“BUILD ME AN UMBRELLA WITH FOUR WHEELS”

André Lefebvre and the cars he created for Voisin and Citroën by Gijsbert-Paul Berk is BOOK OF THE MONTH in Australian Classic Car (May 2010).

“Build me an umbrella with four wheels.” These instructions were given to Citroën engineers in 1936. Head of those engineers was Andre Lefebvre, and the result was the iconic Citroën 2CV. It’s one of the many stories contained in Andre Lefebvre, by Swiss national Gijsbert-Paul Berk. Andre Lefebvre graduated as an aeronautical engineer and was working for Gabriel Voisin during the dark days of WWI. A shrewd businessman, Voisin realised the demand for military aircraft would plummet following hostilities – so he began producing cars using many aircraft techniques. His engineer was Andre Lefebvre, who went on to design a range of road and competition cars used to promote the Voisin name. With engines featuring Knight sleeve valves, they proved successful until the Great Depression. Lefebvre then moved on to Citroën and his name will always be linked with the French manufacturer.

While Lefebvre died in 1964, his legacy (apart from the Viosins) includes such great cars as the Citroën Traction Avant and DS. The former was the world’s first mass-produced chassis-less car and led the way for decades to follow. The DS, of course, startled the automotive world in 1955. The 2CV? Well, looking at the initial cars you can understand how Lefebvre interpreted what an umbrella on wheels looked like. Andre Lefebvre is a most entertaining and informative book – I can’t say I have read much on Voisin cars, so that was a real delight (especially the parts about its competition cars). The text, which I suspect has been translated from French, is nevertheless easy to read and the period photos are a delight.
An excellent publication. PQ

Click here for more info about the book.

CITROËN CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF THE SM

Citroën’s high performance coupé, the SM, is celebrating its 40th birthday.

The luxury sports tourer, an alliance between Citroën and Maserati, was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 11th March 1970 - 40 years ago today.

Technically innovative, with a dynamic, yet supremely comfortable ride experience, the Citroën SM was highly regarded for its futuristic styling, prestigious quality, ‘magic-carpet’ suspension and outstanding performance - a unique combination of characteristics not available in any other car at the time.

Officially recognised as a truly exceptional vehicle in the early 1970’s, the SM placed third in the European Car of the Year Awards in 1971 - the winner was Citroën’s GS. The SM also received the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award in the US in 1972.

Powered by a Maserati V6 engine, the SM was one of the fastest front-wheel drive cars of its day, with a top speed in excess of 220km/h (137mph). A competitive performer in motorsport, the SM won its first race at the Morocco Rally in 1971.

Pioneering innovative technology, the SM introduced a new type of variable assist power-steering, which made it easier to manoeuvre at lower speeds and provided greater resistance at higher speeds for improved control and handling.

The car also featured hydro-pneumatic suspension with automatic height correction and six headlamps with automatic levelling. Four power-assisted disc brakes, with independent front and rear circuits, automatically adjusted brake power according to vehicle load and weight distribution.

Renowned SM owners have included U.S. comedian Jay Leno, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, author Graham Greene and actor Lee Majors. French Presidents from Georges Pompidou to Jacques Chirac used two specially modified 4-door convertible ‘présidentielle’ models, created by coach builder Henri Chapron.
Source: Citroën
Photos: A. Martin

SM - Citroën’s Maserati-engined Supercar
By Brian Long & Philippe Claverol
This is the fascinating story of how the Citroën SM came into being, with company politics and Maserati’s involvement covered in detail. The text and pictures then follow the car’s progress from its world premier at the 1970 Geneva Show until the final production models were built in July 1975.
More info.

HTTP://ISSUU.COM/VELOCE

Have been uploading some sample pages from Veloce books on Issuu.com. Check out the Veloce Issuu profile page to see more 8-page ebook previews.

NEC CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW 2009

It's the NEC Classic Motor Show today and over the weekend, and although Veloce will not be there, our friends at the Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain will be, showcasing excerpts from our popular new book André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën.

On top of that, they'll have the amazing Coccinelle prototype on display for all to see (as featured in the book), as well as an original TPV 2CV prototype from the 1930s!

We strongly recommend visiting their stand, check out the book, check out the cars, and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. The Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain can be found at stand number 1C38.

ANDRÉ LEFEBVRE REVIEW

André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën receives another good review this month, this time from Classic Car Mart.

"It's a fascinating story well told, aided by a host of illustrations." – Classic Car Mart

HIGH PRAISE FROM VICE CHAIRMAN OF GENERAL MOTORS

Bob Lutz - Vice Chairman of General Motors comments on his great pleasure at receiving his copy of André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën in this letter addressed to the author. He remarks on Lefebvre as being a man who made tremendous influence on car design and reads with huge interest. Bob Lutz is also the enthusiastic owner of a six cylinder Citroën Traction Avant – one of the cars featured in the book.



André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën
By Gijsbert-Paul Berk.
BOOK OF THE MONTH – Classic & Sports Car
This biography of André Lefebvre gives a revealing insight into the work of a practically unknown aeronautic engineer who, after building and racing competition cars for Gabriel Voisin in 1933, created for André Citroën the revolutionary front wheel drive Traction Avant (light fifteen in the UK). He was responsible for the minimalist 2CV and the Citroën DS, which was the sensation of the automotive world in 1955, and is still an icon of original automobile engineering and avant-garde design today.
More info.

ANDRÉ LEFEBVRE - LIVRE DU MOIS

A round up of the rave reviews that have been coming in for the brand new book André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën
by Gijsbert-Paul Berk. Thanks to Classic & Sports Car, Octane and ClassicCars magazines for the reviews.

Click the images below to read each review in full:



This biography of André Lefebvre gives a revealing insight to the work of a practically unknown aeronautic engineer. Responsible for the minimalist 2CV and the Citroën DS – the sensation of the automotive world in 1955 – Lefebvre remains an icon of original automobile engineering and avant-garde design to this day. Click here for more info about the book.

ANDRÉ LEFEBVRE BOOK CAUSES STIR AT CITROËN MEETING

Gijsbert-Paul Berk – author of André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën – took the chance at the 75heurespour75ans event in Arras to show his advance copy of the book to a number of Citroën fans.


According to the organisers there were over one thousand Citroëns Tractions Avant in the historic centre of the French town. It was an impressive sight (see pictures). In the exhibition hall of Arras the Dutch Traction Avant owners club TAN had also organised an interesting overview of all the TA models made between 1934 and 1957, with some special bodied examples.




This biography of André Lefebvre gives a revealing insight into the work of a practically unknown aeronautic engineer who, after building and racing competition cars for Gabriel Voisin in 1933, created for André Citroën the revolutionary front wheel drive Traction Avant (light fifteen in the UK). He was responsible for the minimalist 2CV and the Citroën DS, which was the sensation of the automotive world in 1955, and is still an icon of original automobile engineering and avant-garde design today.
Click here for more info about the book.

AUTO HEADLINES

UK fights for Vauxhall as GM bankruptcy looms

Business secretary Lord Mandelson has held “substantial telephone conversations” with GM amid final negotiations with bidders for its European arm.

The Government has explicitly linked any financial support for the spin-off of General Motors’ European operations to the future of its two UK car plants in Luton and Ellesmere Port.

Britain is lobbying to prevent the German government from bowing to election-year pressure with a pledge to protect domestic jobs at the expense of Vauxhall’s UK plants.

The three main bidders for GM’s European arm are Fiat, Canadian car parts maker Magna and financial investor RHJ. There are claims that whichever bidder wins, up to 10,000 jobs could be cut at Vauxhall/Opel.

Beijing Automotive Industry Corp has emerged as a fourth contender for the business and insiders claim it will try to avoid job cuts in Germany for two years.

As the winning bid is being decided, General Motors has acknowledged that it has failed to secure agreement from holders of $27bn in bonds for a contentious debt-for-equity offer, and said that its directors will meet “to discuss GM’s next steps”.

The setback, which was widely expected, clears the way for the carmaker to seek bankruptcy protection on or before June 1, the deadline set by the US government for GM to meet conditions for future financial aid, including the debt-exchange.

A General Motors bankruptcy would be the largest ever in US industrial history. (Daily Telegraph; Daily Mail; Daily Express; The Guardian: FT.com; just-auto.com: May 27)

Citroen issues termination notices in expansion plan

Citroen UK has issued two-year termination notices to all its 640 sales and service centres and parts distributors this week.

The manufacturer says the move is part of an ambitious sales growth and enhanced customer care strategy – plus the need to safeguard profitability.

The aim is to have fewer dealers, doing a better job and making more money, the firm said.

The majority of Citroen’s 200 sales outlets will be unaffected, but 20 have been told the carmaker may end their contracts, unless they improve customer care and/or sales performance against targets in 2009 and 2010.

Another 20 has been told the territory they represent is no longer viable. (am-online: May 27)

Football and driving don’t mix

Listening to football commentary on the radio while driving can be a dangerous distraction, scientists have warned.

They found that listeners’ driving became much more erratic when they were listening to the match.

Tests carried out using a driving simulator also showed that the pace of the game, goals and penalty decisions affected the ability and concentration of fans behind the wheel. (Daily Telegraph; Daily Mail: May 27)

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR OF ALL TIME

Classic & Sports Car magazine have polled a 20-strong panel as the jury to decide the single most beautiful classic car.

And the winner ...
The Citroën DS!

James Elliott, editor of Classic & Sports Car, said: “The Citroën is a benchmark design, but we were still astonished that it came out on top when you look at the sexiness – and values – of some of its rivals. Apart from the Mini, it’s by far the most affordable car to get any nominations at all, which probably means it’s a great investment!

Giorgetto Giugiaro - the man behind the Maserati Bora, VW Golf, Fiat Panda and Lotus Esprit, said: “The only example of a car really conceived ‘outside the box’. It is just impossible to imitate.”
Source:newspress

Check out these fantastic Citroën DS books published by Veloce:

Citroën DS – Design Icon
by Malcolm Bobbitt.


The most radical of Citroën’s idiosyncratic offerings, the DS was sensational when it was introduced in 1955. Twenty years and 1.45 million cars later it was still technically advanced to most other cars. Revolutionary in driving characteristics and comfort, it remains one of the most innovative cars of all time. Click here for more info about the book!





Citroën DS & ID – The Essential Buyer's Guide by Rudy Heilig.

Guides collectors, restorers and enthusiasts through the various production changes and problem areas that occur between the various models, to make sure that the restoration or prospective purchase is correct, original, and legitimate. This book is an essential reference tool that can be used when buying, selling, repairing or restoring the various D-models manufactured between 1966 and 1975. One hundred colour photos, useful appendices and expert advice mean that this book could save you thousands! Click here for more info about the book!



Personal favourite, The Lamborghini Miura also made the top 10 in the poll!
1. Citroën DS
2= Jaguar XK120
2= Ferrari 275GTB
4= Cord 810/812
4= Ferrari 250GT Lusso
4= Ferrari 250GT Short-wheelbase
4= Jaguar E-type
4= Lamborghini Miura
4= Lotus Elan
4= Lotus Elite (1957)

FIVE BRAND NEW ESSENTIAL BUYER'S GUIDES!

STOP! Don't buy any of these cars without the help of an Essential Buyer's Guide -

Citroen ID & DS
Fiat 500 & 600
Subura Impreza
Jaguar XJ-S
Jaguar XJ40
All available now (UK & USA)
Each just £9.99 UK / $19.95 USA

Buy the right car at the right price
Full coverage of all models
In-depth analysis of strengths and weaknesses
Includes market and value data
Advice on choosing the right version and condition
How to avoid buying a 'lemon'
Like having an expert at your side
Quick check guide and also a detailed inspection plan
details of desirable upgrades as well as modifications to avoid
Where and how to buy
Details of clubs and support organisations

DESCRIPTION
Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of ownership experience, learn how to spot a bad car quickly and how to assess a promising one like a true professional. Get the right car at the right price!

Visit www.veloce.co.uk for more info!