1953, 1954 CITROEN TRACTION AVANT, US MODEL, RUST FREE ARIZONA CAR, BEAUTIFUL
Sale price: US $5,000.00 Make an Offer
| Condition: | Used | Year: | 1954 |
| VIN : | 6029316000 | Mileage: | 2 |
| Transmission: | Manual | Make: | Citroen |
| Body Type: | Sedan | Model: | AX |
| Warranty: | Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty | Drive Type: | FWD |
| Vehicle Title: | Clear | Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
| Exterior Color: | Black | For Sale By: | Private Seller |
| Interior Color: | Red | Drive Side: | Left-hand drive |
| Number of Cylinders: | 4 |
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Vehicle description
1954 Citroen Traction Avant, Arizona/California car as far as I know since new.
I bought this old Citroen from a hippy in Northern Arizona around 15 years ago, mostly because it is a copy of the car I drove for several years 45 years ago plus it was rust free and a real US model. I have a small collection of old French cars and I prefer buying cars that were sold new in the US, not later imports. They are so rare and so much more interesting to me than resent European imports.
The Citroen is totally rust free and I have not seen any signs that it has ever had any rust either. It is a US version, not a late import from Europe as 98% of the old Citroen"s for sale in the US are. A Citroen Traction Avant owner told me only 47 or so Traction Avants were imported and sold new in the US, I have no clue if that is right or not.
While the car sat (for many years) the engine got stuck. We pulled the cylinder head, it is in the trunk so it is still with the car but the Citroen does not drive as it sits now. Some of the rechromed chrome is not installed yet (one door handle, trunk handle etc), the hood is not bolted down yet, none of the lights are wired in right now. The old Michelin X tires hold air but they are dry.
The car has dual carburetors by the way, I have never before seen a Traction Avant with dual carburetors, not sure when they were installed and also if that was an aftermarket option or if it is a custom install!
The paint is 1-2 years old, the interior is also 1-2 years old. Most chrome has been rechromed. Bumpers, grille, door handles, headlight buckets, hood handles, hubcaps etc. The headlights on the car now are not the correct ones, the original headlights are in the back seat, not even unwrapped since coming back from the chrome shop.
An event coordinator called us in a panic a year ago looking for 2 -30"s or -40"s style classic cars for an event and the classic car dealer she had originally rented 2 cars from flaked out at the very last moment and she now needed to come up with 2 cars within days. The headlight on my car were at the chrome shop so we bought some aftermarket headlights and put them on the Citroen just for that occasion and I have not removed them since. We did get the Citroen plus a 1940 Packard Coupe brought to the Frank Lloyd Wright building at the Biltmore here in Phoenix for the event and she was thrilled! Rebuilt brakes within the last 12 months plus shocks and more. New tail lights, new front turn signals.
I have spent over $25.000 on paint (the car was painted in pieces, doors, fenders, hood, deck lid etc painted inside and out separately), interior, chrome and some mechanical work. I do understand I will not get all my money back, as is the case most of the time when you restore an old car. But as I"m getting older and we just down sized my classic car restoration shop and I lost my indoor storage for a bunch of the cars I own I figured I"d try and see if there"s anybody interested in the car, if not I"ll be happy to keep it. I love the Citroen but as I don"t have indoor storage anymore I hate to store it outside in the Arizona sun.
I am also restoring a super rare 1955 Renault 4CV Decapotable (convertible), one of only 6 known in the US and it will be for sale after it is finished later this year.
The Traction Avant by the way is a 1954 as far as the title, I did check on the VIN and it would be a 1953 in Europe. It was common when cars were built in Europe that it took so long from the assembly at the plant to get them shipped to the US, retrofitted to be legal to sell in the US and then sold that they were titled as later year cars.
I think it would be difficult to find another US model Traction Avant, especially in such good condition even though it still needs some work to be driveable and road worthy.
Please ask questions you might have before bidding.
Inspection is welcome, my business, Copperstate Classic Cars in Phoenix, Arizona have sold and exported classic cars all over the world for over 33 years so export is never a problem.
A $2000 deposit is due within 24 hours and the balance is due within 7 days.