A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR FRONT FRONTC ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 1 DRIVEDRIVE A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS
CITROËN CLASSIC OWNERS CLUB OF AUSTRALIA Australia’s National Citroën Car Club FEBRUARY/MARCH ‘06 V OL 29 N O 8 2 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 3
PPOSTALOSTAL AADDRESSDDRESS MMEMBERSHIPEMBERSHIP CCOMMITTEEOMMITTEE SSUPPORTUPPORT CITROËN CLASSIC OWNERS Annual Membership is $40. For PRESIDENT — Andrea Fisher Andrew McDougall CLUB of AUSTRALIA Inc. overseas membership add $12. [03] 9874 1960 [H] AOMC LIAISON OFFICERS — [email protected] The address of the Club and this MMEETINGSEETINGS Ted Cross [03] 9819 2208 [H] magazine is: Club meetings are held on the fourth SECRETARY — Mark McKibbin Russell Wade [03] 9570 3486 [H] PO Box 52, Balwyn, Victoria, 3103. Wednesday of every month [except [03] 5625 4020 [H] [03] 5624 1111 CLUB PERMIT OFFICERS — The Club’s website is: December] at 8pm. The venue is the [B]Russell Wade [03] 9570 3486 [H] www.citroenclassic.org.au Canterbury Sports Ground Pavilion, [email protected] Peter Boyle [03] 9470 8080 [H] Citroën Classic Owners Club of cnr Chatham and Guildford Rds, TREASURER — Clare Hadaway Mel Carey [03] 9419 4537 [H&B] Canterbury, Victoria. Melway Ref 46, Australia Inc. is a member of the [email protected] LIBRARIAN — Leigh Miles [details F10. Association of Motoring Clubs. ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR — Leigh Miles above] LIFEIFE MEMBERSEMBERS The views expressed in this publication L M [email protected] CLUB SHOP — Graham Barton are not necessarily those of CCOCA The committee awards life membership SPARE PARTS OFFICER — Rob Little [03] 5987 0767 [H]04 1810 0992 [M] or its Committee. Neither CCOCA, to Club members in recognition of [03] 5823 1397 [H] [email protected] nor its Committee can accept any their contribution to, and support of, [email protected] STATE ACTIVITY CO-ORDINATORS — responsibility for any mechanical advice the Club. Life members are: PUBLICATION EDITOR — printed in, or adopted from this Peter Boyle 2003 Leigh Miles ACT Mike Neil publication. Jack Weaver 1991 [03] 9888 7506 [H] [02] 6254 1040 [H] 04 1821 1278 [M] [email protected] NSW Bert Houtepen The Club cannot accept any Nance Clark 1984 COMMITTEE PERSONS — Ian Sperling [02] 9746 9920 responsibility for, or involvement in, CONTRIBUTORS [03] 9874 1960 [H] PUBLIC OFFICER — Peter Boyle any business relationship that may Contributors to this edition of ‘Front Rod Ward [03] 9470 8080 occur between and advertiser and a Drive’ include: 04 1330 2567 [M] member of the Club. Mark Ebery, Andrea Fisher,Bernie CCOVEROVER IIMAGEMAGE Hadaway, Rob Little, Jeff Pamplin, Christine Sandow, Ian Sperling and The cover image is taken from the Bruce Stringer. Traction Avant Nederland calendar and depicts Boulevard Gassendi at Dignes- EADLINE les-Bains in Provence-Aples-Côtes DDEADLINE d’Azur. The deadline for the next edition of ‘Front Drive’ is Friday, February 24.
CCITROËNINGITROËNING CH PLATES ABOUT TO ARRANGE A CLASSIC/HISTORIC PERMIT FOR SPARE PARTS & CLUB SHOP OTHER CLUBS? When sending the VicRoads FOR YOUR CITROËN? TOOLS For Citroën models, VIC: www.citcarclubvic.net.org/ form to a club officer for CH permit applications must be accompanied by a RWC. The Contact Rob Little. Phone: [03] memorabilia and other items NSW: www.citroencarclub.org.au/ ratification, please do the right onus is on owners to demonstrate that their cars are safe. Feel free 5823 1397 spareparts@ contact Graham Barton on [03] WA: www.citroen.aceonline.com.au thing and enclose a stamped, to consult our Permit Officers for advice regarding getting your car citroenclassic.org.au [Please do it 5987 0767 or clubshop@ QLD: www.citroenclub.org addressed envelope. on the road, and keeping it going. at a reasonable hour.] citroenclassic.org.au www.doublechevrons.aunz.com 4 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 5
We all know all about André ED SED PAGE 4 appy New Year everyone, McKibbin will not be re-standing. Citroën, his cars, his innovations I hope Santa was nice to Also, you may have noticed that PREZ SEZ PAGE 5 you. As a New Year gift to Leigh Miles is currently holding four and drive for publicity… but what H everyone, Leigh assures me there is or five significant committee posi- A-TRACTIONS PAGE 6 were his competitiors doing? This a full year of activities already sched- tions; and while he is doing an ex- uled, so EEDD SSEDED issue we are CCONTENTSONTENTS there will be lots of looking at RECENT EVENTS PAGE 13 PP REZREZ SS EZEZ chance to mix with Renault’s mid-’50s sales hit the cellent job with all of them, and he EDNA ANNELLS PAGE 16 your fellow club members, and Dauphine. At that time if you bring your nice car out for a run. assures me he is happy to do it all, I don’t think it is good in principle for MEMBER’S MODEL – RENAULT wanted a Citroën there was little One of these, that we will need your the club to depend so heavily on one DAUPHINE PAGE 18 choice – the 2CV was smaller and booking for soon, is the Labour person. The club would benefit from Day weekend at Hotham, kindly far more spartan and the ID/DS TOY A-TRACTIONS PAGE 30 a fresh perspective, our meetings are hosted by Peter & Christine bright and friendly - and brief! - and was in a class of it’s own. MUCKLE FLUGGA PAGE 34 Sandow. Escape the heat and enjoy we would love to have you along! the scenery; architect-designed ski- Many of you will have met Barry A NATION’S SHAME PAGE 40 chalet venue, fully equipped kitchen, Enclosed with this edition will be and great company! Book now! your annual club account, and you Annells, and most will have heard SPARE NEWS PAGE 44 will notice there has been a slight of Traction-afficianado Fred And for Easter, the annual Cit-In, price rise to partially cover increased CLASSIFIED ADS PAGE 46 this year to be held in Dubbo and Annells. Last November Edna magazine costs. We are starting to including access to the Western include advertising to defray future Annells passed away. The Funeral Plains Zoo. Let me know if you expenses, but implementation was cortage included three Traction are going; we might be able to ar- unfortunately delayed by taxation range a convoy. Avants: see page 16. concerns. On a similar topic, Cit-In 2008, be- The other big enclosure is the pro- Past events, Spare News: it is all in ing run by CCOCA, is now just over posed changes to the Constitution. 2 years away. I have now had two this edition of ‘Front Drive’. You will see that many of the offers of assistance, from Leigh changes are just tidying it up, cor- Miles and Davie Gries, so we now recting typos etc. In addition there Enjoy! hope to start getting things organ- is extra information about member- Leigh F Miles – Editor ised shortly. Further offers of as- ship categories, to ensure our in- sistance would still be welcome. come from sponsorship and adver- Which leads me to the AGM in tising remains non-taxable; the March [enclosed are the official Committee requests your vote or documents to give the required pe- proxy on this matter, to assist with riod of notice]. Please consider running the club and keeping mem- standing for a committee position; bership fees as low as possible. all positions will be declared vacant, Cheers, and our current Secretary Mark Andrea 6 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 7 COST: Adults $17, 5-15yo $9, The ever-popular 4WD track will be Please note: events with dark headings are CCOCA-arranged events. under 5 free back again, as will the Shannons Those with headings in white are selected items of interest that have been BOOKING: Not required Melbourne International Motor taken from the AOMC programme of events. CONTACT: Melbourne Show Auction of classic and International Motorshow, collectable cars and memorabilia. www.motorshow.com.au MONTHLY MEETING – RACTIONS Miles, [03] 9888 7506 [H] A-TA-T RACTIONS [email protected] The whole world is coming to the GUEST SPEAKER : TYRES, 2006 Motor Show, with Rolls Royce, You do not have to run to catch a YOU & THE ROAD • FEBRUARY Bentley, Porsche, Maybach, Pagani tram at Bylands, in the rolling WHEN: Wednesday, February 22 and Ferrari just some of the marques DAY RUN – countryside. They are all sitting there, TIME: 8.00pm showing their latest cars. Not TRAMWAYS MUSEUM looking incongruous seen across the WHERE: Canterbury Sports forgetting for one moment that paddocks. Trams and a rural Ground Pavilion, cnr Chatham PLEASE NOTE Citroën will be showing new C6, background are not a combination & Guildford Rds., Canterbury DATE CHANGE! prior to its launch later in the year. you encounter very often. So, come COST: Free For 2006 the Show runs three weeks along and ride the trams at The earlier, to fit in with the BOOKING: Not required Tramway Museum. The collection Commonwealth Games, and opens CONTACT: Leigh Miles, incudes trams from Melbourne, at 5 pm on Thursday 9 February. [03] 9888 7506, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong and a In addition to the finest exotic cars, [email protected] display of heritage buses. the Show has plenty of affordable Recent tests Below: Citroën Limited BBQ facilities will be offerings from Australia, Asia and show that will be showing available. WHEN: Sunday, February 19 Europe, along with a steadily 70% of the new C6 for LEAVE: 11:00am increasing American presence. all cars the first time in FROM: Melbourne Zoo carpark For sheer excitement, the star of the are using Australia at the opp Royal Park Station. 2005 motor show is back again – lower Melbourne In- ternational Mo- Melway 29 E11 Russ Swift and the Peugeot Precision pressures Driving Team will show that a car than that recommended by the torshow. Be TO: The Tramway Museum, among the first really can drive on two wheels under manufacturer. This results in higher Union Rd., Bylands, nr Kilmore. to see this lim- complete control. fuel cons-umption and reduced VicRoads 60, H7 ousine! COST:$8 museum entry BRING: Lunch, rug, MELBOURNE chair,INTERNATIONAL thermos,E-Tag MOTORSHOW ROADS: WHEN: Thursday, February 9 Bitumen to Sunday19 BOOKING: WHERE: Melbourne Exhibition Essential by Centre, aka ‘Jeff ’s Shed’. February 4 Car park entrance off Normanby Rd CONTACT: Leigh 8 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 9
safety. been promised it is bigger and better Nitrogen filled tyres not only hold than ever. So, gather a few mates and their pressure more effectively than head to Flemington for Melbourne’s conventionally inflated tyres, but biggest display or chrome and bad offer improved ride and economy. taste. A-TA-T RACTIONSRACTIONS GET STUFFED! WHEN: Friday, March 10 Come and learn more about tyres TIME: 7:00pm COST: Adults $10, than you dreamed possible. WHERE:Leigh Miles’, 16 Harrow St., Labour Day long weekend. But, once children $5, family $20 Supper? Naturally. Blackburn South again Peter & Christine Sandow have BOOKING: Not required COST: Cheap eats opened the lodge doors at Peninsula • MARCH BRING:Lunch, rug, chairs, sunscreen BOOKING: Not required for the Club. CONTACT: Leigh Miles, AOMC AMERICAN CONTACT: Leigh Miles, We will get away from the Fountain [03] 9888 7506 [H], MOTORING SHOW [03] 9888 7506 [H], Gate Shopping Centre at 7:30am [email protected] WHEN: Sunday, March 5 [email protected] SHARP and stop for morning coffee TIME: Spectators from 10:00am HOTHAM HULABALLOO in Bairnesdale, before embarking on Steam rollers, steam traction engines, the Alpine Way. Brilliant scenery and portable steam engines, stationary WHERE: Flemington Racecourse, WHEN: Saturday 11 to a great drive are promised for us. steam engines… working examples entry from Epsom Rd. Monday, 13 March Once on Hotham your time is your from the 1890s and beyond. COST: Adults $12, under 16 free LEAVE: 7:30am SHARP own – Christine is bound to have Blacksmith’s shop, with working BOOKING: Not required FROM: Fountain Gate Shopping arranged a walk for the fitter in the steam hammer. This is one of the CONTACT: AOMC, Centre, just off the Princes group. But you can just sit and chat finest collections of steam and diesel www.aomc.asn.au/USAshow06.htm Highway, Fountain Gate if you prefer. machinery in the country and on the The AOMC is back at Flemington TO: Peninsula Ski Lodge, The Lodge is blessed with great Labour Day longweekend if it runs, Racecourse this year and we have Mt Hotham cooking facilities so you will be able it’ll be running this wekeend. COST: $27pp per night to ‘cook up a storm’. The kids [big and small] amongst us BRING: Food for the weekend, For any additional information, will enjoy a ride on the 12” minature refreshments, towels, sheets, contact Peter or Christine and railway too. pillow cases, etc remember you MUST have If you are not joining us for ‘Hotham ROADS: Bitumen and well confirmed your booking by February Hulabaloo’ you should be making maintained gravel 24. BOOKING: Essential by February 24 NATIONAL STEAMFEST CONTACT: Peter & Christine WHEN: Saturday 11 to Sandow, [03] 9822 3226 [H] Monday, 13 March [email protected] TIME: From 10:00am each day It has been, I think, a couple of years WHERE: National Steam Centre, since we have ventured into the 1200 Ferntree Gully Rd., Victorian High Country for the Scoresby. Melway 72, D9 10 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 11 certain you get out to the National BRING:No particular requirements make wines that are appropriate to • APRIL Steamfest! Full details can be found ROADS: 99% bitumen good food, and to that end at www.vicnet.net.au/~mstec BOOKING:Essential with payment proprietors John and Lynne Derwin CLEANSKINS WINE for lunch by March 10 operate a smart restaurant with TASTING CONTACT: Leigh Miles, Lynne as chef. The wines employ the [03] 9888 7506 [H] usual Yarra varieties with Pinot Noir A-TA-T RACTIONSRACTIONS [email protected] and Chardonnay being specialities. YERING STATION We will buy direct from the farmer John is the winemaker with advice FARMERS’ MARKET & at the monthly Farmers’ Market at coming from Rob Dolan, who knows WHEN: Wednesday, April 5 Yering Station, where producers offer the region so well.’ TIME: 6:30pm ROUNDSTONE WINERY • Varieties produced: Chardonnay, TASTING & LUNCH the best local fresh produce and WHERE: Australian Cleanskins gourmet treats. We’ll browse the stalls Rosé, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cabernet Group, 85 Toorak Rd, between and enjoy the gourmet delights of Sauvignon, Merlot. Murphy and Avoca Sts • Licensed: Roundstone wines Victoria’s premier gourmet market – COST: Well, that depends on available to accompany lunch at cellar quite a contrast to the rustic charms what you buy door prices $15 - $35/bottle. of Talbot, that’s for sure. Across the BOOKING: Essential by March 30 • Food style: French Provincial from beautiful gardens lies the Yering CONTACT: Leigh Miles wood-fired oven . Station Winery, where you can [03] 9888 7506 or Our choice: $30 for 2 courses, $35 sample the excellent new season’s [email protected] WHEN: Sunday, March 19 for 3 [includes wine-tasting, and your vintages. Cleanskins can be excellent value, but LEAVE: 9:30am selections from the seasonal menu After we complete our purchases we not always! CCOCA resident wine FROM: Ringwood Lake, designed to complement the wines]. depart for Roundstone Winery for expert has pre-tasted from the huge Maroondah Hwy an excellent [and mid-priced] lunch. ANNUAL GENERAL range of wines available at Australian [city-bound side], Ringwood. The restaurant offers cosy fires, in MEETINGCleanskins and chosen a selection of Melway 49 J8 an idyllic setting with views over the WHEN: Wednesday, March 22 'good value' wines for us to taste, and TO: Yering Station, 275 C6 vineyard and lake. Roundstone for TIME: 8.00pm buy. With three reds, four whites and COST: Lunch at own expense lunch is a particular favourite of WHERE: Canterbury Sports a 'sticky' or two Leigh has truly mine. Ground Pavilion, cnr Chatham picked the eyes from the range. We will start with winetasting so we & Guildford Rds., Canterbury Members will all receive a 10% can select the wines to accompany COST: Free discount on the marked prices. our lunch [the menu is designed to BOOKING: Not required Afterwards we are going for dinner complement the wines]. CONTACT: Leigh Miles, at one of Toorak Road’s many cheap Ralph Kyte-Powell, in his review of [03] 9888 7506, & cheerful restaurants. Victorian wineries writes: [email protected] ‘Roundstone is one of the picturesque smaller vineyards that Please see the insert that has been sent make a tour through the gently rolling with this issue of ‘Front Drive’ for hills of the Yarra Valley so interesting. all the details of the Annual General A big part of the approach here is to Meeting. 12 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 13
DAY RUN: ACHERON WHERE: Centred around n Sunday, January 15 we fully, through the delights of email, WAY Western Plains Zoo had our first Event for those of you who have an email 2006 – a simple day run WHEN: Sunday, April 9 COST: Adults [13+] $170, O address listed with the Club will to the Mornington Peninsula. Now, LEAVE: 10:30am Children [5 – 12] have receved a note confirming the $110pp I do have to confess to a mix-up over meeting point as the Brandon Park BOOKING: Essential by 31 March this run. I to- A-TA-T RACTIONSRACTIONS CONTACT: CCCNSW , tally forgot to include in the RRECENTECENT EEVENTSVENTS FROM: Ringwood Lake, www.citroencarclub.org.au last magazine Shopping Centre. [BTW , if you Maroondah Hwy MONTHLY MEETING the meeting point for the start of did not recieve this email, it could [city-bound side], Ringwood. WHEN: Wednesday, April 26 the day. be that we do not have your email Melway 49 J8 TIME: 8.00pm Now, I realised I had committed this address. Please be sure to include TO: The Acheron Way, between WHERE: Canterbury Sports sin of omission after the magazine your email address on your mem- Marysville and Warburton Ground Pavilion, cnr Chatham went to the printer. But, ‘Ho hum’, bership renewal.] COST: Free & Guildford Rds., Canterbury I thought, ‘when people ring to Sue Bryant offered to drive me on BRING: Picnic lunch, chairs, COST: Free book in I will be able to tell them Sunday, which was really good. sunscreen BOOKING: Not required the meeting point.’ While I felt pretty alive and alert ROADS: Bitumen and well CONTACT: Leigh Miles, Well, that was before I decided, on on Sunday morning, I was con- maintained gravel [03] 9888 7506, December 23, that I was flying to cerned that by the afternoon I BOOKING:Essential by Wednesday, [email protected] the UK on December 28 and not would be feeling less than lively – April 5 AOMC BRITISH & returning until January 14. Thank- totally correct, as it happened. CONTACT: Leigh Miles, EUROPEAN CAR SHOW [03] 9888 7506, WHEN: Sunday, April 30 [email protected] TIME: Spectators from 10:00am Personal view: The Acheron Way is WHERE: Flemington Racecourse, one of the most delightful roads in entry from Epsom Rd. Victoria. Oh, it does not the COST: Display car, $12 inc reputation of The Great Ocean Rd occupants. or The Grand Ridge Rd, but it is Spectators, Adults $12 superb. Come along and experience BOOKING: Preferred by April 23 it for yourself. NOTE: Considerable if you intend to display parts of this trip are on well- CONTACT: Leigh Miles, maintained gravel. [03] 9888 7506, CIT-IN ‘06 – [email protected] DUBBO AOMC, WHEN: Friday, www.aomc.asn.au/B&Eshow06.htm Rod Ward and April 14 to Jill Schofield Monday April 17 enjoying lunch at Blairgowerie. 14 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 15
We rolled into Brandon Park and On the way south we were being at Peter and Christine Sandow’s at Leigh F Miles there were Andrea Fisher and Ian joined by Michael Molesworth and Blairgowerie. PS: If Peter ever offers you a glass Sperling in their red 2CV, parked his family, Alan and Sandy Baker Well, perhaps not everything. of red Italian bubbly… I’d next to Robert and Kaye Belcourt and Graham Barton; all in Tractions. Chairs, and BBQ facilities were sup- recomend you decline. So the Traction total was six for the plied. Sitting under the trees, chat- day! ting with fellow-enthusiasts is a Mark McKib- RECENT EVENTS First stop was most delightful way to spend an af- bin was careful- RECENT EVENTS the motor mu- ternoon and by the volume of the ly protecting his head form the with their 2CV Charleston. Trac- seum on Purves Rd, behind Arthurs chatter everyone did seem to be en- sun in htis styl- tions were represented by Mark Seat. The museum is small enough joying themselves. ish straw hat. McKibbin and Rod Ward and Jill to be manageable yet large enough Well, I know I did. Schofoeld. Ian McDermott and his to provide diversity. Cars, models, Traction was there as well, but he memorabilia can all be found there. Sue and I headed off about 4pm had just dropped in to say ‘hello’. However, there was not a Citroën which seemed to put us in front of Also on the drop in list was Rob to be found – at least not a full size the worst of the traffic, for which Little in his white Volvo. one. There were a number of mod- the Nepean Highway is notorious els of Tractions and 2CVs and ex- on a summer Sunday evening. Peter, Caroline and Darrius Dekker amples of DS, CX and SM. formed the ID/DS contingent in Thanks to everyone who came their green Safari, with John and The eagle-eyed in the group noticed along and helped make a great day Tricia Fleming in their DS sedan, the vintage Citroën radiator, as well. and especial thanks to Christine and who joined us at the museum. Peter for making us all feel delight- Lunch was a BYO-everything BBQ fully welcome.
S PARE PARTS FUND MEMBERS For a one-off $100 fee Spare Parts Fund members receive a 10% discount on spare parts. Alain Antonious Christian Ducasse Max Lewis Alec Protos Graham Barton Jon Faine Rob Little Darien Pullen Grant Bartrop Greg Fienberg David Livingstone Keith Radford Andrew Begelhole John Fleming Brian Love Chris Reid Wyn Boon Eric Forster Dominic Lowe Phillip Rogers Peter Bourne Jason Glenn Peter Lowrie Barry Rogers Peter Boyd Bill Graham Iain Mather Warren Seidel Peter Boyle John Greive Ian MacDermott Robert Shackley Ron Brookes Ruth Harrison Andrew McDougall Peter Simmenauer Roger Brundle ND Harwood Mark McKibbin Lois Smart Greg Bunting John Hawke Leigh Miles Robin Smith Mel Carey Peter Holland Laurie Moers Lelvin Stribley Gerry Carson Alan Hurst Michael Molesworth Bruce Stringer Denton Christie Keith James Derek Moore Barry Teesdale Sandy and Alan Jeff Cox Jean-Pierre Jardel Dave Morrell Mark Vickery Baker were there Doug Crossman Fred Kidd Ronald Murray Brian Wade on the day, as Adelino da Silva Rob Koffijberg Mike Neil Rod Ward well. Serge Doumergue David Law Richard Oates Hughie Wilson 16 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 17
dna Annells 3 April, 1926 band Fred, and his ownership of neral director, the rear door of the their gratitude for the consider- to 8 November 2005. his Citroën Traction 15 and she commercial was lifted to reveal a able co-operation they received EIt is with great sadness we maintained her interest and lively coffin in wicker-work draped in from the Citroën Traction owners must report the passing of Edna sense of humour to the very end. floral tributes. for their part in the funeral. It would be The service was taken by the lo- Citroën Traction Commerciale – EDNADNA ANNELLSNNELLS fair to say that cal Methodist minister, who John Waghorn and son Mark E A those attend- touched upon the wide ranging Citroën Traction 11B – Paul De- on the November 8, 2005. For the ing the funeral had naturally ex- travels of Fred and Edna and their Felice & Peter Semper. last few years she had found it nec- pected it to be the normal, con- mutual interest in all things Cit- Citroën Traction 15 – Mike and essary to limit her participation ventional funeral. They had assem- roën. in the long distance events, as she bled under and along the porch Moira Holmes. Fred and his family would like to had to have heart pacemakers fit- to await the hearse, however, to the Mr JH Butcher record their thanks for the many ted on two separate occasions. She surprise of everyone the hearse ar- Family friend messages of sympathy they re- maintained her interest in all rived as a Citroën Traction C.C.C Membership no 20906 ceived locally and from abroad. things Citroen through her hus- Commerciale, led by our local fu- They would also like to record 18 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 19 ember’s Model this down about YOUR Citroën. month is not quite a here came a time when 1 Why buy your Internet from someone. M member’s model. stopped placing ads in the Unfortunatley, despite promises of more esoteric press and my who drives a Mercedes Benz? articles from members, none arrived T lust turned to the For Sale columns in the classic EMBER S ODEL car magazines. MMEMBER’’S MMODEL As a total devi- by the copy deadline for this edi- ant, which is how 1 was described Connect to the Internet with a wholly tion. So, I have reserected an article by a rather unsympathetic judge in Australian owned and operated written by a friend in the UK about his summing up, 1 was never part Internet Service Provider – with an his Renault Dauphine. of the main stream: a Corniche, DS owner who’s just as nuts about cars » great service or pagoda top Mercedes was not for as you! Nicholas, horse ‘That’s not a Citroën!’, I hear you me. 1 needed to explore the darker riding in France. cry. Well, no, but is French and I » great prices side. Facels, Javelins, Guilia saloons DCSI provide local call dial-up Internet I know, there’s hope you will agree that Nicholas’ and Panhards made my juices flow. and fast ADSL broadband across something not report on buying and collecting his Australia. quite right little bijou is a delightful read. An ad for a white 1960 two-owner about it, isn’t If you do not agree – then grab a Renault Dauphine caught my eye. there. A couple of months later it was still pen and paper and put some words Pioneer Dial-Up 256/64 Lite ADSL includes: $9.90 includes: $29.95 200MB downloads per month 500MB downloads per month 10 cents per MB excess no excess charges
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29/06 20 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 21 there and 1 called the mobile What was 1 going to do for the the mat. My brother and 1 had go back. My father had driven from number. At the end of the conver- weekend? 1 called Glasgow only to spent our chaotic teenage years do- London to Milan in 1962 in a sation when 1 asked the advertiser be told that someone had been to ing this whilst one collected the car Model T Ford and changed the big where he lived we both realised that see the car for a third time and was for the other. 1 bought toothpaste end on the Mont Cencis pass, to the distance between his smart part haggling on the price. Just how one and a brush, boarded the flight and boot. It would be just too wimpish can haggle on a sat back with a large gin and tonic to back out now so 1 handed over £1,200 car is followed by another. The taxi ride my £1,200 and the previous owner MMEMBEREMBER’’SS MMODELODEL beyond my from the airport to the hotel on the told me 1 could have a free bed in of Glasgow and my slummy area of thought proc- far side of Glasgow where the car his hotel for the night. He also rec- South East London was really too ess so I said there and then that I was garaged seemed to last as long ommended what he assured me was great for a car that had only trav- would pay the asking price and fly as the flight from London and cost an excellent restaurant. elled 112miles in the last 15 years to Glasgow on Friday afternoon af- £40. Already this car was not quite 1 had a quick shower and headed out to contemplate. So that was that. ter work to collect it. The next day 1 the bargain it first appeared to be. for the restaurant which was every- Even in the discovered that there are lots of £39 As soon as the man selling the car thing I’d been told it would be and 1950s crash By chance my friend Sue called to return flights until you want one. say that she was going to Edinburgh opened the garage door all sense of more. The Dauphine was a mistake testing was a Every seat was booked and I ended doubt disappeared and 1 knew the but this restaurant most definitely part of motor the following weekend. It was ar- up paying £210 for a one-way flight. ranged that she would go and see Dauphine was for me. The paint was wasn’t. If this was going to be my vehicle develop- the car and one Saturday morning By Thursday evening 1 was begin- dull but there was virtually no rust, last night on this earth 1 may as well ment. Given in September an excited Sue phoned ning to wonder if this was really a the interior trim around the doors enjoy myself and so I ordered a half they knew what to say she was standing next to a very good idea. had turned to plasticised stalactites bottle of XXX to accompany the they were mak- white Dauphine and that 1 had to 1 had a meeting in Islington on Fri- but she started on the third try and oysters followed by a half bottle of ing, it is a sur- buy it because: ‘it’s just like the one day morning and my plan was to the sunroof glided back as if on YXX, which was so delicious that 1 prise cars like 1 had in Singapore – it even has a return home, pack an overnight bag Vaseline. The mileometer stood at had a second and then a third. It took the Dauphine, sunroof.’ ‘Sunroof ?’ 1 can’t resist a and take the Underground out to 25,180miles and 1 was to be the me an age to find the hotel but 1 Dyane or 2CV car with a sunroof. [Nick clearly Heathrow. The meeting overran and third owner since 1960. How ex- eventually got there. 1 fell into bed were allowed on The 1956 bro- agrees with your Editor – a sunroof the traffic, as is ever the case when citing! A two minute drive con- having set the alarm for 6:00am and the roads. chure for the is essential, as it gives so much more I’m running behind schedule, was vinced me that 1 was a complete Dauphine, typi- legroom. Ed.] horrendous. It was clear that if 1 fucking moron and what was 1 do- cally for the pe- was to go home I’d miss the flight ing 450miles from home on a wet Work was frantic and the weeks Glaswegian November night in a car riod, makes the evaporated. Suddenly it was a wet so 1 drove direct to Heathrow, left interior appear the Fiat in the short stay car park that to any right minded person was Tuesday night in November and my something approaching a death trap. extremely spa- partner was in Ireland for a week. with the keys and exit ticket under cious. But the die was set and 1 couldn’t 22 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 23
knocking over what 1 recall as being pull yerself together’] ringing in my vince myself. In any event we were get out of the car. 1 got back inside a rather ugly lamp which smashed ears, l was en route. For reasons 1 now heading south and there was a and wondered just what had pos- into a thousand pieces. The alarm still don’t quite understand 1 didn’t bit of blue sky ahead. 1 began to sing. sessed me to embark on this stupid woke me at the appointed hour but buy a map. 1 think it was probably Things were looking up. adventure. It was clearly doomed and 1 felt cold and shivery and when 1 because being a fifth generation Lon- The incident with the young man in the most sensible thing to do would doner 1 ex- the Porsche just north of Moffat on be to abandon the Dauphine, call for MEMBER’S MODEL pected the road the A74 arose as a result of a number a rental car and drive back to Lon- MEMBER’S MODEL signs to point of most unfortunate circumstances don. No one need ever know. But 1 pulled back the curtains it was pitch to London. and could probably have been couldn’t give up. At least try and get black outside. As 1 dozed I wondered They didn’t. Ninety miles later in tor- avoided if A] the signs announcing back to England, Nicholas. 1 decided what it was about me that had cre- rential rain, but that was nothing in the lane changes due to road works to give it another try and when 1 ated this mess. It was still dark an comparison to what lay ahead, 1 had been better placed B] the rain turned the key the engine burst into hour later and at 8:30 it dawned on found myself back in Glasgow hav- had not been of monsoon propor- life. We set off and as the Dauphine me that it was going to be one of ing driven to what is possibly, Ire- tions C] he had been driving a little passed over the border into England, those grey Glasgow days when it land excepted, the most westerly slower D] the Dauphine was less sus- for what was possibly the first time never really gets light. So with a bang- point of the entire British Isles. The ceptible to side winds E] 1 had not ever, the sun came out and all was ing head 1 decided that the time had car hadn’t missed a beat and my head been looking under the dashboard well with the world. 1 began to sing come to head south. 10 minutes later was fine because you don’t get hango- for the lever that controls the de- my favourite Helen Shapiro hits. with the words from ‘Some Like It vers with really good wine. Neither mister F] the windscreen wiper on Carlisle, Penrith, Lancaster, Preston. Hot’ [‘Damn it Daphne, you’re a man was true but 1 half managed to con- the driver’s side hadn’t decided for a We were eating up the miles. It was brief period, but a critical one none- theless, to cease operating. Fortu- nately no damage was done but it was a scary moment and, when forward motion was resumed, he yelled out something that didn’t translate terri- bly well into English. The rain got worse. The wind was howling. It was bitterly cold. A sign Design features I announced that a service area lay especially like 6miles ahead. The engine began to on the Dau- misfire and speed dropped as we as- phine include cended what seemed like an intermi- the side lights nable incline. We eventually got to on the C-pillar the service area and, joy of joy, there [this page] and was an AA patrolman. 1 opened the the air vents for door, which was almost blown off the rear-mount- its hinges. Someone, or so it seemed, ed engine [op- threw two hundred gallons of freez- posite]. ing cold water over me as 1 tried to 24 A USTRALIA’’ SS N ATIONALATIONAL M AGAZINEAGAZINE F OR C ITROËNITROËN OO WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTSNTHUSIASTS 25
MMEMBEREMBER’’SS MMODELODEL 26 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 27
desperately cold and at each service followed a routine which was all too area 1 would stop, run into the toi- familiar as I got out of my car and lets, take off my shoes and stick my into the back of the police car. [They feet under the hot air hand dryers do it differently over there. Ed.] ‘Is in an attempt to get the circulation this your vehicle Sir?’ followed by all the usual ques- tions. 1 hadn’t MMEMBEREMBER’’SS MMODELODEL got a road fund going. The rain was back in full force licence for the but we were making great progress. Dauphine, but as you don’t have to Wigan, Warrington, Knutsford, pay for one on any car built before Sandbach, Stafford. In the dusk Bir- 1972, this seemed like quite a mi- mingham loomed, orange and nor offence to me. And the police misty. This was fantastic. What a officers agreed. They seemed rather great car! I’d lost most of the feel- startled when 1 told them 1 was en ing in my feet due to the cold but route from Glasgow to London and the 6-volt lighting system was in full sympathetic when 1 added that 1 was working order. the warmest I’d been for over 6hours. 1 asked if they’d mind turning up • The Renault Gordini de luxe has everything for the enthusiast. With 40 m.p.g. and 80 m.p.h., this is the We were driving over Spaghetti Junc- car that brings real enjoyment to driving again! • Here is luxury and performance unsurpassed by any the heating to full blast and letting other car in its class. Independent 4-wheel suspension; four doors; fitted heater; 4-speed gearbox; tion when 1 spotted the police Range me sit in the front for a few minutes Rover in my rear view mirror. It windscreen washers; anti-theft device; child-proof rear door and a host of other special features. The and they kindly agreed. With a warm Gordini comes fully equipped! • Try the new Renault Gordini for yourself. Start with a new feeling of pulled in behind me and stayed there. glow 1 bid them good-bye to con- power. Ride in a new lap of luxury. Drive with a new sense of enthusiasm. Ready–Steady–Go see your Then it overtook me. Then the blue tinue the journey south. Renault dealer NOW. • Gordini De Luxe–£797.5.10 inc. p.t. (Sun-roof optional extra £26.18.4 inv. p.t.) lights and siren came on followed by Dauphine Gordini–£749.2.6 inc. p.t. It seemed likely that short of any the STOP sign. Shit. 1 pulled over RENAULT LTD • WESTERN AVE • LONDON • W3 SHOWROOMS: 54 BROMPTON RD • SW3 onto the hard shoulder. And then major catastrophe I’d be home by 28 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 29 7:00. Off the M6 on to the MI. It at Sperrings Garage in Hoddesdon hadn’t rained for a couple of hours. on March 3 1962 had been a Dau- We were doing fifty miles an hour phine. 1 feigned interest whilst won- and 1 began to feel warmer and dering whether there was time to get more optimistic the closer we got up to Leeds to meet the gerontophile in the call cen- MMEMBEREMBER’’SS MMODELODEL tre when he to my beloved London. And then came off duty. it happened. Just south of Luton, We’d be back on the road within the home of Vauxhall. There was a 10minutes. And then came the bang. 1 went cold. This was it. I’d words: ‘Where’s the water pump?’ buggered the engine. 1 should have My heart sank. This was a daft ca- checked the oil at some stage on this per and it was always going to end epic journey. But we were still bowl- in tears but I’d very nearly made it. ing along and there was no loss of The water pump had spent the best power. The green ignition light part of an hour a mile or so back came on so it was obviously the fan on the M1 and by now was clearly belt. 1 pulled over on to the hard as flat as a hedgehog. 1 could have shoulder and stopped at one of the cried. The AA man poked around AA emergency telephones. The in the gloom and lo and behold the charming young man in the call cen- water pump was still there. A new tre two hundred miles away in Leeds fan belt was slipped on and we set had never heard of a Renault Dau- off for the final leg of the journey. phine but the technology is such The drive from Luton to London that he was able to say: ‘Wait a was completed in record time minute whilst 1 adjust my monitor. though it soon became apparent that two lanes of the Motorway Oh, it’s very cute, and so are you. You were required at speeds over 60 as better hop over the other side of the the Dauphine’s stability was not that crash barrier to be on the safe side great on its ancient cross ply tyres. and I’ll have a man with you in 40minutes. If you were closer to Less than 12 hours after staggering Leeds I’d come out myself.’1 think out of bed 1 was home. 1 opened a the quality of the image was such that bottle of wine and sent an email to he was probably getting me confused Glasgow to say that all was well. Two with the telephone box. ‘Cute’ is not minutes later the reply came back – something I’ve been described as ‘delighted but surprised.’ I wasn’t. 1 since before Nixon resigned. never doubted the Dauphine for a minute. The AA man arrived. The first car Nicholas Beaumont he’d ever worked on when he started 29/05 30 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 31
he Dauphine was a vitally new model at its own motor show, whilst still keeping it competitive in Renaults were made exclusively by important model for Re at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris in price. Like the VW and its own the CIJ [Compagnie industrielle du Tnault, which in the mid- March 1956, just before it was dis- 4CV, the Dauphine was rear- jouet] company. However, when CIJ 1950s had a range rather like that played at the Geneva Salon. engined; its 845cc motor was ro- began to produce models based on of its archrival, Citroën: models at The Dauphine was an immediate bust, frugal and became popular other companies’ products, Renault success; it had with tuning companies [Gordini decided to allow rival toy manufac- TOY A-TRACTIONS an attractive being the most well-known]. Sev- turers to make their own versions TOY A-TRACTIONS and modern eral versions of the car were mar- of its vehicles. Dinky’s miniature the lower and upper ends of the design, and its wraparound rear win- keted over its 12-year life, includ- Dauphine came out in Spring 1957 market, but nothing to offer in be- dow contributed to good visibility ing the more luxurious ‘Ondine’ and as model 24E [later, 524]. It was tween. The 750cc 4CV had made and a spacious feel. Inside, the car the Floride two-door coupé. The available in a range of colours, in- its appearance at the 1946 Paris looked stylish and practical. By the Dauphine had a distinguished cluding pale green, grey, dark red, Salon and its strong sales had saved standards of the time, it could seat sporting career, including in the cream and brick red. A scarce ver- the company. By the mid-fifties, it five in comfort, and cars like the Monte Carlo rally, the Mille Miglia, sion of this model was introduced was still selling well [almost 4CV and Volkswagen Beetle ap- and even at Le Mans. in 1962 by the English Dinky com- 140,000 in 1955], but it was a small peared cramped by comparison. It The Dauphine was the first Renault pany in the guise of a London car and distinctly utilitarian. At the was the VW that Renault had stud- to be modelled by the French Dinky ‘Minicab’ [English Dinky model other end of the scale, the large ied particularly carefully when de- Toys company. This may seem sur- 268]. This model had the French 2.1litre Frégate was frumpy-looking signing the Dauphine. By the mid- prising at first, given the popularity body casting mated to an English and had never sold as well as had fifties, Volkswagen had become a of Renaults in France, but just baseplate and wheels. been hoped. With the Dauphine, la major manufacturer and had already as Citroën marketed Minicabs were an at- Régie [‘the firm’, as Renault was of- achieved large-scale exports, includ- models in the 1920s tempt to break the The 1957 ten simply referred to] was hoping ing to the United States. VW’s sales and ‘30s under the monopoly of French Dinky to move into new markets. To gain drive in America proved that there Jouets Citroën brand, the famous catalogue fea- maximum publicity, Renault pre- was a market for small cars there, so toys London tured this rather sented and Renault was keen to try to emu- based strangely pro- The inexpensive the late the Beetle’s success. Renault on portioned but well-detailed carefully designed the Dau- Dauphine Solido mod- phine as a on its front el of the more cover. Dau- up-mar- phine. ket model, 32 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 33 taxis. Unlike the black Austin taxis their whitewall tyres, lack of suspen- a model of the Dauphine in the ber 1956 it broke various speed of the time, Minicabs were painted sion, and tin baseplate, whilst some 1950s or ‘60s, but in 1995 brought records. Many French toy compa- bright red and were covered in ad- came with friction motors. Because out an inexpensive but very detailed nies [although surprisingly, not verts. The Dinky versions carry ad- the Dauphine had a fairly simple version in its range with the franglais Dinky] produced miniature versions vertising for Kenwood kitchen shape to model, Norev’s versions title of ‘Gamme Sixties’ [model of this car, which was painted in pa- don’t seem to 4541]. triotic French blue. With its white- TOY A-TRACTIONS suffer as much Much rarer than the Dinky, Norev wall tyres, helmeted driver and TOY A-TRACTIONS distortion of or Solido models are the Dauphines French flags, the Quiralu model equipment, Meccano and Britax the plastic ma- produced by the CIJ and JEP toy [number 20] looks particularly safety belts amongst other products. terial as some of the firm’s other companies. CIJ’s version [probably smart, as does the rival CIJ version The advertising transfers are often early products. Norev brought out around 1:45 scale, model number [model 3/2]. damaged on models found today a revised version of its Dauphine 3/56] was available as a Paris taxi What happened to the Dauphine? and examples of this model in good [model 50] in 1963, and this car- in red and black and also in Police For a brief time it achieved great condition fetch high prices. ried ‘chrome’ fittings and a modelled colours, whilst the JEP Dauphine success in the United States, even interior - remaining in the catalogue The range of plastic models made has a plastic body and diecast metal outselling the VW Beetle in late until 1969. Norev’s current cata- base. According to ‘Classic Mini- 1959. Then the ‘compact’ cars from by the Norev toy company began logue features many versions of the to include Renaults from 1955, ature Vehicles Made in France’ by the American companies hit back, Dauphine, both in 1:43 scale as well Dr. Edward Force, the JEP company and, coupled with a certain reputa- with the 4CV and a two-tone ver- as the tiny 1:86 scale. These are all sion of the large Frégate called the only produced five different mod- tion for fragility and poor safety, finely detailed models, and one of els - all are beautifully detailed and sales collapsed. [It would take years ‘Grand Pavois’. They were soon the more novel versions in the larger joined by a model of the Dauphine, are very scarce today. before Renault ventured back to the scale is the Dauphine ‘Assistance’ American market.] In Europe and and this remained in the Norev cata- Tour de France team car, with rac- A Renault often displayed alongside logue for many years [Norev the Dauphine at Motor Shows of French Africa it remained a very ing bikes carried at the popular car and for many years was The Norev model 13]. Early ver- the time was the small but sleek rear [model the main-stay of Renault’s range. In Dauphine with sions can be distin- ‘Étoile Filante’ turbine-engined 513097]. the mid-1960s, the Dauphine was original box. guished record breaker. In order to boost the Solido replaced by the larger and squarer This model is in by company's image in America, this never mint condition car was taken to the Bonneville pro- as it left the fac- Salt Flats in Utah, where duced tory and retains in Sep- a paper band tem- R8 around it, de- which scribing the re- plastic material tained the it was made rear-engine lay- from. This was out and went on to called ‘Rhodial- achieve its own consider- ite’, for The CIJ Re- able sales success. ‘Legerete, Solid- nault Etoile ite, Fidelite’. Mark Ebery Filante 34 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 35
Described by Jeremy Clarkson as ‘very by the reply. He is a regular listener to ing Citroën’s 108-vehicle travelling cir- pic gold medal class for spitting. Welsh’, ‘damn funny’ and ‘far and away the BBC World Service, we are told. cus more freedom of movement than A few other snippets of information the most talented of the hack pack’, Another smile: ‘English famous for any western half-devil monster faces had been gathered before leaving home. award-winning journalist and Tel- playing cricket,’ he says. Llewellin, as- have enjoyed since October 1, 1949, For instance, China sprawls over al- egraph Motoring contributor Phil tonished and delighted, turns to one when Mao proclaimed the People’s Re- most four million square miles and is of his compan- public of China. home to 1·1billion people. Road trans- ions and says: This was also a massive public rela- port? The vast majority of China’s MMUCKLEUCKLE FFLUGGALUGGA ‘Cricket! A tions exercise. There is talk of China 300,000 cars are either taxis or offi- flickering can- Llewellin has driven more than two needing two million vehicles by the end cial transport for VIPs. The fact that dle of hope in the alien darkness.’ million miles in everything from giant of the century [That is the end of the 477,305 cars were sold in Britain dur- American trucks to classic cars. The China rates 197th on the motor in- 20th century. Ed.], so the doors are ing last August puts that figure into Road to Muckle Flugga was his first dustry’s list of favourite destinations wide open. Operation Dragon’s real some sort of perspective. Most peo- book, describing 42 great drives in five for journalistic freebies. It is in the same raison d’être was to make sure that ple rely on pedal power, so national continents. Here, in an exclusive extract, class as Chad, Albania and Spitzbergen. Citroën’s name rang the right sort of assets include some 350million bicy- is the story of a 1988 trip to the very Scribblers who toe the line are brimmed bells in Peking. Three thousand Brits cles. far east… with champagne while executive jets applied for places. Twenty were ac- Chinese motoring magazines are dif- whisk them to nine-star hotels in lo- cepted. They included one actress, two As Welsh Frankton’s prodigiously per- ficult to read, or would be if there were cations favoured by the world’s wealthi- policemen and the computer program- spiring answer to Marco Polo, I am in any, so I consulted an automotive en- est sybarites. At the other end of the mer without whom no latter-day Can- Peking, where an immense depiction cyclopaedia before packing my chop- scale, I was squeezed into a CAAC air- terbury Tales would be complete. My of Chairman Mao Tse-tung gazes in- sticks. It revealed China to be the home liner’s cattle-class seat for the intermi- convivial comrade, a young motoring scrutably down from the medieval Gate of such revered marques as Dong-Feng nable flight to China, handed the keys writer from Yorkshire, was looking of Heavenly Peace. Flanked by slogans [A joint operation with Citroën, pro- to nothing more exciting than a 55bhp forward to being screen-tested for BBC – ‘Long live the People’s Republic of ducing booted hatchback and invited to visit People’s TV’s Top Gear programme when he China’ and ‘Long live the unity of the versions of the Cotton Mill Number Three or the got home. His name was Jeremy peoples of the world’ – the portrait ZX. Ed.], Hong- Han Yang Maternity and Family Plan- Clarkson. stares across a square literally bigger Qi, He-Ping, ning Centre. than many a British farm. This We studied Citroën’s guide to China Changjiang, flagstoned vastness, a popular place for This opportunity to take a look be- while heading for Paris to join a posse Feng-Huan and flying kites big enough to frighten hind the Bamboo Curtain came about of Euroscribblers. This document had Jingganshan. Boeings, is also overlooked by the Great when Citroën invited me to spend a useful advice on just about every ap- None of these Hall of the People, the Monument to few days with the Operation Dragon propriate subject – apart from driving names rolls off the People’s Heroes and the People’s caper that gave young people from nine in China. Take earplugs, it suggested, the tongue quite Cultural Park. The People’s Republic European countries an unprecedented because Chinese hotels tend to be very like Ferrari or Jag- of China is indeed a very people coun- chance to spend a month seeing all noisy. Toilets? Out in the sticks, what uar, but they do try. It accounts for one in four of the manner of sights while driving AXs few facilities exist come nowhere near sound much bet- world’s population. A young man with from Hong Kong to Peking. Opera- western notions of acceptability. La- ter than the Zil, a shy, polite smile approaches the trio tion Dragon was given the go-ahead dies interested in privacy should pack Zim, Zis, Zat and of Europeans. We are known, collo- because ‘Dragon Years’ in the Chinese a folding screen. Avoid seeming too Zother inflicted quially, as ‘monster faces’ and ‘western calendar have always been associated familiar with young Chinese women, on Russian mo- half-devils’. He says: ‘Excuse me. Do with significant events. The powers that it cautioned. There was also a note torists. you speak English?’ and is delighted be agreed to mark this one by grant- about the Chinese being in the Olym- 36 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 37
Sunday night was spent at the Holi- trikes equipped with platforms big most magnificent historical structure Christ. The section nearest Peking day Inn near Charles de Gaulle airport. enough to take goods plus two or three in existence today’’. But even the most dates from 1368-1644 when the Ming The food and service were awful, so people, account for most of the rush magnificent of masterpieces is diffi- dynasty ruled the roost. Wide enough we investigated the contents of several hour traffic. cult to appreciate when fatigue and for five horsemen to ride side by side, bottles of wine. Clarkson had a theory First impressions of Peking? It makes brutal, suffocating heat are exacerbated it snakes and switchbacks over steep, Blaenau by several million people. Many of wooded hills. This must be a magical Ffestiniog on an them stand by Clarkson while cam- place to visit when the world is cool, MMUCKLEUCKLE FFLUGGALUGGA incredibly vile eras click. Being snapped with a giant clear and quiet, not hot, hazy and seeth- that getting well and truly beveraged day look like a cross between the Gar- western half-devil monster face earns ing with humanity. would help deaden the pain of our den of Eden and Shangri-la. Modern extra points. Just about every visitor The other half of China’s population non-stop flight to Peking. I agreed, buildings completely devoid of any- totes a still or video camera, but the is at the Ming Tombs, which we visit seconds before falling off a bar-stool thing other than ugliness line mile af- Forbidden City is just that from the after chopsticking a lunch whose best for the third time that night. ter mile of broad, straight, character- Belgian television crew’s viewpoint. dish may well be spiced worms. The less streets. Mission Control is the What is the problem? They have been tomb chosen for our delectation would Monday: CAAC stands for Civil Avia- told that their cameras are too big. tion Administration of China. ‘China Jianguo, one of several posh hotels make an adequate underground car Airlines Always Cancel’ and ‘Chinese built since China started welcoming Wednesday: The Citroëns we have trav- park or a magnificent wine cellar. The Airliners Always Crash’ are alternatives. visitors who had previously been re- elled so far to drive are 800miles from nearby Sacred Way, lined with all man- Wish I had not read a ‘Daily Telegraph’ garded as imperialist running dogs. It Peking, heading north for Zhengzhou, ner of 15th-century statues, is far more report that highlighted CAAC’s repu- is as typically Chinese as the Savoy, where we are due to join the convoy impressive. The guide asks if my coun- tation for poor service, an apparently Claridges or Connaught, which may tomorrow. Today, a minibus whose try’s culture includes mythological ani- indifferent attitude towards safety and not be a bad thing. The contents of driver is in no danger of exceeding the mals. She is amazed to be presented scant regard for timetables. my room’s mini-bar include Beefeater nationwide 40mph speed limit takes gin, Bell’s whisky and small bottles of us to the Great Wall. We spend forever Tuesday: Flight CA934 lands on time claret. droning through drab suburbs that at 7am. Having to wait for customs swelter beneath a yellow-grey sky. It is and immigration officials to report for We need sleep, but lunch is served at 11am. Dishes include what look and that baleful colour because pollution duty suggests that such punctuality is is mixed with dust carried eastward at indeed unusual. Outside, it looks grey taste like fossilised golfballs. The last course is soup. Thought for the day? high altitude from the deserts of cen- enough to be England on a really cold, tral Asia. Motorised vehicles are heav- miserable November day, but tempera- If the Chinese were so clever, why didn’t they invent the knife, fork and spoon? ily outnumbered by bikes, trikes and ture and humidity make me feel as if cars powered by up to three horses. Eyes I am wearing a heavy blanket in a Then it is off to the Forbidden City, which was actually the imperial palace peeled for such things fail to spot any sauna. The air is like hot cement dust. sources of petrol or diesel. Our minibus has speed-related air con- from the 15th century until 1912, ditioning. This depends on how wide when the last Manchu emperor was Half of China’s population has cho- the windows can be opened, and on given the old heave-ho. This complex sen this day to visit the Great Wall, the position of the driver’s right foot. of huge but elegant pagoda-roofed which is 3,750miles long and said to buildings painted in greens, golds, reds be the only man-made structure vis- China’s answer to the M4 between and blues is described in one authori- ible from the moon. That is nonsense, Heathrow and central London is lit- tative guidebook as the country’s most but it is a fact that work on this other- tle more than a bosky lane. Bicycles imposing architectural masterpiece wise mind-boggling bulwark started burdened with immense panniers, and and, indeed, “without a doubt the several centuries before the birth of 38 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 39
with a badge depicting the red dragon 400 miles from the sea – and prepare calls some advice in the guidebook: ‘Re- the interpreter trying to say ‘molybde- of Wales. ‘Is this dragon more impor- to become part of Operation Dragon member that if the Chinese have a sense num’. tant than your king?’ she asks. at long last. Just before the train reaches of humour, it is certainly not the same Saturday: Twelve hours are needed to By midnight all the Chinese who had Zhengzhou our carriage’s cleaning lady as ours.’ drive 240miles up the Yellow River’s been at the Great Wall are sleeping on throws all the rubbish out of the win- The afternoon is spent visiting Peo- valley to Xian. The roads are good, dow. ple’s Cotton Mill Number Three, apart from a few very short sections ‘The main topic where 9,000people are employed. Sal- where the surface has vanished, and MMUCKLEUCKLE FFLUGGALUGGA of conversation ary plus bonus averages £50 a month what other traffic there is has to stop the ground outside Peking’s main rail- is bowels, because we’ve all had the trots and they get seven days holiday a year. while Operation Dragon passes. Why way station. All those who had been at at least once since leaving Hong Kong,’ Friday: Literally tens of thousands of so slow? Because the schedule includes the Ming Tombs are snoring on the we are told by a cheerful and rather people line Zhengzhou’s streets as the no fewer than four food-and-leak floor inside. We board a ‘soft’ sleeper pukka English girl who appears to be half-devils hit the road for Luoyang. stops. Because we encounter brief but – these trains are reserved for monster smuggling a pair of melons. She is an Out of town, going fast enough to ferocious downpours. Because no Chi- faces and Chinese bigwigs – which de- excellent source of information. ‘Chi- snatch top gear for a few seconds is nese policeman is going to break the parts within five seconds of the adver- nese ladies do not have much in the greeted with ironic cheers, because the speed limit, even when escorting mon- tised time. Clarkson is awarded an ex- way of boobs, so everyone’s fascinated heavily policed convoy’s pace is glacial. ster faces. tra can of Changlee beer for discover- by the bigger variety. The Chinese stu- Average speed to Luoyang is 22·4mph. Xian is the end of the driving road for ing how to switch off the six-berth dents travelling with us are delightfully Immense crowds watch us driving to Clarkson and Llewellin. Tomorrow we compartment’s source of ying-tong naïve. One of them looked very puz- visit the world-famous army of music punctuated by incomprehensi- zled when contraception was men- the Friendship Hotel. It’s out in the sticks, where locals accustomed to see- terracotta soldiers before starting the ble announcements. tioned. He said they were taught to homeward haul. The otherwise excel- whistle until the urge went.’ ing one Dong-Feng a month are as- Thursday: The sado-masochistic Brits tonished by the size of Citroën’s caval- lent Hotel International can’t provide torture each other with visions of There have been one or two unfortu- cade. In addition, we are almost cer- the celebratory champagne we have home – bacon and scrambled egg, sau- nate accidents on the road from Hong tainly the first westerners these people been promised by Citroën’s public re- sage and grilled tomato, toast and mar- Kong, so People’s Traffic Commis- have ever glimpsed. Here, as in lations lady, Dominique Morgan, but malade – while breakfasting on noo- sioner Chow tells the new intake of Zhengzhou and other towns, the cars does stock Guinness Foreign Extra dle soup, spring onions and boiled monster faces how to drive before li- ahead of us are greeted with nothing Stout. The extent to which the world string vest. People’s Train 121 heads cences are issued. He talks like an AK- more than polite smiles or blank looks. has shrunk is underlined when I sip it south across a surprisingly green plain. 47 automatic rifle. ‘Be careful! Be care- Clarkson and Llewellin are greeted while flicking through the ‘China Daily’ We pass fields planted with rice, works ful of cars! Be careful of trucks! Be with great gales of laughter, because newspaper, reach the sports page and where bricks are still made by hand, careful of buses! Be careful of bicy- we wave through the sunroof. People am informed that Surrey’s cricketers and herds of goats tended by eternally cles! Be careful of animals! Be careful point, wave, shout and almost fall off beat Glamorgan by 10 wickets at The patient old men whose faces, shaded of people! Be careful of anything that high buildings. We couldn’t have at- Oval. by traditional straw hats, are the col- can move! If you hit a person, and they tracted more attention had the AX · The Road to Muckle Flugga, by Phil our and texture of medieval parchment. are alive, discuss accident with them! been pulled by a dozen naked Playboy Llewellin [with foreword by Jeremy Our train shares the line with If dead, discuss with other person! bunnies. Clarkson turns to me and Clarkson] is published by Haynes earthquaking steam locomotives, no- Stop when light red! Go when light says: ‘This makes you realise what it [ISBN 1 84425 036 9] and is now tably QJ-class 2-10-2 giants based on green!’ Capitalist lackey Llewellin is must be like to be famous.’ available on the internet from Pitstop a Russian design from the Fifties. We tempted to ask Commissioner Chow Books for $49.99, plus p&p. cross the Yellow River – more than a a question – ‘Shouldn’t it be red for go The night’s entertainment, a press con- mile wide at this point, despite being in a Communist country?’ – but re- ference, is worth attending just to hear 40 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 41 ouis Renault and the shame prison at Fresnes. World War, and Renault was a high- it for removal into Germany, to- of a nation. As the 129th an Officially, cause of death was given profile scapegoat needed by the gether with its workforce. Renault Lniversary of the birth of as urine in the blood, but according post-war administration to demon- fended them off by agreeing to Louis Renault looms, on February strate its political direction and re- make vehicles for the Wehrmacht. to eyewitness and family accounts, Opposite: left to 15, Ian Morton of ‘The Independ- the previously wiry little 67-year-old solve. He was heard to remark: ‘Give them the butter or they’ll take the cows’. right: Marcel had been tor- But there are those who to this day Renault in the AA NNATIONATOIN’’SS SSHAMEHAME tured and regard him not as a collaborateur From this situation the charges of passenger’s seat beaten. A nun but as a hero, and his end as an en- collaboration and profiteering were of an 1897 de ent’ ponders whether the French will at Fresnes testified that she saw Re- during national scandal. But for his to arise, though if Renault was Dion, Louis at own up to a monstrous injustice nault collapse after being hit over efforts, Renault factories and em- guilty of anything it was Gallic prag- the wheel of his against their greatest automotive the head by a jailer wielding a hel- ployees would have been shipped to matism. While his firm undeniably 1898 3/4hp pioneer? met. An X-ray organised by his fam- Germany. When France was at- contributed to the Nazi war effort, Renault and Little more than 60 years ago, on ily indicated a broken neck verte- tacked in 1939, Renault was sent later studies showed that he also Paul Hugé driv- October 24, 1944, Louis Renault, bra. by his government to America to ask hived off strategic materials and ing the first pro- giant of early motoring and argu- Louis Renault had been accused of for tanks. He returned to find a sabotaged trucks. Dipsticks were duction example ably the greatest single name in wartime collaboration. Some Franco-German armistice in place. marked low, for example, and en- of the Model 1. French auto history, died in a hos- 40,000 French died at the hands of From that point, like some other in- gines dried and seized in action, an Below: Marcel pital in the Rue Oudinot, Paris, hav- vengeful compatriots in the con- dustrialists, Renault felt that his outcome much in evidence on the Renault driving ing been transferred there from fused aftermath of the Second duty was to preserve France’s manu- Russian Front. in the 1903 Par- facturing base. Military and Daim- But with liberation, Renault became is-Madrid Race, ler-Benz officials arrived at the gates the personal target of a reprisal cam- in which he was of his Billancourt factory to assess paign. Left-wing newspapers wildly killed. 42 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 43
accused him of making six billion enemy’. Though the Renault name tion of his business is: tion of compensation – huge com- francs from the war, and of respon- was retained, compensation was not ‘At the summit of his glory, Louis pensation. sibility by association for many mili- paid to the family. Even today all Renault was completing his life- Even those who know enough to When Citroën tary and civilian deaths. The au- mention of Louis Renault is time’s work but he was no longer in raise a glass to the great man on his grabbed the thorities were accused of failing to avoided by Régie Renault officials. tune with the times. And in 1940, birthday – February 15 – do so cir- headlines in he did not understand the shape his- The compa- cumspectly, for it is murmured that 1922 with its tory was taking. When he died in ny’s post-war to speak publicly in France of such special half- A NATIONATOIN’SS SHAMEHAME 1944, his company was nationalised A N ’ S recovery is of- matters even 60years later is to risk track models for being “an instrument of the en- act. Convinced he had performed ficially attributed to the efforts of some sort of indirect reprisal, per- crossing the Sa- emy”.’] honourably and confident of jus- Pierre Lefauchaux, who took over haps a tax investigation. hara, Renaylt’s the running of the nationalised fac- Those in France who argue against reponse was to tice, Renault refused to disappear The same pragmatism that guided tories. When the centenary of the what they may see as an injustice develop a ver- discreetly, as did some others whose Louis Renault through those dark original Renault Frères company meted out to Louis Renault believe sion of the wartime conduct had been ques- war years and saved his company was celebrated by Régie Renault in it unlikely. Legally it could be ar- 10CV with the tioned. from displacement and absorption 1999, his grandchildren Louis and gued that Régie Renault, that jewel aim of making To appease the baying press, he was by Daimler-Benz must still direct Marie were ignored. Will France ever in the country’s industrial crown, it the first arrested. Though he was never both his supporters and the govern- rehabilitate her outcast son? Will constitutes the proceeds of murder wheeled vehicle charged, or tried, and died before ment. to traverse the he had the chance to put his case, Régie Renault ever proclaim its and theft. The administration could founder? not allow this argument to surface, This article by Ian Morton first ap- desert. In 1927 his company was seized by the state peared in The Independent on 14 the six-wheelers after his death on the grounds that [Today, on the Renault web-site the for any admission that Louis Re- nault and his company had received May, 2005. were in limited it represented ‘guilty enrichment ob- main comment on the death of production. tained by those who worked for the Louis Renault and the nationalisa- rough justice would raise the ques- 44 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 45 ell Christmas has come quite a few of these new products slower than ours. & GS models, an email arrived from and gone for another and that is great as this sharing of Another new part has just turned an English CX and GS specialist Wyear but we do have resources is really gratifying. up after Christmas, these are floor called ‘Chevronic Centre Ltd’, their some presents still unopened, the This year has been very good for repair panels for tractions, they website is www.chevronics.co.uk accompanying photograph is that business and many members have measure 700mm x 1200mm and may be worth a look as they are utilised our have the strengthening ribs pressed advertising new seat foam for both PARE EWS spare parts into them. Chris Reid a member models plus other goodies. [I have SSPARE NNEWS stocks, I am from Canberra had these made up been using Chevronics for some of the tail lamp bases I spoke of in certain there must be a growing so I added a few to the order to keep time – both for the supply of parts the last magazine. number of tractions hitting the the unit price down as I thought and when I was living in the UK roads in not only better condition most tractions needing restoration they were servicing my GSA. Rob The missing im- They were delivered to me on the than in the past but also looking normally require a front floor Moss, who owns the business is very age from the last 30th of December, in the initial more original than ever before thanks to thoughtfully positioned pleasant and remarkably helpful. I edition: Here batch we received seven sets, four of thanks to our alliance with overseas scuttle vent. We currently have 5 can only endorse him as a potential are the lamp these were presold so if you want a people such a Traction Avant Neth- panels in stock and these are priced source for parts and expertise. Leigh bases Rob ref- pair for your car order quickly. They erlands, most ably represented by at $89.00 each. Miles. Ed] ered to in the are priced at $110.00 a pair, I would our contact, Rob Koffijberg. If there Rob Little. last ‘Spare consider we will run at least one Now one for our members with CX is an elusive part you are looking News’. other batch of these as I expect to for, please do not hesitate in con- sell the original stock quite quickly. tacting me as one never knows what I would like to thank once again the can be found and don’t forget the contribution made by Rochester value of advertising for a part in the member Brian Love who did all of magazine, as I am not privy to what the leg work in bringing this project each member is holding in his shed, to fruition. there is still many parts in member’s Sometimes people ask why you put sheds, some of whom are only too so much time into a task such as willing to divest some in exchange spare parts officer, believe me when for a few dollars. you can suddenly supply a part that I have still not seen any Kevlar brake has been unprocurable for many pads for the ‘D’ series as seasonal years and know how important it is and family pressures have limited to have the correct part fitted to cars, the amount of time I have to de- it is then all worthwhile. One day vote to such things, nor have any we may see all big boot tractions more news on the long awaited hub refitted with original tail lamps in- caps but I am eternally optimistic stead of the mixture that exists to- and patient and I ask members who day. [Says he who has fitted have these ordered to be likewise, Volkswagen lights to his own] as after speaking to the people mak- The other nice thing is that other ing these products in Birmingham, members have been involved in I am certain their clocks tick a lot 46 A USTRALIA’ S N ATIONAL M AGAZINE F OR C ITROËN O WNERS A ND E NTHUSIASTS 47
FFOROR SSALEALE
1986 CITROEN MEHARI Registered as JS 1111 Tasmania is in Bangkok. Seller estimates landed [JS=John Stafford]. It is all there, I Rare opportunity: Hoggar Beige ABS price in Australia is $5,000. Contact bought it as a project, body/chassis has body in very good condition, 602cc Peter Symons by email: SymonsP the usual steel cancer. The owner has not standard engine and gear box. Technically @halcrow.com [29/06] had the engine running, however. everything is the same as a standard 2CV Other parts or Dyane so no problems with parts or 1 9 8 3 2 C V • 2 x chassis, 1 on wheels, 1 incl. axles/ servicing . Full Queensland registration hubs This red 2CV is in excelent condirtion [SIX02] right hand drive. Includes full • 1 x spare driver’s door & front wing and won its class at the 2005 CCOCA/ standard roof/door screens plus • at least 2 gearboxes. [see photos] CCCV Concours. Reg: NVS 192. additional ‘pickup’ style roof and rear • 2 x early engines [not complete] Asking $12,500. Contact: Rob Little, cover. Fitted with Michelin 135 x15 • also odd pistons/pots/miscellaneous [03] 5823 1397 [H] or spareparts@ ‘XMS 100’ mud and snow tyres. 2 spare engine/body parts citroenclassic.org.au. [29/07] XMS100 tyres + 1 standard 135x15. • Crankcase of the earliest 2CV through Very sound reliable runner, in daily use. Commonwealth Mtrs. # 8530005 1985 CX 25 I E PALLAS For sale by original owner. Call Anne on • Original registration: GCS 900 White, beige leather upholstery, no 04 3869 8840. Offers around $9,500. photocopied micro documents in cracks in the dash. Auto. CCN 586 [No [29/08] associated box RWC]. One Owner 124,000km. • 4 x boxes of workshop manuals, spares Registered to February 2006. Deceased W ORKSHOP MANUALS books, sales brochures, books, estate $1,250 ONO. Phone David Two early Citroën repair manuals each memorabilia, notes/facts, interesting Walker [03] 9725 7255 [B] or 04 1854 in two parts: repair description and articles, 2CVGB Help binder-book & 5000 [M]. [29/06] diagrams. The manuals are reported to magazines, Planet 2CV magazines in be in good condition with only colour English, a few in French, photo/postcard fade of the hard covers: album. Front Drive magazines • 1 x 1938 12 & 15 CV [Traction] – • 1 x English 2CV original bonnet red cover badge.All these items are in Mildura, Vic. • 1 x early 50’s 2CV – green cover Contact John Hancock, PO Box 962 WWANTEDANTED $120 the pair plus postage from Qld. Cooroy, Qld., 4563, phone [07] 5442 Phone David 07 5465 8657 [29/08] 6523 or email him at L IGHT 15 WHEEL TRIMS 1960 ID 19 [email protected] [29/06] Light 15 wheel rim, and hubcaps [one piece, domed]. Please email 1960 ID 19 in good restored condition, 1987 CX 25 [email protected], or phone Reg: PZJ 319. $7,500 ono. Phone Rare 5-speed manual, recently fitted fully 02 6227 5999. [29/08] Andrew [03] 9486 4221; mob 04 2722 re-conditioned engine, tyres with less 0249 [29/08] than 2,000km. New front and rear discs, BX HAYNES MANUAL 1955 2CV #85510007 pads lower ball joints, inner and outer I have just acquired a brace of BXs. One steering track rods. Upper ball joints has a done gearbox and the other has a More than a car, this is a complete life! could do with replacement and these screwed engine! I would love to get a hold Ex-CCOCA member has decided to parts are supplied with the car. of a Haynes owners work shop manual ‘divest’ himself of his 2CV and his Mechanically excellent, as is the body, for these cars. Contact Tim Donaldson collection of parts, publications and the although there is some slight corrosion by email: donaldson @fuzion.com.au like. Babette is a 1955 2CV, # 8551007. in the sills. Asking $1,500, but the car [29/06]