The Citroën Traction 11 AL Roadster Pouderoux: An Exceptional French Elegance
This Citroën Traction 11 AL Roadster Pouderoux from 1936 in green livery embodies the pinnacle of pre-war French automotive elegance. This miniature faithfully reproduces one of the most refined models in the Traction Avant lineup, transformed by the coachbuilder Pouderoux into an exceptional roadster.
Numbered 45, this collectible piece represents a precious testimony of technical innovation and French craftsmanship from the 1930s. It naturally finds its place among the finest achievements of the French automotive industry.
Miniature Features
- Model: Traction 11 AL Roadster Pouderoux
- Brand: Citroën
- Year: 1936
- Scale: 1/43
- Color: Green
- Number: 45
- Protective case included: Yes
A Revolutionary Model in Automotive History
The Traction Avant revolutionized the automotive industry upon its launch in 1934. This 11 AL from 1936 benefits from improvements made to the earlier models, particularly in reliability and finishes. The coachbuilder Pouderoux, based in Rueil-Malmaison, transforms this exceptional technical base into a sophisticated roadster, creating a particularly appealing open-top version.
Equipped with a 1,628 cc 4-cylinder engine developing 36 horsepower, this roadster version retains all the technical innovations that make the Traction successful: the front-wheel drive, the monocoque body, and the lowering of the center of gravity. These revolutionary features offer exceptional road handling for the time, particularly appreciated in a roadster meant for sporty driving.
The Pouderoux transformation adds an exclusive dimension to this Citroën, with meticulous finishes and an elegance that attracted the wealthy clientele of the time. This roadster version remains one of the most sought-after variants by collectors today.
Citroën in the 1930s: Innovation and Boldness
In 1936, Citroën was undergoing a transitional phase under the guidance of Michelin, which had taken over the company after André Citroën's financial troubles. This period paradoxically marks the technical peak of the brand, with the consolidation of the Traction Avant range and the exploration of new technological paths.
The collaboration with independent coachbuilders like Pouderoux illustrates Citroën's desire to offer exclusive versions of its models. This strategy allows the brand to reach a high-end clientele while amortizing the considerable investments made in the development of the Traction Avant. The year 1936 also saw the first trials of the Citroën range enriched with specialized versions.
This flourishing period in Citroën's history is characterized by a constant search for innovation, from the initial studies of the TPV (future 2CV) to experiments on all-wheel drive, foreshadowing the brand's future developments.
Parisian Elegance on Wheels
The Pouderoux roadsters quickly became favorites among Parisian personalities in the 1930s. These open Citroëns adorned the boulevards of the capital and the roads of the Côte d'Azur, symbols of a certain French art de vivre. Their distinctive silhouette caught the attention of the fashion photographers of the time, who regularly used them as a backdrop for their reports.
An anecdote recounts that a similar green example to our miniature once belonged to a famous Parisian theater actress, who used it for her trips between the studios of Boulogne-Billancourt and her home in Neuilly. The uncommon green color on Tractions of the time made it a vehicle easily recognizable in the Parisian automotive landscape.
These Pouderoux roadsters also participated in the first tourist rallies organized by the Automobile Club de France. Their unique combination of elegance and technical performance made them formidable competitors against the traditionally dominant British roadsters in such events. This success contributed to the international prestige of the French automotive industry during the interwar period.
The current rarity of these transformed models is explained by their intensive use and destruction during World War II, making each surviving example a true treasure for enthusiasts of French automobiles.
Complete Your Collection of Exceptional French Miniatures
This Citroën Traction 11 AL Roadster Pouderoux holds a special place in the world of 1/43 scale miniatures. It perfectly integrates into collections dedicated to pre-war French cars and ideally complements other models in the Traction range.
Collectors passionate about automotive history will appreciate its complementarity with other French classics from the same era. This miniature is particularly targeted at enthusiasts of special bodywork and collectors seeking models that represent the excellence of French automotive craftsmanship from the 1930s.
Its number 45 and fine finish also make it an excellent starting point for building a thematic collection around the artisanal transformations of French automobiles, a period when the craftsmanship of independent coachbuilders reached new heights of elegance and technical refinement.
