22 CV Traction Avant

Anyone with a passing knowledge of Citroën will have heard of the 22 CV - the "Super Traction" which was displayed at the 1934 Paris Salon. Publicity and sales material were produced but the car never went into production. As one might conclude from the model designation, the 22 CV was a "double 11" - fitted with a V8 engine of 3.822cc capacity - double that of the11CV's 1 911cc. It was rumoured that early prototypes were fitted with a Ford V8 although this has never been confirmed. 

Certainly the models displayed at the Salon had sealed bonnets. Publicity photos of the engine were allegedly of wooden mock ups. The reasons for Michelin pulling the plug on this model were apparently due to problems with the constant velocity joints. The 22 CV employed the 11 CV body shell but with a restyled front end incorporating phared-in headlamps and would have been available as a decapotable, berline and familiale. It was claimed that the 22 CV would have had a top speed in excess of 140 kph (87 mph). A number of prototypes were constructed and once the decision had been made not to go into production, rather than destroy them, they were fitted with standard 11 CV four cylinder engines and bonnet and wings and sold as 11 CVs. Rumours abound however that a couple of V8 equipped cars were sold although this has never been confirmed. At least one prototype survived the war in the Javel basement onlty to be destroyed by Pierre Boulanger in the 50s. There is another rumour that refuses to die - apparently either a doctor or a dentist in Brittany or Gascony has a 22 CV locked up in a barn...

Since 1934, the name Citroën has been indissolubly linked to the concept of front wheel drive and yet in 1936 the company proposed a rear wheel drive, rear engined MPV. No prototypes have survived although there is some publicity material which shows a streamlined vehicle with a Kamm tail and with headlamps concealed behind a grill. What is not clear is why a rear engined vehicle needed a grill unless it was purely for styling purposes. 

The 22 CV's V8 would have been the powerplant. Again, it is not clear why this vehicle was never manufactured - perhaps it was felt that the familiale versions of the Traction met the needs of large families or perhaps the world wasn't ready for an MPV.