Citroën H Van
Encyclopedia
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
between 1947 and 1981. It was developed as a simple front wheel driven van after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A total of 473,289 were produced in 34 years in factories in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Most of them were sold in France, Belgium and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Names
Most Type H were sold as model HY so many people know it only by this name. There were also models H (early ones), HX (lesser load capacity), HZ, and HW (more load capacity). For some time, they were also sold as model 1600.Technical
The engine, gear box and many smaller parts are well known from other Citroën models: Engine and gearbox are nearly the same as in the Traction AvantCitroën Traction Avant
The Citroën Traction Avant is an automobile which was produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1934 to 1957. About 760,000 units were produced.-Impact on the world:...
and later the DS
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS is an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1955 and 1975. Styled by Italian sculptor and industrial designer Flaminio Bertoni and the French aeronautical engineer André Lefèbvre, the DS was known for its aerodynamic futuristic body design and innovative...
, only mounted with the engine to front. Head lights and speedometer were identical to the 2CV
Citroën 2CV
The Citroën 2CV |tax horsepower]]”) was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën between 1948 and 1990. It was technologically advanced and innovative, but with uncompromisingly utilitarian unconventional looks, and deceptively simple Bauhaus inspired bodywork, that belied the sheer...
for a long time.
The distinctive corrugated body work was inspired by German Junkers (Aircraft) of the 1930s, (the three engined Junkers Ju 52
Junkers Ju 52
The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...
, being the last to use this construction). The ribs added strength without adding weight, and needed only simple, low cost press tools. The flat body panels were braced on the inside by 'top hat' box sections, at right angles to the ribs.
Other
- An H-Type was used as the Broom WaggonBroom waggonThe Broom Wagon is the affectionate name for the vehicle that follows a Cycle Road Race picking up stragglers who are unable to make it to the finish of the race within the time permitted....
in the film version of Belleville Rendez-vousLes Triplettes de BellevilleThe Triplets of Belleville is a 2003 animated comedy film written and directed by Sylvain Chomet. It was released as Belleville Rendez-vous in the United Kingdom...
. - An HY was used by the murderer in the French horror movie Haute TensionHaute TensionHaute Tension is a 2003 French horror film that was later released in 2004 in the United Kingdom and 2005 in the United States and Canada. The film, directed by Alexandre Aja, stars Cécile de France, Maïwenn and Philippe Nahon....
, also called High Tension - HY's were used in the Danish Olsen GangOlsen GangThe Olsen Gang is a fictional Danish criminal gang in the movies of the same name. The gang's leader is the criminal genius and habitual offender Egon Olsen. The other members of the gang are Benny and Kjeld . The gang members are harmless and never use violence...
movies as prisoner transports and by the gang themselves. They also appeared in the Norwegian productions of the movies. - Portuguese show "A Loja do Camilo" depicted on one episode a Citroen H Van, which Camilo uses firstly as a mobile store and later as a mobile restaurant.
- The H-Type's most regular and prolific TV/film appearance is in the long-running French drama series 'Louis la Brocante' (1998-present), a sort of Gallic 'LovejoyLovejoyLovejoy is a TV series about the adventures of Lovejoy, a British antiques dealer and faker based in East Anglia, a less than scrupulous yet likeable rogue. The episodes were based on a series of picaresque novels by John Grant...
', where middle-aged antiques dealer Louis Roman (played by Victor LanouxVictor Lanoux-Career:He started out in cabaret, where he collaborated with Pierre Richard. He made one of his earliest film appearances in The Shameless Old Lady. He received two César nominations in 1976, for his roles in Cousin, cousine and Adieu poulet...
) drives an immaculate beige HY throughout picturesque scenes of small-town/rural French life as his virtual sole transport throughout each 90-minute episode. The van also appears in the background of many scenes even when Louis is not actually using or driving it.
At around 54 mins in the movie 'Full Metal Jacket' a Citroen H van is dramatically machine gunned and explodes as it is driven at high speed through the gates of an American military base in Vietnam .
External links
- Minitub43.com : A unique illustrated encyclopedia on the net with more than 2500 Citroën Type H in miniature classified by themes, brands, uses, occupations, body parts, manufacturers, retailers, etc.. Internal search by keyword.
- Encyclopédie sur le Type H Citroën
- The Citroën H Van Register UK website
- H Van at Citroenet
- Table of common modifications
- CITROËN WORLD: HY links
- Le Camion (in Dutch)