| Author | Message | ||
     John Beech Experienced User Username: jbeech Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2016 |
My wife and I are fans of public television and as such, we watch a fair bit of foreign films and mystery programs. Lynn's favorite is Australian author Ken Greenwood's series about Phryne Fisher, a detective called 'Miss Fisher'. I rather like it too but mostly because of the period automobiles and superb attention to detail. Really good stuff. While my personal favorite is the French series called Maigret starring deceased actor Bruno Cremer, this is in part because of their use of Citroen CV 11 automobiles. Reason being my father once had one. Note, he inverted the bumper to preclude damage to the grill because of how low-slung it was.  - My debonair father in 1953, three years before I was even a gleam in his eye! Meanwhile, we've recently been enjoying a French take on Agatha Christie novels. These are a series called The little Murders of Agatha Christie in which Police Detective Swan Laurence drives a car unknown to me, hence this thread. Does anyone know which automobile this is? Unfortunately, these photos are snapped directly off the television screen and thus, are of poor quality (though they should be fine for ID purposes).    | ||
| Jonas TRACHSEL Prolific User Username: jonas_trachsel Post Number: 101 Registered: 2-2005 |
This is a Facellia of the early 1960ies, the late small brother of the mighty Chrysler-powered Facel Vega. Google it for more information. | ||
| Vladimir Ivanovich Kirillov Grand Master Username: soviet Post Number: 639 Registered: 2-2013 |
And the green one is a Simca I think. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1470 Registered: 5-2012 |
Hi John The Citroen was a very advanced car. Hard to believe it dates back the the 1930s. It had a unitary body, front wheel drive and independent suspension on all wheels. All this in 1934. That's a really cool picture of your dad. Shades of the American dream. Geoff | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 662 Registered: 4-2016 |
Hi John, That is a stunning pic of a very handsome young man who is clearly very proud of his car. I am guessing it was unusual amongst his friends as well. Tack sharp original film B&W photos are hard to beat for detail and depth. The camera was probably just a point & shoot with zero things to adjust. Great image. I agree with Geoff, Citroen was always at the forefront of design & technology. I wonder why they just ended up just being an also ran? | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 2107 Registered: 6-2009 |
Patrick, Citroën is an "also ran" depending on where you are in the world. They never made a dent in the US market and not many French makers ever did, Renault and Peugeot being exceptions, and even then they were minor players. They appear to be doing quite well everywhere but North America (http://www.citroen.com/en) and their concept cars are routinely striking. I would have loved to have been able to have a Metropolis, which was a concept produced for the Chinese market. One of the most beautiful modern cars I've ever seen. Brian | ||
| John Beech Experienced User Username: jbeech Post Number: 28 Registered: 10-2016 |
Wow, that was fast, Jonas! Per your suggestion I Googled it and earned it was quite an interesting car. FWIW, a local mechanic has a Facel Vega HK500 equipped with a Chrysler engine for restoration in his shop. Geoff, the American dream photo was taken in 1953 (actually predating me by 5 years, not three) and snapped in the parking lot of Balboa High School (in the Panama Canal Zone) where I too graduated (1975). Patrick, my father has always been a car-guy. When this photo was taken, ca 1963-ish, we had just traveled cross country in his Jaguar XK140 (where I traveled on the parcel shelf). This, as a recent grad (EE) from the University of Miami (FL) to LA where he took work with NASA. And yes, both of my parents are photogenic (me, not so much).  | ||
| Benoit Leus Prolific User Username: benoitleus Post Number: 270 Registered: 6-2009 |
Valdimir, the green car is actually a Peugeot 403. I understand the confusion as the Simca Aronde has a similar look from the back. Benoit | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 1184 Registered: 5-2015 |
I notice that the Citroen Traction Avanti is LHD meaning photo back to front and car is RHD and made in Slough UK or is LHD and made in France. The Facal is a similair idea to the Monterveredi. Liked the 500 series of cars I have had a few Peugeots and they were ok cars. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Grand Master Username: patrick_r Post Number: 664 Registered: 4-2016 |
Hi Brian, Thanks for your response. I should clarify my "also ran" comment. Geoff mentioned that Citroen were ahead of their time. I also have done much reading as to the engineering advances that Citroen made right from the start, they were leaders in advanced technology and always trying something different. They have also made some of the best fit for purpose cars such as the 2CV range and their amazing light commercials. These to were game changers as to technology and out there thinking. A lot of Citroen ideas have certainly filtered down through the times into almost every make of car world wide. Of course we all know the tie up with Rolls Royce. What I was getting at is that their truly amazing suspension technology, engine technology and interior trail blazing, has turned into McPherson struts, and simple rear suspensions that we find in any car these days. This is what I mean by also ran. I agree, the FIRST concept cars I look for each year are Citroen. I just wish more would come to market. I have inspected many of their concepts on the Champs-Élysées boutiques along with Renault on previous trips to France. |
