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Andre Citroen: The Man and the Motor Cars Paperback – January 1, 1999

by John Reynolds (Author)

4.8 8 ratings

The French automobile pioneer and entrepreneur André Citroën is one of the neglected founding figures of the industry. Although his name remains a familiar household word to millions of motorists, his colourful personality and spectacular achievements are now largely unrecognized. This illustrated biography reviews Citroën's life and work and catalogues the cars he produced. It restores his reputation as one of the most progressive and imaginative characters in the history of the motor car.

The book recalls his privileged childhood as the son of a prosperous Jewish immigrant in Paris during the late nineteenth century. It records the start of his meteoric career, which began with the manufacture of helical gears and continued with the production of munitions during the First World War. It goes on to chronicle his prodigious accomplishments as a motor-magnate in the 1920s when he was responsible for the first mass-produced and mass-marketed vehicles in Europe, a feat of industrial creativity that earned him his reputation as the Henry Ford of France. His story comes to a sad end in the Great Depression of the mid-1930s when, just after the launch of his most famous model, the revolutionary Traction Avant, his company went bankrupt and he died.

This first published account of André Citroën's life and work to be available in English gives a fascinating insight into his complex character, and goes some way towards explaining his extraordinary success and failure. It shows how his mastery of salesmanship and publicity combined with his love of risk-taking to make him an international celebrity whose adventurous business policies and extravagant way of life consistently created headline news.

A freelance motoring writer and journalist, John Reynolds is an authority on the history of the Citroën company. His books include studies of the 2CV and the DS and a history of Citroën's UK factory from 1926 to 1966.

Print length

238 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Sutton Publishing Limited
Publication date

January 1, 1999
ISBN-10

0750923229
ISBN-13

978-0750923224
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sutton Publishing Limited (January 1, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 238 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0750923229
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0750923224
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces

Best Sellers Rank: #8,081,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.8 8 ratings

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Richard B. Kirschenbaum

Andre Citroen the Man and the Motor Cars

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2013

Verified Purchase

A fascinating chronicle of the Great French Marque and the Genius behind it. Citroen was a born a great innovator and social engineer who exemplified Capitalism at its finest. Unions disliked him because he rendered them obsolete as he did the cars of his competitors .
Andre Citroen rocks!

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2000

For those with even a passing interest in Citroen cars or the company's founder this book will prove educational and fascinating. The Citroen car, though scarce in the US, is always reverred by automotive journalists, when they are forced to write about the cars. For instance, Autoweek Magazine's inclusion of Citroens in their greatest cars of the century issue. Okay the book, it is well written unlike so many auto books; entertaining, full of interesting info about Andre Citroen's unlikely role as auto entrepreneur, and Paris and France. Mostly, you will be very impressed by the relatively unknown (in USA) Citroen company's major contributions to automotive engineering and efforts in World War II. If you consider yourself knowledgable of cars, include this book and you never refer to a Citroen as an ugly car again. I read this book at the library and probably will buy my own copy.

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Top reviews from other countries

G. E.

Very interesting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2016

Verified Purchase

A very interesting book. I have never driven a Citroen or had one and I don`t know why I bought the book, but I`m glad I did. Not what I usually read but nevertheless a great insight into the trials and tribulations of the man and his company.

Annette Walton McGillycuddy

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 16, 2017

Verified Purchase

As promised, thank you.

hilaryjemmerson

brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2013

Verified Purchase

this is just what i wanted as special gift for somebody special who admires andre citroen and the cars he designed.

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