BONJOUR! CITROËN!
The Mullin Automotive Museum presents...

Story and pictures by Dave Wolin

If you haven't yet been to the Mullin Automotive Museum, now is the time to visit and see the largest collection of Citroën automobiles under one roof ... at least in the United States. The Citroën exhibition features cars from the entire history of the company as well as an in-depth look at Andre Citroën, featuring 46 of the world’s most historic and unique Citroëns including a number of vehicles bodied by French coachbuilder Chapron, a rare twin-engined 2CV Sahara, a Traction Avant Cabriolet and an iconic HY Van. Visitors can also expect to see modern Citroëns such as the 2007 C6 and the 2009 C3 Pluriel as well as several late production model 2CVs dating from the 1980s and early 1990s, none of which were ever sold in the U.S.

Citroën has built a reputation over the last 98 years as being a company willing to take risks and do things differently. It has managed to continually push the boundaries of technology and styling without losing its unique Gallic charm, something which is so evident in vehicles like the DS and the 2CV. Founded in 1919 by Andre Citroën, the company was responsible for building Europe’s first affordable mass-produced car, the Citroën Type A. The company also popularized the front wheel drive layout in addition to unibody construction and four-wheel independent suspension with its revolutionary Traction Avant executive car. “Citroën is a marque that has always appealed to me on some level,” said Peter Mullin, founder and CEO of the Mullin Automotive Museum. “The way in which the company set about designing its often odd but always stunning vehicles, packing them with wildly innovative technologies, is fascinating to me. I’m so pleased that we will soon be able to share these incredible vehicles with the public who may not have ever seen them in person and I hope we’re able to create a new legion of Citroën devotees.” Mullin is also chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum and president of the American Bugatti Club.

The Citroën exhibition opens this month with semi-private tours available on Tuesdays and Thursdays and public days on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Tickets are encouraged to be purchased in advance through the Mullin Museum’s website. For more information on the Citroën exhibition, visit MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com or call 805.385.5400. The museum website is also a great source of information about other French cars in the collection, including Bugattis, Delahayes, Delages and a variety of even rarer and more obscure French marques. -Reported and photographed for LA Car by Dave Wolin Got something to say? Add your Facebook comment on this article here.