Citroen Traction Avant (1934)

Few cars could be produced for as long as 23 years and was still the core model of the company. Even fewer cars could remained popular before and after WWII. If not being so advanced, Traction Avant would not have been such a car.

Citroen 2CV (1948)

The result was 2CV. Launched in 1948, 2CV incorporated a tiny 2-cylinder engine in a VW Beetle-like design. Despite it was cheap and modest, it had all-independent suspensions. The front and rear suspensions were interconnected by horizontal coil springs so that when front wheels meet a ridge the rear wheels will also be raised. Such layout was proved to be ideal for the bumpy country roads.

From 1948 to 1990, nearly 4 million 2CVs rolled out from the French factory, which placed it on the top of Citroen's own all-time best selling chart. Globally, its 42 years life put it into the second place of life chart just under VW Beetle.

Citroen DS (1955)

Judging from its vast advancement over contemporary cars, Citroen DS can be described as the most advanced car of all-time. Actually, nearly all things in this car were driven by hydraulic, including the independent suspensions (also driven by gas such that ground clearance was adjustable), the high-pressure brakes, servo clutch (which made it a semi-automatic) and power steering. All these features had never shown in any other cars, but all of them suddenly appeared in the DS, thus one can see how advanced this car was.

Apart from mechanical parts, other aspect of DS were also innovative. First of all, as you can see in the above pictures, its styling was not only artistic but was also called "space-age design". If you were not told, I bet you would have never guessed it appeared as early as 1955, right? Secondly, interior design was also space-age. Although I cannot tell you whether it was comfortable and practical or not, at least I can say it was purposefully styled in an artistic manner.

What a pity that it didn't got the right engine to match with the rest of the car. When it was launched, it used a 1.9-litre 4-cylinder derived from the old Traction Avant. Although this engine was as competent as its rival's, it was not up to the level of the whole car. Later, a 2.1-litre version was added, which changed the name from DS19 to DS21, but no significant difference was found. Originally, the company planned to build a new V6 for the car, however, cost problem killed this idea. The lost ring was not fulfilled until 1970, when a beautiful Maserati V6 was available. However, by then the DS range was too old to receive another major makeover - commercially that wouldn't make sense. Production kept on until 1975.

To conclude the DS, I would describe it as "a very special and extremely advanced car".

Citroen SM (1970)

However, with the great engine, handsome styling and good performance, I like SM very much, even more than DS. In fact, it is one of my favourite cars of all time.

Citroen had no ability to build its own V6 until it bought Maserati in the late sixties. Once it did the purchase, its engineers could concentrate on the development of chassis, aerodynamics and other mechanical parts, that's why SM was so refined in all aspect. The aluminum 90deg V6, which was derived from the V8 in Maserati Indy and was also used in Merak sports car, displaced 2.7 litres initially but then increased to a full 3 litres. As a result, power raised from 170 hp to 180 hp. Given the power that DS missed, SM was capable to travel at nearly 140mph and to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.2 sec.

As a coupe, it was rather heavy, but it offered roomy back seats, refinement of driving and comfort. Besides, it looks really great even in today. SM has virtually no weakness. That's why it is so interesting to me.