Ace Military Models 1/72 Citroen Traction Avant 11CV WWII Army Car Kit
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AMO-72273
In late 1933, two French designers, André Lefèbvre and Flaminio Bertoni created the Traction Avant (forward traction) car for Citroën. This marked the true beginning of front wheel drive cars (others came before, but this was the first really successful FWD car), and Citroën produced the Traction Avant for the next twenty-three years (minus a short break during the war). Around three quarters of a million vehicles were produced between 1934 and 1957, making it a very popular sight on the streets of Europe. The vehicle was produced in three main variants, distinguished by the size of the engine. The 7CV had a 1.3-liter engine, the 11CV a 1.9-liter engine, and the 15CV a 2.9-liter engine. Different body styles included a two-door coupé and a four-door sedan, the latter offered in an enlarged variant with three rows of seats. Over the years, the body remained static in design, with only small detail changes marking the changing years. Although innovative in many ways (in addition to the front wheel drive, the Traction Avant was also the first mainstream car to adopt unibody construction), the development costs forced the company into bankruptcy. Michelin, as the largest creditor, took over the company and kept it solvent by running it as more of a research laboratory than an automobile factory. This is most likely why the Traction Avant remained virtually unchanged throughout its history.
