Classic in France needs identifying pls

[GTBob]

HI. This picture was taken in France in the fifties. Can anyone tell me what this two-door six-seater is?

Thanks
Bob

[anonymous-user]

Citroen Traction Avant.

I reckon.

[kimducati]

Looks like a Salmson to me.
I saw one similar in the French Salmson Pumps factory museum some years ago.
Kim

[Dapster]

It's RHD unless the picture is reversed...

[RDMcG]

Presumably coach built...maybe a Delahaye?..not the one below but some resemblance...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0VXcXZcWx4

[littleredrooster]

R170 said:

Citroen Traction Avant.

I reckon.

Non, Je ne pense pas.

[neutral 3]

My thoughts were Delahaye, but the car is RHD ?

[RDMcG]

neutral 3 said:

My thoughts were Delahaye, but the car is RHD ?

I believe there were some RHD if required.

[Justin Case]

It looks very much like a Salmson:



A lot of prewar Continental cars were RHD, although I don't know why.

[Dapster]

Justin Case said:

It looks very much like a Salmson:



A lot of prewar Continental cars were RHD, although I don't know why.

The chrome strip between the colours, the bonnet vents - looks identical. I'd go with that!

[williamp]

I thought french cars were RHD before 1939, when germany invaded and made them drive on the right.

[RDMcG]

Dapster said:

Justin Case said:

It looks very much like a Salmson:



A lot of prewar Continental cars were RHD, although I don't know why.

The chrome strip between the colours, the bonnet vents - looks identical. I'd go with that!

yep. Well spotted!

[GTBob]

Justin Case said:

It looks very much like a Salmson:

Ah, yes. Thanks Justin that's it. Apart from the chrome strip, the three door hinges clinch it.
Bob

[Allan L]

Justin Case said:

A lot of prewar Continental cars were RHD, although I don't know why.

Can't help with "why" but I can point out that all the French "Grand Routiers" were RHD although they were built for right-hand rule of the road. That was/is very helpful for the British as we like RHD for left-hand RotR.
Likewise in Italy although at one time both left-hand and right-hand rule of the road were used, depending on whether it was town or country.

[eccles]

I seem to recall that the high end car makers were still making RHD cars up until the '50's.

I suspect that the car in the OP could be from a few makers like Delahaye, Hotchkiss, Delage, Salmson etc as they mostly used coach builders who may have put the same body onto a different chassis.

[anonymous-user]

It was an affectation.

Grand Prix cars were RHD therefore my RHD car, beneath the luxurious trappings, is really a Grand Prix car. Out of my way, peasant.

RHD because most circuits were clockwise and the car would be weighted favourably to the right by the driver.

[anonymous-user]

littleredrooster said:

R170 said:

Citroen Traction Avant.

I reckon.

Non, Je ne pense pas.

Ce n'était pas une mauvaise première tentative.



Traction Avant Cabrio.

Très rare.

[anonymous-user]

But, yes, plus one for the Salmson.

[Lily the Pink]

Allan L said:

Justin Case said:

A lot of prewar Continental cars were RHD, although I don't know why.

Can't help with "why" but I can point out that all the French "Grand Routiers" were RHD although they were built for right-hand rule of the road. That was/is very helpful for the British as we like RHD for left-hand RotR.
Likewise in Italy although at one time both left-hand and right-hand rule of the road were used, depending on whether it was town or country.

I think I remember hearing it was so that the chauffeur could jump out and immediately open the rear door to allow madame to alight onto the pavement without having to wait while he ran round the other side of the car. Only applies to 4-door cars, of course.

Many trucks in Tito's Yugoslavia were RHD so that the driver could more precisely position the vehicle close to the edge of a precipice.

[Doofus]

It was quite common for European luxury cars to be built in RHD. I think this was with the British and Italian markets in mind. Italy drove on the left until 1930 or so, and Lancias, for instance were RHD as standard well into the 1950s.