1939 Citroën Light 15

This Citroen Light Fifteen was built in Slough, UK in 1939 and exported to South Africa, where it spent half a century before being repatriated in 1989.

The following year, the car began a three-decade stint in single ownership - essentially becoming one of the family, and certainly being treated as such. Having been bought at auction, it was given a major engine overhaul and gearbox rebuild, and also updated with modern CV drive shafts, radiator and other components.

It was bought from the late owner’s estate in August 2019 by a Citroen enthusiast from Lancashire who fitted new tyres and inner tubes but has used it very sparingly since.

In fact it has only covered 1,500 miles in the last 10 years, so it could do with a new home with someone who has the time to drive it and enjoy it.

The vendor and previous owner both claim that the paint is original. The paint on the inside of the engine bay is indeed a burgundy colour but slightly darker and more muted than the beautiful crimson exterior.

Nonetheless, the exterior paint work is in a very good condition, there are some small patches where tiny blisters have emerged on the leading edges of the front wings, some slight bubbling here and there and marks on the driver’s door - but for an 80-year-old car, it is rather excellent. A good, deep polish might put the car on another level.

The chrome too is very strong with nothing more than the occasional scuff or blemish. The rubber seals, such as around the windscreen and boot, are starting to perish and crack and could do with replacing.

Being a Slough-built car, it features more chrome around the grille as well as bumpers with overriders. Upon inspection, the semaphore trafficators work as they should.

The Light Fifteen sits on its original steel wheels, painted in body colour with chrome hubcaps. There are a few scuffs and chips in the paint on the wheels, and also on one of the caps, but largely they present in good order. All (including the rear mounted spare) were fitted with Michelin tyres in June 2020 (tyres dated 2019).

It is appropriate that Michelin rubber was chosen, not just because it is a French brand but also because Citroen was owned by them between 1935 and 1968.

Opening the “suicide” front door reveals that the interior of the Citroen is very nice and is upholstered in a cream with crimson piping to match the exterior. As far as we can see there is very little damage or undue wear across the seats or door trims - just a bit of fraying on the door pillars - and we can vouch for the well-sprung seats being very comfortable.

The gear stick protrudes from the centre of the dash - linking to the gearbox at the front of the engine - and has an unconventional shift pattern. There is quite a bit of play in the stick before any gear engages or disengages, which may be normal, or may be something that could be improved. The umbrella-handle handbrake too, sprouts from under the dash and all three pedals drop, pendant-style, from the bulkhead.

The lack of any floor mounted controls therefore, and a high roofline, means that the interior feels extremely spacious and offers an amazing amount of both legroom and headroom - even in the back.

Again, unique to UK-built cars, this has the walnut dashboard featuring square British Jaeger dials. The wood is in largely very good order throughout, as are the gauges but the clock face is a little worn. An additional, more modern, oil pressure gauge has been mounted below the dash.

A part of the car that probably isn’t British is the horn - it sounds slightly guttural and decidedly French!

The underlying crimson carpets are intact but slightly faded although the overmats are in good order. Up above, the wool-fabric headlining appears clean and well fitted with no undue sagging.

A couple of minor negatives, the rear windows. The offside winder is rather stiff and the nearside one doesn’t seem to move at all.

The engine bay is accessed via hinged bonnet panels either side of the nose. All looks to be in order and it starts on the button (literally) and runs sweetly. Electrics are 12V and a new battery was fitted back in October last year.

The underside of the car has an underseal coating across the floor pans and wheel arches. The running gear appears in good order, with very little rust in evidence and signs of grease on the suspension and drivetrain pivot points.

The boot lid carries the spare wheel under a painted cover and hinges downwards. It is relatively small inside with black painted sides and a section of carpet covering the floor.

This Citroen’s last MOT expired back in 2012, but of course it is exempt from annual testing by virtue of its age.

There’s not a great deal of documentation with the car, just a couple of invoices from current ownership and a fistful of old MOT reports.

There are, however, a few copies of Floating Power - the newsletter of the Traction Owners Club - a period Citroen UK brochure, and the June 1990 auction catalogue from the sale where the long term former owner bought the car.

The documents that come with the car are as follows:

- V5 Registration Document

- Invoice EK Motors for Pre-Sale Vehicle Checkover (2023)

- Invoice EK Motors for New Battery (2022)

- Invoice EK Motors for New Michelin Tyres All Round (2020)

- Old MOT Certificates

- Floating Power Magazines x3

- An Auction Catalogue Dated 1990

Please see the Document Gallery for your perusal.

Ask a hundred people to think of a classic Citroen and the DS or 2CV will spring readily to mind for about 90 of them. But show them a photo of a Traction Avant and a surprising number will recall having seen one before. This is probably due to their prolific screen appearances - featuring over 1300 times in TV and film - notably the car in which the Von Trapp family made their escape in The Sound of Music.

This Light Fifteen is an easy to live with classic, which runs well and is as familiar and comfortable as a more modern car to drive. We think this rakishly beautiful and well cared for example will sell for between £15,000 and £20,000. Quite frankly that seems way too low for a pre-war, UK-built slice of head-turning French saucisson.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.