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Citroën Cars: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Explore the best illustrated books on Citroën cars. Discover the history, models and evolution of Citroën cars. Perfect for enthousiasts, collectors, and anyone passionate about Citroën..

The Classic Citroëns, 1935-1975

When the final list for the Car of the Century competition was announced in November 1999, only one company had three finalists: Automobiles Citroen. All three models - the Traction Avant, the 2CV and the DS 19 - were developed during the era when the company was owned by the Societe Michelin (Michelin Tire Company). All three were created by the engineer Andre Lefebvre and the stylist Flaminio Bertoni.
This industry recognition highlighted the unique Citroen-Michelin affiliation, demonstrating anew how this relationship made the automaker the benchmark for progressive design and creative engineering within both the international automotive community and the general motoring public.

From its origins in 1919 under the watchful eye of Andre Citroen, a history of the automaker's early years is provided. Next, the author takes a detailed look at the cars of the golden age of Citroen: the Traction Avant, the 2CV, the DS/ID, the Ami-6 and Ami-8, the GS/GSA, the CX, and the Citroen-Maserati SM.
The innovations, the unique designs, and the new standards of technical excellence that these cars offered are all fully covered, heavily illustrated with rare photographs of the classic automobiles.

This work provides the first in-depth examination of the Citroen-Michelin era, focusing on the interrelationship between these firms in the development of the revolutionary Michelin X radial tire and its impact on Citroen's avant-garde automobiles.

Product details

Author:John Reynolds
Details:280 pages, 11 x 9.1 x 0.79 in (28 x 23 x 2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:235 b&w and color photos
Language:English
Publisher:McFarland & Co Inc (USA, 2012)
ISBN:9780786471713
Book cover: The Classic Citroëns, 1935-1975 | McFarland

The Classic Citroëns, 1935-1975

Language: English

Citroën Cars 1934 to 1986 - A Pictorial History

Of all the French car manufacturers, Citroën has the most enthusiastic following. During the half-century covered by this book, it produced the most technologically advanced cars of the time, including the Traction Avant, 2CV, DS and SM. This handy full-colour guide has a chapter devoted to each of these models, together with the Ami, GS, CX, BX and the first models produced under Peugeot's ownership. UK-built models and car-derived vans are also included.

Chapters provide an introduction to the design and evolution of each model, as well as detailed technical information. Production numbers and dates are given, and there are details of special coachbuilt versions and limited editions. The guide is illustrated in full colour, with recent and archive photographs. Dashboard instrument layouts and gearchange patterns are also shown.

  • The pictorial history of all Citroën cars from 1934 to 1986
  • Extensive full-colour photographs
  • Background information on the design of individual models
  • Detailed technical information for each model
  • Evolution of each model during its career
  • Covers special coachbuilt versions and limited editions
  • Includes cars built in the UK
  • Also features car-derived vans
  • Informative dashboard instrument diagrams
  • Production numbers and dates.

Product details

Author:Julian Parish
Details:152 pages, 7.9 x 5.9 x 0.39 in (20 x 15 x 1 cm), paperback
Illustrations:350 b&w and color photos
Language:English
Publisher:Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2022)
ISBN:9781787116368
Book cover: Citroën Cars 1934 to 1986 - A Pictorial History | Veloce

Citroën Cars 1934 to 1986 - A Pictorial History

Language: English

Citroën, 100 ans (Collection Prestige)

In the spring of 2019, the Citroën brand celebrated its 100th anniversary. This is an opportunity to look back on the first 100 years of this unique brand, marked by creations that revolutionized the history of the automobile, and punctuated by extraordinary events and personalities. This book invites you to discover the men and events that have marked the history of France and the world.

Pages of the book Citroen, 100 ans (1)

Pages of the book "Citroën, 100 ans"

This incredible story is approached here through themes that have made it a part of France and the world in many areas. The Citroën brand leaves its mark well beyond the world of automobiles. In addition to the technical, aesthetic, commercial and industrial innovations that have marked it, the life of the double chevron is now closely associated with the transformations of society, lifestyles, the arts, the economy, sport and geopolitics.

Product details

Author:Serge Bellu, Olivier de Serres, Sylvain Reisser
Details:400 pages, 11.4 x 9 in (29 x 24 cm), hardback, in cassette
Illustrations:extensively illustrated with 800 b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2019)
Series:Collection Prestige
ISBN:9791028303228
Book cover: Citroën, 100 ans | Collection Prestige | ETAI

Citroën, 100 ans

Language: French

Citroën - Un génie d'avance

No French brand has embodied avant-garde technology for so long. If Citroën still prides itself on having a modern clientele today, it owes it to the genius of its founder, André Citroën.

The spirit of the "boss" has instilled in the company a culture of technology and progress. The Traction Avant, the 2 CV and the DS will take his idea of genius at the service of all far and wide. The style of the DS and the SM will confirm the idea, although not widespread among direct competitors, that a car can be beautiful without failing in its role as a vehicle.

Nearly a hundred years after the release of the first Citroën in 1919, this book, treated chronologically, takes stock of all the passenger car models produced, and lists the types as well as their technical characteristics.

Pages of the book Citroen - Un genie d'avance (1)

Pages of the book "Citroën - Un génie d'avance"

The entire production of the essential brand with the chevrons is analyzed and illustrated using unpublished documents and technical tables. An essential reference work for identifying a Citroën, this chronological file provides a fresh perspective on the history of a certain idea of automotive genius, that of advancement.

Product details

Author:Dominique Pagneux
Details:304 pages, 12.2 x 9.25 in (31 x 23.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:850 b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2016)
Series:Héritage
ISBN:9791028301071
Book cover: Citroën - Un génie d'avance | Héritage | ETAI

Citroën - Un génie d'avance

Language: French

Citroën - Un siècle en images

When André Citroën laid the foundations of a company for the construction of automobiles in the autumn of 1918, he already had a solid industrial background. In 1913, he founded the Société des Engrenages Citroën: their herringbone-shaped teeth would become the emblem of his brand.
The first "type A" was born in the spring of 1919. André Citroën then invented a whole universe around this little marvel that was destined to transform the 20th century. He wanted to become the leading European automobile manufacturer and his company would experience phenomenal expansion.

In 2019, Citroën celebrated its hundredth anniversary. It is the youngest, but also the most popular of the French brands. Thanks to this centenary album, every convinced "Citroënist" reader or simple car enthusiast will be able to travel back in time among more than eighty iconic models that have made the history of the brand.

Product details

Author:Olivier de Serres, Xavier de Nombel, Léonard de Serres
Details:288 pages, 8.25 x 11.4 in (21 x 29 cm), paperback
Illustrations:300 b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:Le Faune (F, 2019)
ISBN:9782955589250
Book cover: Citroën - Un siècle en images | Le Faune

Citroën - Un siècle en images

Language: French

Citroën - Les sportives de série

Today, there is no longer any doubt: Citroën is one of the sportiest brands, with several titles in the world rally championship, but also many other victories in various disciplines such as rally-raids or rallycross...

However, for a long time the double chevron will have shunned sports cars in its range. It was not until the 1970s that the revival would be timid. Integration into the PSA group would allow the explosion of performance in the Citroën range in the 1980s: CX, Visa, BX... The genealogy will be long until the current DS3 Racing!

This book aims to review all the sports models offered in series by the brand up to the present day, recalling their technical specificities, their commercial career, their evolution and their glorious feats in competition.

Product details

Author:Rogé Rémond
Details:144 pages, 10 x 10 in (25.5 x 25.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:314 b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2013)
ISBN:9782726896839
Book cover: Citroën - Les sportives de série | ETAI

Citroën - Les sportives de série

Language: French

Citroën - une passion française

Over a century, the chevron brand has forged special links with France and the French. Those who created the models, those who assembled them in workshops and factories, those who sold them, but also those who brought them to life on a daily basis: collectors, garage owners, restorers, clubs or simple drivers.

Pages of the book Citroen - une passion francaise (1)

Pages of the book "Citroën - une passion française"

In advertising, in cinema or at the highest level of government, Citroën cars have become legends telling the story of industry, design, technology and the life of our country over several generations.
Diving into the unpublished archives of enthusiasts and into major documentary collections, this book pays tribute to all those who make Citroën French!

Product details

Author:Benjamin Cuq, Matthieu Turel
Details:252 pages, 10.8 x 8.7 in (27.5 x 22 cm), hardback
Illustrations:many b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:Editions E/P/A (F, 2018)
ISBN:9782376710073
Book cover: Citroën - une passion française | E/P/A

Citroën - une passion française

Language: French

Citroën 1919-1949 : La belle époque

The first 25 years of Citroën automobiles deserved to be highlighted by a selection of period texts and an impressive number of documents: more than 1 100 photographs, leaflets, posters, very often unpublished.
The book details the life of André Citroën, seen by his relatives, photographers, caricaturists, his cars, starting with the 18 CV torpedo, the eternal Traction Avant with exclusive information on the legendary 22 CV, the official drawings of the 2 CV, dating from 1937 ...

The world of the double chevron is examined under a magnifying glass: factories, advertising, toys, dealers and representatives in Europe. The last chapter presents - sometimes in period colours! - the Citroëns during the Second World War: those of the rare French who were authorised to drive, but also the vehicles of the resistance, those of the occupier.

The resumption of production at Quai de Javel, immediately after the war - when it was necessary to wait years to have the right to buy a Traction - closes this work in style. A whole set that will make this book a reference with an unequalled atmosphere.

Product details

Author:Wouter Jansen
Details:320 pages, 12.6 x 9.1 in (32 x 23 cm), hardback
Illustrations:1100 b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:Histoire & Collections (F, 2010)
ISBN:9782352501244
Book cover: Citroën 1919-1949 : La belle époque | Histoire & Collections

Citroën 1919-1949 : La belle époque

Language: French

Citroën, les plus authentiques (1936-2006) (Autofocus)

This book covers sixty years of the double chevron brand through thirteen models that have shaped its history. Some have become iconic due to their extraordinary avant-gardism, such as the Traction Avant, the DS or the SM. Others, less iconic, have nevertheless marked the history of this atypical manufacturer as much through their commercial success as through their technology or simply their different personality, such as the 2 CV and its derivatives.

Rediscover the Traction Avant 11 and 15 CV, the DS saloon and convertible, the SM but also the Ami 6, the GS, the Méhari, the BX, the CX and the XM without forgetting the most recent C6 which can be considered as the last remaining model still possessing the DNA of the Citroëns of the past.

Product details

Author:Patrice Vergès, Nicolas Delpierre
Details:160 pages, 11.4 x 9 in (29 x 24 cm), hardback
Illustrations:300 color photos
Language:French
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2020)
Series:Autofocus
ISBN:9791028304171
Book cover: Citroën, les plus authentiques (1936-2006) | Autofocus | ETAI

Citroën, les plus authentiques (1936-2006)

Language: French

Citroën, plus d'un siècle d'aventures

This book presents the most important models in Citroën's history. It features old vehicles such as the Type A, 5 HP, Traction Avant, 2 CV, DS, and CX. Recent models are also represented: Picasso, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, DS Premium, and C4 Cactus. The book also includes the brand's latest concept cars.

Product details

Author:Aurélien Charle
Details:128 pages, 11.8 x 9 x 0.94 in (30 x 24 x 2.4 cm), paperback
Illustrations:extensively illustrated
Language:French
Publisher:Editions Larousse (F, 2024)
ISBN:9782036066007
Book cover: Citroën, plus d'un siècle d'aventures | Larousse

Citroën, plus d'un siècle d'aventures

Language: French

Les 100 ans de Citroën

Where does the Citroën logo come from? How did André Citroën come up with the idea of lighting up the Eiffel Tower or launching his cars on Asian or African expeditions? The creation of the 2CV or the DS, the exploits of Sébatien Loeb...

All these highlights in the history of the French automobile brand are included in this book for the many lovers of these popular cars.

Product details

Author:Thierry Astier
Details:152 pages, 10.25 x 7.7 x 0.75 in (26 x 19.5 x 1.9 cm), hardback
Illustrations:many b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:Editions Solar (F, 2019)
ISBN:9782263162053
Book cover: Les 100 ans de Citroën | Solar

Les 100 ans de Citroën

Language: French

Les Citroën C4 et C6 de mon père

André Citroën, the leading European manufacturer in the 1920s, revolutionized the automobile industry with the C4 and C6 models, unveiled at the 1928 Motor Show. These vehicles marked a radical turning point for the brand, standing out for their comfort, safety, speed, elegance, and near-indestructibility.
The C4 and C6 embodied the first resolutely modern Citroën automobiles, remaining at the head of French construction for five years thanks to their exceptional qualities, which were regularly improved.

Backed by strong advertising, a strong and dedicated network, bold initiatives, international expansion, and notable victories at Montlhéry, the C4 and C6 became icons of their time.
Today, collectors actively seek them out, preserving these beloved rear-wheel-drive "square bodies" with dedication. These models remain legends, testifying to André Citroën's innovation and early success in automotive history.

Product details

Author:Fabien Sabatès, Wouter Jansen
Details:120 pages, 8.7 x 9.8 x 0.67 in (22 x 25 x 1.7 cm), paperback
Illustrations:240 b&w and color photos
Language:French
Publisher:Sophia Éditions (F, 2023)
Series:De mon père
ISBN:9782385140205
Book cover: Les Citroën C4 et C6 de mon père | De mon père | Sophia

Les Citroën C4 et C6 de mon père

Language: French

Citroën: 100 Jahre Automobilgeschichte

In 1919, a fully bodied and equipped car rolled off an assembly line in Europe for the first time in series production: the first Citroën. The following 100 years produced several milestones in automotive history - the work of exceptional designers, constructors and managers, starting with the charismatic founder André Citroën himself.

The most French of all car brands was also the most international, growing by applying American models and increasingly looking to China for the future. The company pioneered advertising and communication, developing legendary and unique models such as Traction Avant, 2 CV and DS. However, dramatic crises led Citroën to the brink of the abyss and into the hands of new owners, and it experienced two dramatic takeovers, first by Michelin and later by Peugeot.

Pages of the book Citroen: 100 Jahre Automobilgeschichte (1)

Pages of the book "Citroën: 100 Jahre Automobilgeschichte"

To mark the centenary of the brand with the double chevron, the first and most comprehensive overview of the company, as the French see it, was published in German.
The elegant presentation, the fantastic images and the passionately told story will delight every Citroën and car fan.

From the charismatic figure of the founder, to the numerous original minds who continued his company, the exciting history of the company and its models, the failures with the Wankel engine and the triumphs in rallying - this magnificent book leaves out no aspect of this special history.

Pages of the book Citroen: 100 Jahre Automobilgeschichte (2)

Product details

Author:Serge Bellu, Olivier de Serres, Sylvain Reisser
Details:400 pages, 11.4 x 9 in (29 x 24 cm), hardback
Illustrations:800 b&w and color photos
Language:German
Publisher:Heel-Verlag GmbH (D, 2019)
ISBN:9783958439627
Book cover: Citroën: 100 Jahre Automobilgeschichte | Heel

Citroën: 100 Jahre Automobilgeschichte

Language: German

Die großen Citroën - Avantgarde aus Frankreich: Traction Avant 15 Six H, DS, SM, CX, XM, C5, C6

Einfallsreichtum, Visionen and Mut - dafür steht die Marke Citroën, die stets den Ruf hatte, ein wenig anders zu sein als die Konkurrenz. Zum ersten Mal für Furore im Oberklasse-Segment sorgte die französische Marke mit dem 15 Six, besser bekannt als "Gangsterlimousine".
Sein Nachfolger setzte sogar zur Himmelfahrt an: Der Citroën ID/DS wurde bereits auf dem Pariser Autosalon als "Göttin" bezeichnet.

Pages of the book Die grossen Citroen - Avantgarde aus Frankreich (1)

Pages of the book "Die großen Citroën - Avantgarde aus Frankreich: Traction Avant 15 Six H, DS, SM, CX, XM, C5, C6"

Mit viel Hintergrundwissen and Bildschätzen aus den Citroën-Werksarchiven zeigt Immo Mikloweit die Geschichte der großen, legendären Citroën-Modelle auf, von der DS über den SM and CX bis hin zum C5 and C6.

Product details

Author:Immo Mikloweit
Details:208 pages, 10.4 x 9.1 in (26.5 x 23 cm), hardback
Illustrations:250 b&w and color photos
Language:German
Publisher:Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2020)
ISBN:9783613043183
Book cover: Die großen Citroën - Avantgarde aus Frankreich: Traction Avant 15 Six H, DS, SM, CX, XM, C5, C6 | Motorbuch

Die großen Citroën - Avantgarde aus Frankreich: Traction Avant 15 Six H, DS, SM, CX, XM, C5, C6

Language: German

Citroen 2CV y otros modelos míticos

In 1948, Citroën introduced a practical vehicle marked by its modest blue and yellow logo. The concept had been developed over many years, originally by André Citroën, who aimed to design a car suitable for farmers and their families - an affordable and simple alternative to the horse and cart. This marked the beginning of the Citroën 2CV, a model that would become iconic in automotive history.

This illustrated book not only presents the story of the 2CV but also covers other significant Citroën models. Among them are the Rosalie, the DS (nicknamed "Tiburon"), and later vehicles such as the Visa, BX, AX, and Xantia. The publication also includes recent concept cars that demonstrate the brand's continued innovation.

Product details

Details:264 pages, 10.6 x 9.1 x 1.42 in (27 x 23 x 3.6 cm), hardback
Illustrations:extensively illustrated
Language:Spanish
Publisher:Susaeta Ediciones (E, 2023)
Series:Atlas ilustrado
ISBN:9788467798982
Book cover: Citroen 2CV y otros modelos míticos | Atlas ilustrado | Susaeta Ediciones

Citroen 2CV y otros modelos míticos

Language: Spanish

More titles on Citroën:

Book cover: Andre Lefebvre and the cars he created for Voisin and Citroën

Andre Lefebvre and the cars he created for Voisin and Citroën

Gijsbert-Paul Berk | English | hardback | 144 p. | 2009

Book cover: André Citroën, ingénieur, explorateur, entrepreneur

André Citroën, ingénieur, explorateur, entrepreneur

John Reynolds | French | hardback | 250 p. | 2006

Book cover: André Lefèbvre - de la Voisin Laboratoire à la Citroën DS

André Lefèbvre - de la Voisin Laboratoire à la Citroën DS

Gijsbert-Paul Berk | French | hardback | 160 p. | 2019

Book cover: Une vie de Citroëniste - Histoires et anecdotes

Une vie de Citroëniste - Histoires et anecdotes

Yves Dussin, Solange Dussin | French | hardback | 192 p. | 2011