1939 Citroën 11BL ‘Traction’ Cabriolet
Front-wheel drive was still a rarity when this convertible appeared, combining advanced engineering with an elegant open-top design attributed to Jean Daninos. The cabriolet featured a two-seater layout with small folding seats at the rear, riding on a monocoque body structure that represented cutting-edge construction for its era.
The 11BL designation indicated this version used the lighter, narrower body of the 7CV model paired with the more powerful 1.9-liter (1,911cc) four-cylinder engine. This differed from the standard 11B, which featured a longer wheelbase and wider body. Both variants shared the same engine, but the 11BL’s reduced weight allowed it to reach around 75 mph, compared to about 65 mph for the heavier 11B.
Production of all Traction Avant cabriolets ended in 1939, with none manufactured after World War II. In total, 4,672 convertibles were built across all versions, and approximately 450 authenticated examples are known to survive today. Some late 1939 cabriolets received the newly introduced “Perfo” engine, which delivered 56 horsepower. The car’s independent suspension, hydraulic brakes, and rack-and-pinion steering provided handling characteristics well ahead of contemporary vehicles built on traditional separate frames.
#fblifestyle
Source
