French registration papers
Current status: Switzerland – not registered

Body number: missing
Engine number: 8.7.46/35

Very fine original condition
Complete, for restoration
One of the first series of 7s

Introduced somewhat prematurely in spring 1934, the first 7 Traction Avant was powered by a 7CV 1303cc engine: Citroën needed to do better and, above all, fit a livelier engine. As soon as June, therefore, Citroën presented the 7B, which now had a 9 fiscal horsepower 1529cc engine developing 35bhp.
The hard-wearing Traction was starting to reach maturity but still had to win over customers. The 7B’s styling continued all the features of its predecessor, with the exception of the headlamps, which were now mounted slightly farther away from the bonnet. Apart from this, its finely drawn lines were more appealing than ever, with the same range of colours as before (black, blue, grey, maroon and this subtle Maintenon beige). The 7B carried over all the key features of the Traction Avant: the unitary body, ‘floating-power’ engine, hydraulic brakes, suspension using torsion bars and shock absorbers, and front-wheel drive. The body still had a roof covered in moleskin, narrow wings and headlamps with flat lenses. From periodicals of the time such as La Vie Automobile, it is possible to get a sense of what it was like to drive in 1934: it was considered an outstanding, spacious and comfortable car, with excellent roadholding and very reliable brakes.

The car we are presenting here has a special charm; preserved in remarkable original condition, it faithfully evokes the first year of production in 1934. Above all, it offers a wealth of references for these models at the time they were introduced, especially the distinguished Maintenon beige paintwork with its subtle hints of pink. Nothing has been touched on this car and nothing is missing; the three-piece spare wheel cover on the tail panel is present and correct. A car in such unmolested condition deserves to be kept this way, with only the engine – which will currently not turn over – in need of reconditioning. (It should be noted that the engine is believed to be one which was rebuilt by Citroën after the war, but the 7B specialist, Dominique Peter, has confirmed that it is indeed a 1529cc unit.)
This 7B comes from the Alpes-Maritimes in the south of France; it was found in 1979 by the dealer B. Lafond from Cannes as a virtually one-owner car. After he had kept the car for a long time in his showroom, it moved on to a collector in Nice, who tucked it away in his garage, without carrying out any hasty work, before it joined the Swiss collection which we are now offering at auction.
For a lover of Citroëns and of the Traction Avant in particular, to see a car up-close from 1934, one of the first series of 7s and so well preserved, is itself a rare moment, but the prospect of acquiring it is truly exciting and quite irresistible. This is a car which deserves being listed as a historic monument!

This car will be sold during an auction sale organized by AGUTTES Auction House.
It will take place in Paris, at the Espace Champerret, France, on March the 17th, 2019.
The digital catalog is available on our website
https://www.aguttes.com/html/infos.jsp?id=96052&&setLng=en
Please contact us for any further details.
Phones numbers:
+ 33 616 914 228
+33 147 459 301