Citroën Traction and 2CV lease and buy back

In the nineteen fifties, Citroën offered what was effectively a lease and buy back scheme to US citizens who were working or holidaying in Europe.

Customers would purchase the car in the USA and take delivery in France.

At the end of their stay in Europe, they had the option of either selling the car back to Citroën or shipping it back home.

Such transactions counted as exports which allowed the company to enjoy tax reliefs.

Furthermore, in the early nineteen fifties, there was such a shortage of vehicles on the French domestic market that those cars that had been returned to the company could be sold with no difficulty - and at exceptionally high prices...