Citroën Traction Avant 11CV

The 11 CV was launched in 1935 - longer and wider than the 7CV, it was fitted with the 1 911 cm3 engine of the 7 Sport and "pausodyne" engine mountings.

The 7 Sport was renamed the 11 Légère and was available as a 4 door berline, a faux cabriolet or a cabriolet.

The 11 was available as a berline, faux cabriolet, cabriolet and coupé de ville and also in long wheelbase form as a  5/6 seat conduite intérieure, 7/9 seat familiale (the predecessor of today's MPVs?) and a 5 seat coupé de ville.

In 1936, all the Traction Avant cars were fitted with rack and pinion steering and the grille was painted instead of chrome-plated as previously. 

An externally opening boot was fitted to the berlines - hitherto access to the boot was from inside the car.

In 1937, the 11 Légère became the 11 BL while the 11 became the 11B.

The 11CVs acquired the lateral air vents of the 15 Six. 

In 1948, the 11 was available only in black - a state of affairs that would continue until 1953. 

A new grille was fitted to the 11 Normale in 1949.

The range remained effectively unchanged until 1953 when an extended boot was fitted and the 11CV was made available in dark grey.

In 1937 Michelin Pilote wheels were fitted to all Tractions.

In 1938, a six cylinder model, the 15 Six was launched - intended to replace the aborted 22CV.

The 11BL and 11 B acquired an extra 10 bhp and had the suffix "Performance" appended to their names in 1939.  A conduite intérieure Commerciale version of the 11B Performance was also launched in 1939 and comprised the long wheelbase body shell fitted with a fifth door at the rear (the first hatchback?).

Between 1940 and 1946, production all but ceased.  The cabriolets were dropped and only a few hundred cars were built.

After the war, production recommenced and Citroën showed two 11CV models at the 1946 Paris Salon - the 11 Légère and the 11 Normale.

The 11CV acquired an extra 2 bhp in 1950.  The 11 Normale became available as an eight seat familiale and conduite intérieure Commerciale and purchasers were no longer restricted to black coachwork.

In 1955, the 11D Légère and 11 D Normale replaced the 11L and 11BL.  Fitted with a redesigned "D" engine, power was increased to 60 bhp.

With the launch of the DS19 , production of the 15 Six ceased.  The 11s soldiered on until their replacement in 1957 by the ID19.

The Traction Avant cars were also built in Slough in England both pre and post war as well as in Belgium.