The Citroën Traction Avant, Paris.

The Citroën Traction Avant was a very popular and distinctive car built by the French company between 1934 to 1957.

In France, the Traction is known as "Reine de la Route" ("Queen of the Road").

Many of these cars gave reliable service to both French and German armies during WW2 and were also the preferred vehicle of the French Resistance.

As occupation gave way to liberation, they turned up all over France with ‘FFI’ (French Forces of the Interior) inscribed proudly on their doors.

Less gloriously, the cars were known as favourites among gangsters such as the then infamous Pierre Loutrel, better known as ‘Pierrot le Fou’ (crazy Pete) and his ‘Gang des Tractions Avant’.

The Traction Avant has made over 1,300 film/TV appearances, including prominent roles in the films ‘The Sound of Music’ (U.S.A.) and ‘Diva’ (France).