Classic Citroën Traction Avant rally spotted on Glasgow’s London Road

The Citroën Traction Avant is the world’s first monocoque-bodied, front-wheel drive car that was mass-produced.

I was always a little intrigued by a chap I worked with for a while, as he never hesitated to reminisce about his first car, a Citroën Traction Avant (produced from 1934 to 1957), as he would not have had it until, I think, the late 1960s.

I can’t tell you anything about this fine collection that passed me as I was cycling along Glasgow’s London Road towards Parkhead. My pics were too crappy to read the banners/plates on the cars – I had to ride ahead and find a spot to catch them, and didn’t have time to think about camera settings. I really failed.

I did try to find something relevant to this rally online, from what little I could read on the cars, but nothing seemed to be listed.

I hadn’t noticed how dull it was, and the camera decided it was time for slow shutter speeds – my preference since my more usual subject are stationary (buildings).

I was a little ticked off when I got home, and reviewed that catches – and had to delete a lot of useless shots.

It was, however, reminiscent of a classic car meet I attended some years ago, where we were treated t a similar visit from the Mercedes-Benz club from Germany, touring with a collection of some of the rarest and most expensive cars from the marque, including some original 300 SL gullwing examples. I’m sure that even then each one of them would have been valued at well over £1 million.

But, this is about Citroëns.

A quick lesson in panning shots!

If you ever wondered why you were told to take them as the subject passes, rather than as they approach or leave, this is why.

The angular velocity varies along the subject length if not captured at the moment it passes.

This is the result – although the front of the car is actually in good focus, the rear is blurred because (in angular terms) it is moving faster than the front.

Oh well, lesson proved and learnt, again.

My mistake again.

I wasn’t sure why the car was out of focus, but nothing else.

Then I realised I hadn’t been a fraction of a second too soon, and the car had not come to a full stop at the traffic light.

Just too keen, and found out how easy it is to ruin an easy shot that SHOULD have come out OK. Just carelessness, and there goes another one :-(

The difference with stationary subjects can be seen in this set of three Traction Avants stopped at the traffic lights!

And again, caught/sharp at the front, but the rear end, oh dear.

And the last one.

Same problem, I really didn’t pick the right place to stand, did I?

Not complaining, after all, I could have missed them altogether.

It would have been nice to know the event, and I had really expected to find some mention on one of the classic Citroën websites, but even though I could auto translate the French ones I found, there just didn’t seem to be anything,

I must have missed the right one, as the car clubs I am still involved with always feature such rallies and tours in some detail, so that those interested can can catch the participating cars if they pass nearby.

Just a classic Citroen with a giant spider on the back

I guess compact camera start-up times have improved – otherwise you would not be looking at the pic below.

Powered up, zoomed, and shot captured – as this classic black Citroen passed me and then drove up Oswald Street towards Hope Street.

My only complaint is that it all happened too quickly to catch it in sharp focus, but even the anti-shake kicked in, as this was fairly long shot. I’ll have to try this more often – I usually just don’t bother, but this one shot shows I’m probably being too pessimistic.

Then there’s that spider.

Citroen And Spider

Judging from the paint, this looks like quite a nice restoration.

My only regret about such cars is seen in that sad little exhaust pipe hanging from the rear – it’s little more than a straw! There were some terrible engineering design failures back in those days,

I’d like to say I went online and found out details of ‘MARSA TEAM’ and the rally that the signs stuck on this car tell us they are taking part in – but I’m afraid I couldn’t find anything about either when I had a quick look.

Maybe the giant spider scared everyone away before they put the details online.

Pity the signs weren’t more informative.

It is definitely some sort of road rally though, the driver and navigator’s name are shown on stickers at the top of the rear window.