, in my opinion, as a dip-in dip-out Chapter read other than for the somewhat serious historian. Great pictures [although all black & white] and contextual breadth inclusive of social mores. My Edition published in 2006. As a Citroen buff rather than historian I probably will seek a separate reference that addresses in greater detail the period beyond 1975 even if my little GS Pallas scores a mention in Reynold's book.

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