Ashley James Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 (edited) I was joking, but this forum doesn't allow me to use smilies when I'm on the iPad. I've never known a more good natured lot really. Mind you I'm not sure how my other love will be received. Ash Edited May 7, 2012 by Ashley James Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR24178 Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Some TRaction!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley James Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 I absolutely love those Citroens! I'd really like one, especially the French version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SuzanneH Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 (edited) Some TRaction!! Oh! FAB I love that car. Sue Edited May 8, 2012 by SuzanneH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR24178 Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 I absolutely love those Citroens! I'd really like one, especially the French version. I just sold one Ashley, completely in bits, its paying for my TR engine!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dykins Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 (edited) Lovely Citroen. A few years ago I owned one of these which apparantly owes much of it's steering design to the Traction. I understand that Riley bought a Traction and dismantled it to discover how it handled so well Regards Peter Edited May 8, 2012 by dykins Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley James Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Riley, Morris, Jaguar, Jowett and others all pinched Citroen's front suspension. It was one of the most influential designs of all time, arguably along with certain Lancias, the world's first modern car. It has also been suggested that the TR engine and derivatives were heavily influenced by the Citroen. Bore wear was always a problem in those days and harder liners a solution. Jaguar simply used abetter grade of cast iron for their blocks and Rolls did all sorts of batty things before using dry liners from '55 to '59 and then back to wet ones as they had in the Phantom III, which gave endless trouble. They copied Packard front suspension and later employed Maurice Olley, I think from GM. Rolls did everything differently to make sure that no ordinary mechanic had a hope in hell of fixing their cars. Ash Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR24178 Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 What really strikes you about driving The Citroen, she was built a few days before WWII started in August 1939, is how modern the chassis feels, you can drive it all day on N roads in France and never feel completely knackered, it does not roll but still has great feel on its X's with progressive breakaway, it does not feel like a front wheel drive car, probably because its not that well endowed with power, but cruises nicely at 105 -110 kph. Truly remarkable design that bankrupted Andre Citroen !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley James Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 (edited) I first went in one in the early fifties when I was terrifying, it didn't roll or anything, it just cornered as fast as it was going and gripped like nothing else on the planet. ordinary Brit cars were awful by comparison in that they rolled, roll oversteered and had so little grip on narrow cross plies. It was an incredible experience and repeated a year later when another Citroen owner took me out in the brand new DS. It floated on air, literally and cornered as fast as it went, or seemed like it. Only the Morris Minor was as impressive, but dog slow by comparison and bumpy like the Traction. My MKVI is the only car of the era that is quite as outstanding, because of its R-R's million pound steering mech and its well controlled ride. The Clouds appeared then and they were not drivers cars at all, but aimed at Americans anyway. Jaguar understood better and the XK120 was a far better product IMO. Ash Edited May 8, 2012 by Ashley James Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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