Description
ISBN: 9781847976598, Author: Lance Cole, Hardback, 272 pages.
In this new view on the Citroen story, automotive/aviation writer and design specialist Lance Cole investigates not just the details of the cars of Citroen, but the aeronautical and cultural origins that lay behind Citroen's form and function. The book digs deep into the ethos of Automobiles Citroen to create a narrative on one of the greatest car manufacturers in history. Using interviews, translations, archive documents and specially commissioned photographs, the Citroen journey is cast in a fresh perspective.
Researching Andre Citroen's early thoughts on car manufacturing from 1905, the book charts the development of Citroen. From the earliest production cars, through the 2CV, H Type, Ami, GS, DS, SM, BX, CX, and C6, to the modern 'DS'-branded Citroen revival, the book frames the evolution of the ethos of Citroen and its enduring design legacy.
There are well-known design and engineering names in Citroen's history — Voisin, Lefebvre, Bertoni, Boulanger and Opron. However, the book also covers the forgotten, equally important talent from the grand engineering and design schools of Paris: Pierre Cayla, Jacques Gerin and others such as Dargent, Giret, Harmand and Nicolas, revealing a full picture of Citroen's heritage.
Charting the move from rear-wheel to front-wheel drive, aerodynamics and designing cars for the basic and exotic ends of the automotive spectrum, the Citroen global legend represents not just car design, but a unique automotive psychology and a key element of French social history.
The author has owned several Citroens including CX, GS, GSA, BX, Visa and ZX, and is well-versed in the complexity, fanaticism (and sometimes failures) that form the life of a Citroen owner.
Citroen — The Complete Story is a fresh and forensic view of Citroen's design language and the legacy of its extraordinary engineering.
