One man’s incredible Citroën collection is up for auction

A dozen legendary vehicles, one remarkable garage sale

Citroën celebrates its centenary this year – and what better way to mark 100 years of the iconic marque than by filling your garage with some of its most stunning models?

Obviously assembling a collection takes time, but fortunately French auction house Aguttes is offering a ready-made garage of 12 elegant Citroëns on Sunday (17 March).

Here’s all you need to know about them.

Citroëns in the spring

In a Spring Sale packed with 69 appealing classics – including a host of other Citroëns, from the 2CV to the DS to the SM – the so-called Swiss collection stands out as a diverse homage to the French marque’s game-changing Traction Avant. 

An executive cruiser built by Citroën between 1934 and 1957, the Traction was innovative in offering both front-wheel drive and independent suspension to the buying masses.

More than that, it was also a lesson in French elegance: available in a range of styles across the years, the high-nosed Traction was always a thing of grace.

Goodbye Mr A

And, while Aguttes is keeping tight-lipped about the identity of the collection’s owner, identifying him only as ‘Mr A’, they did offer a revealing quote from the man himself.

“The irresistible appeal of the Traction has made me an enthusiastic collector and kept me amused. How many wonderful people I have met and what fond memories I have from behind the wheel of my cars!

“I can remember each of them, whether at the wheel or in the workshop repairing and restoring them or putting the finishing touches to them…

“May their new owners share this feeling, may they look after them as well as I have done and continue what I have tried to do."

In with a B

And some of the motors still need a few of those ‘finishing touches’ – such as this 7B: estimated to fetch between £7k and £10k (€8k-12k) on Sunday, the 85-year-old vehicle represents the second-generation of the Traction Avant, built for just four months in 1934.

With a 1.5-litre motor good for 62mph, the 7B was quite the drive in its heyday, benefitting from the Traction’s famously good balance and handling, as well as offering the last word in passenger comfort.

Showing its age

Alas, the years have not been kind to this example. Originally finished in pearl grey with the black accents so classic to the Traction, it’s since become a faded, rusty and run-down vision of former glory – though its early elegance isn't hard to imagine, even beneath the peeling paint.

What makes it so remarkable, though, is its originality: never once restored nor modified, the Traction remains entirely authentic – a torn and tattered Citroën with an uncertain story, only just emerged from years of storage.

Better kept sibling

A second 7B in the collection has a similar tale, though it hasn’t been nearly so badly treated by the passing of time: garaged for many years by a collector in Nice, this beige machine comes out of the Swiss collection also in highly original and unmolested condition.

Indeed, while it’s faded and tired in places, this vehicle is a prime candidate for preservation over restoration – not least because the mechanicals are all still in place, engine too.

Interested? It’s estimated to fetch between £13k and £21k (€15-25k).

Plenty of 7s

Not keen on a restoration job? For ’30s style that hasn’t faded, try a restored example of the 7B’s successor, the more powerful 7C (pictured).

Refurbished between 2016 and 2018, several specialists overhauled the dark wagon to bring it back to its best, covering everything from the bodywork to the leather to the engine – and it’s truly tres belle today, with a £17-34k (€20-40k) estimate.

Or, for something preserved, try the 7A – an example of the earliest Traction Avant from 1934, also listed with Aguttes and estimated to sell for £13-26k (€15-30k).

Completely original and well-maintained, it’s a true time-capsule classic. And, with fewer than 100 still registered today, a proper rarity.

Like a Six G

Also crossing the block from Mr A’s Swiss collection are a pair stately long-wheelbase Traction Avants: an 11A Limousine from 1934 (pictured) and a 1939 15-Six G Family. 

Both are finished in regal shades of black and the former – estimated to sell for £26-43k (€30-50k) – is completely original, having passed through a couple of collections without seeing a restoration.

The latter? A well-equipped example that was requisitioned during the occupation of France in WW2, it later enjoyed a thorough restoration that retained much of its originality.

One of just 2300 such luxury vehicles ever built by the French marque, a mere 50 remain today – hence the £43k (€50k) upper estimate.

Trigano's Torpedo

A little different from the C4 of today, this capable open-top cruiser is the oldest Citroën being sold from the collection.

It’s quite the vehicle, too: wrapped in arresting torpedo coachwork, the 30bhp cabriolet cuts a dash in dark green over red leather, offering a picture of ’30s style and refinement.

Stabled for many years with renowned collector André Trigano, it changed hands in 2016 and then underwent further restoration work with its new owner, including an overhaul of the electrics and various components, plus fresh rubber all round. Yours for between £21k and £34k (€25k and €40k).

Started off in Slough, now they're here

A quartet of Slough-built Big Six machines are also listed for the Spring Sale, including the only pre-war example of the six-cylinder classic known to survive – and one with all the trimmings.

The 1939 machine (above) started out in South Africa on diplomatic duties, later heading through several collections, gaining the name ‘Victoria’ and eventually receiving a thorough restoration. Want to continue the chain of ownership? You might need as much as £60k (€70k).

Of the other three? All are restored ’50s machines – one a famous example used by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory to test tyres on British roads; another, one of just 77 Six H variants ever built and only 13 that survive – yours for at least £34 (€40k).

First of its name

Last of the lots? Another British machine and one with quite the heritage. A 7CV in all but name, this Super Modern Twelve is remarkable not for its performance but for its historical significance.

Before Citroën could start building its cars in Slough (a move used to get around import tariffs) it had to present six right-hand drive machines for certification. And this is one of them. In fact, it’s the last surviving example of those prototypes – an 85-year-old rarity without compare.

Big money finish

Originally hand-milled in a Hammersmith workshop, the Twelve has since enjoyed a restoration like no other.

Over the course of 17 years, it’s been painstakingly returned to its correct specification – from the factory shade of grey to the Lucas headlights to the Smith instruments to, well, everything. Only the engine has been replaced, the original motor having frozen beyond repair.

Naturally, such a storied four-door doesn’t come cheap, especially in such incredible condition: Aguttes expects it to fetch between £64k and £81k (€75-95k) at the hammer come Sunday. Not bad for an 85-year-old – and a fitting centrepiece for such an impressive collection.