This model car Citroën Traction 7 celebrates one of the most iconic adventures of French motoring: the Paris/Monté-Carlo/Paris rally on the legendary Nationale 7. This faithful 1/43 scale reproduction captures the spirit of La Route Bleue , this legendary artery that led the French to vacations and escape.
A true collector's item , this model car pays tribute to the epic tale of the Traction Avant in one of the most prestigious events on the European motor racing calendar, when French sedans competed with the biggest brands on the winding roads leading to the Principality.
Characteristics of the model car
- Model: Citroën Traction 7
- Brand: Citroën
- Year: 1934-1957
- Scale: 1/43rd
- Version: Paris/Monté-Carlo/Paris Rally
- Protective case included: Yes
Traction Avant, the French automotive revolution
Launched in 1934, the Citroën Traction Avant revolutionized the global automotive industry by democratizing front-wheel drive. André Citroën bet everything on this revolutionary technical innovation, combining front-wheel drive, a monocoque body, and independent front suspension in a production car for the first time.
The Traction 7, with its 1.3-litre engine , quickly became the most affordable version of the range. Its remarkable road holding and robustness made it a formidable competitor in the rally events of the time. Produced until 1957, it survived more than two decades without major modifications, a testament to the soundness of its original design.
This revolutionary French car enjoyed phenomenal commercial success, with nearly 760,000 units produced, establishing itself as the technical benchmark of its time and providing lasting inspiration for the global automotive industry. Discover it in our Traction collection .
Citroën in the 1930s-1950s
During the development of the Traction Avant, Citroën was going through a crucial period in its history. André Citroën, a visionary but financially reckless man, committed colossal investments to this technical revolution. The company, founded in 1919, had already made its mark on the French automobile industry with the Type A, the first mass-produced French car.
Paradoxically, the technical success of the Traction precipitated Citroën's financial collapse in 1934. Michelin then took over the reins of the chevron brand, providing the stability needed to develop this avant-garde saloon. Under this new leadership, Citroën consolidated its reputation for innovation, already laying the foundations for future revolutions such as the 2CV and the DS.
The Traction Avant, the unwilling star of the news
While the Traction Avant shone on the roads of the Paris/Monté-Carlo rally, it acquired a completely different reputation in the world of the French underworld . Its remarkable reliability, its respectable top speed and, above all, its spacious trunk made it the car of choice for gangsters in the 1930s and 1940s.
Newspapers of the time regularly reported the exploits of "gentlemen in Traction" escaping the police thanks to the exceptional roadworthiness of their Citroën sedans. This sulphurous reputation contrasted ironically with its peaceful family use among millions of respectable French people.
During the Second World War, the Traction served all sides: as a service vehicle for the occupying authorities , it also became a valuable ally of the French Resistance. Its bourgeois discretion and reliability made it the ideal tool for clandestine missions, transporting weapons, messages, and resistance fighters across occupied France.
This symbolic duality - surface respectability and potential for adventure - perhaps explains why the Traction remains, seventy years after its disappearance , one of the most emblematic French automobiles in the collective imagination.
Complete your collection of French model cars
This Traction rallye fits perfectly into the world of French car model cars from the golden years. It naturally interacts with the other icons in our Route Bleue collection , evoking a time when going on holiday was still an adventure.
Classic French car enthusiasts will appreciate combining it with models from our Citroën range or our rally vehicle selection. This model car is aimed at both experienced collectors and novices attracted by French automotive history and its links with the national road heritage.
