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Meet Citroën Club of North America Member Peter Prowant and his 1956 Citroën TAV 11B
February 1, 2010 by Denis · Leave a Comment
Citroën Club of North America has a Meet the Members category on the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story. Meet CCNA member, Peter F. Prowant.
In October I purchased a 1956 Citroen TAV 11B. I think I fell in love with the car many years ago when I first saw one in the movie Desperate Journey with Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan.
I’ve always loved the Art Deco period, admired the engineering of the Traction Avant and the foresight of Andre Citroen and Edward Budd. In the 1980’s my office was in the Chrysler Building! Now I reside in South Florida, where I grew up.
Best regards,
Peter F. Prowant
Meet Citroen Club of North America Member John McBride
January 24, 2010 by Denis · 2 Comments
CCNA member John McBride from Sycamore, Il. sent in this photo of his family and their 1962 Citroen ID19, taken when he was a child. Thanks for sharing, John.
Above is a picture of the 1962 ID19 that my parents owned (my mother is the first person from the left, and I am the third person from the left; 6 years old in 1965). Believe it or not our family of eight used the car for 3-4 hour road trips (thank goodness for the self-leveling suspension!). When France withdrew from the military wing of NATO in 1966, my family moved to the States along with the ID19. We had it until 1968. It is a US-market ID marketed to US personnel in France.
Cordially,
John McBride
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Meet Citroen Club of North America Member Nick Popa
November 20, 2009 by Denis · 4 Comments
Citroën Club of North America has a Meet the Members category on the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story. Meet CCNA member, Nick Popa.
Happy holidays from Columbus. The restoration on my ’73 SM is nearing completion (front axle boots and minor parts being installed now at Specialty Sports Cars in Columbus).
I was an Ohio club member in the early 80’s with this car. It won first place in SM category in 1982 Rendezvous at Northfield Mountain, and was featured in the center spread of Car Collector magazine.
I lost it in a divorce in the mid 90’s and got it back in 2007. It sat in a garage under cover the entire time-no miles. The car has been under restoration interior and exterior since that time (many thanks to Brad Nauss and Jerry Hathaway).
I showed it for the first time in July at the Arthritis Classic Auto Show in Dublin, O., where it won first place in the foreign all makes category. The SM is a real attraction at any show!
It’s still fun to drive with only 50,000 miles on the odom. I have more pictures (before, during and after restoration) that I may try to post in the near future. I enjoy being back in the club and look forward to reading the newsletter and logging on to Citbitz.
Nick Popa
Meet New Citroen Club of North America Member Karl Striedieck
November 18, 2009 by Denis · Leave a Comment
Citroën Club of North America has a Meet the Members category on the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story. Meet CCNA member, Karl Striedieck.
My name is Karl Striedieck and I live in central Pennsylvania. Aviation has been the focus of my working life, with 22 years as a fighter pilot, a couple as an airline driver, and a dozen or so selling German sailplanes.
My first encounter with Citroen was the ID-19 I owned in the mid-70’s. It provided reliable transportation for about 5 years, but suffered from creeping corrosion and, finally, an electrical meltdown from a short somewhere. But for the time I had it the car never let me down, even when dragging a monster sailplane trailer back and forth across the country. I remember drafting 18-wheelers while crossing the plains in strong head winds, and sleeping on my plywood “bed” placed over the dash and right front and rear seats.
One trip to the West Coast was to participate in the “Smirnoff Derby,” a soaring race from LA to Washington, DC. My wife followed with the trusty Cit as seven of us raced our gliders from city to city. One characteristic of the car made it ideal for soaring. When assembling the glider before flying it is helpful to tip the trailer so that the front end is higher. That was easily done by first lowering the suspension, and then putting the height lever to highest position. Like a camel standing up, the rear end rose first and at it’s highest the motor was stopped, giving the perfect tilt to the trailer.
Fast forward to 2009 and it was time to act on the nostalgia for the engineering marvel known as the “Deesse.” The CCNA was a great (and my only) resource for finding a suitable car. My car had to be a LHM fluid machine, and, preferably, equipped with a manual transmission. I gave serious consideration to a Florida car, even to the point of buying an airline ticket, but backed out when it became clear there were too many mechanical issues to permit it to be driven to Pa.
Another Florida car sounded good in most respects save for the price tag ($30K) and Citromatic.
Meanwhile, Brad Nauss had mentioned a D-Special that was for sale by the widow of club member Al Lutz. Conversations with Denis Foley confirmed that this car had been owned and loved by Cit fanatics and was in excellent shape. The problem was I couldn’t make contact with Al’s wife Ellie by phone or letter. Fearing the car wouldn’t be available forever I drove to the address in the Cit directory to have a look. What I found was an abandoned house with no sign of the car. After knocking on a few of the neighbor’s doors and getting no response, the sound of a riding mower up the street seemed like a possibility for information. The gentleman said he had seen the car I described about two miles away, sitting outside with a “for sale” sign on it. Away I went and, lo and behold, there it was all hunkered down on the grass. A short conversation with the seller followed by a drive around the block and the deal was done.
It has been fun cleaning up a few mechanical issues and I look forward to fettling on it more this winter. The windshield is sand blasted and it needs a headliner and roof paint to restore it to presentable condition. It is my daily driver, although it will never be driven on wet or salty roads as long as I own it.
My thanks to Brad Nauss, Denis Foley, Don James and the CCNA for keeping this great invention alive in the US and for their help in getting me together with my DS.
D Like this post? Tips are appreciated!Meet CCNA Member Paul McGowan and His Citroen Goddess.
November 9, 2009 by Denis · 1 Comment
Citroën Club of North America has a Meet the Members category on the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story. Meet CCNA member, Paul McGowan.
My name is Paul McGowan and I am the proud owner of a 1971 DS 21 which
I bought on eBay in 2003.
I have to confess that I neither know nor understand any of the finer
technical aspects of the car, and I am probably the most unsuitable
person in the world to be a Citroen DS owner. But I do know one thing.
The DS is probably the most beautiful physical object I have ever set
eyes on.
My fascination with Citroens started as a teenager when my Dad was
thinking of buying a GSA Special. He did not, but about 10 years later
I did. I had that car for two years, drove it about 15,000 miles
without any incidents ( or servicing, or oil changes!) and then it was
stolen and burned. The horror the horror.
I test drove the two different DS’s before I bought mine. The first
was in London in 1993 and it was a convertible which belonged to Sean
Connery’s son. It was a little bit out of my price range but I enjoyed
driving it. Then in 2000 I test drove one in San Francisco but the
owner had painted it a horrible silver color.
Then, I found one on eBay. The seller was in Atlanta, where I lived.
That was a sign. I bought it within two hours. Then I had to find
someone to help me fix it, and Mike the Mechanic of Woodstock Georgia
became my best friend for about 18 months.
We moved to DC three years ago, and I have not even put gas in the car
in all that time. I have driven the car about 70 miles since 2005. I
took her to the Citroen meet in November of last year, forgot to set
the parking brake and she rolled through the parking lot and bounced
off a Volkwagen. Thankfully nobody really noticed and I haven’t
mentioned it since then.
OK, that’s not true – Denis Foley walked
into La Madeline and yelled ” Hey – there’s a yellow DS rolling
through the parking lot” and everyone came out to see. I was of course
completely mortified, but everyone was extremely supportive and
friendly.
She winters in the office parking lot, and only in June of
this year did I take her out. Then she sat forlornly in my driveway
until August. She starts beautifully no matter how long I leave her.
But the big red stop light came on and I had to check the fluids. When
the Citroenthusiast came early November I started her up again – first
time – I went for a drive. God it is such a beautiful feeling. Why did
I let you languish in the driveway my gorgeous one ? Will you forgive
me?
Meet New Citroën Club of North America Member Herb Grika
October 12, 2009 by Denis · 1 Comment
Citroën Club of North America has a Meet the Members category on the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story. Meet new CCNA member, Herb Grika. Welcome, Herb!
I just became a CCofNA member, but I am also a member of the Citroen Club of Minnesota.
My ‘Citroenship’ started in 1956 right after finishing college I left for Paris where I bought the cheapest brand-new car available, the 2CV for $1250. My recent purchase, a 1981 Charleston cost ten times more and is 28 years old!
I drove my 2CV, my first car, through France, England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Israel – I was 21 at the time and coming of age. I brought it to the USA and drove it to my home in Chicago. Then took it on a tour to Florida and back. Then, when I joined the Army and worked for their Intelligence unit in the Pentagon, I sold it. The 50 mph Deux Chevaux was too slow and dangerous for interstate travel – anyway, my brother, who had just been discharged, gave me his aging but highway-fast Dodge.
The man who bought my 2CV owned two motor scooters, two airplanes and one DS Citroen. This ‘Noah’ who apparently was pairing vehicles to save humanity, whipped off my trunk door and slid his Vespa into the trunk. The scene looked like a mini ambulance carrying off a 2-wheeled accident victim! No tears, please.
A half century later, voila, another Duex Chevaux; and the family I bought it from was named ‘Chevalier’! I’m not just horsing around. The Chevalier’s of St. Paul, MN, owned two other Citroens: an older red 2CV and a 1953 Traction Avant.
-herb
Although foreign cars, motorcyclists and old car drivers beep and smile – is it proper to honk back when a Japanese or American car beeps? I can’t recognize who the hell honked.
With wife, Heidi, on Bastille Day, Minneapolis. Old license reads: “Am oh so slow”. (Actually, it can go 70mph).
Like this post? Tips are appreciated!Citroën Club of North America Welcomes New Member, Didier Rols
May 5, 2009 by Denis · 2 Comments
Citroën Club of North America has added a Meet the Members category to the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story.
Didier Rols
Hello,
I’m Didier Rols (like the cars but only with one “L”). I’m 38 and 3/4 years old and I’m married and God give me 5 children (2 girls and three boys) of the same wife. I’m fan of Apple, Pixar, the “Wacky Races” and LEGO.
I met Denis Foley online, thanks to Twitter!
I work at CITROËN Headquarters in Paris for French Customer services to try to change the mood of unhappy customers. For my next job I hope to be a Community manager, not only working on complaints, but also to manage web self care (with FAQ and own Forum) and Co-innovation with our Brand advocates/evangelists.
I have now a C3 stop & start (that we called micro hybride) and an Austin Mini Cooper ‘69 I bought before working for CITROËN. I hope buy an old CITROËN. I love the spirit of the C_CACTUS.
In my few spare time (because I’m father of 5 children), I work on kids marketing and ways/manners to share our enthusiasm with kids. I’m writing a paper on Kid’s bonding to a car brand and try to reinvent our kids marketing in the spirit of the Toys “Jouets Citroën” in 1923…
You can find an abstract on page 3. CLICK HERE
In June I’ll start my personal website www.papamamancitroen.com, where you’ll find readings, interviews and some stuff to share our CITROËN’s passion with our kids (crafts, coloring books, tales,…) I saw a great category in your blog Kids, Pets & Cits.
It’ll be interesting for me if your readers comment their own ideas about this topic (agree or not, own stories, how they share their enthusiasm for CITROËN with their kids,…) and follow me on www.twitter.com/DadMomCitroen. We will also be putting goodies in my site www.papamamancitroen.com to share their enthusiasm for CITROËN with their kids. The only thing that is important is that this is my own ideas and not those of CITROËN !
I went few days ago to Aulnay Conservatoire. This is not a museum. It’s our private ali baba’s cavern where CITROËN stores one model of each type produced and some concept cars or prototypes. There is no official website, but you can find photos HERE. (click on “Entrez dans l’album” and navigation is up left) and HERE.
I’m so happy to be sharing information with Citbitz. Please leave me comments and your ideas.
Regards,
Didier
Meet Citroën Club of North America Member Richard Citron.
March 22, 2009 by Denis · 8 Comments
Citroën Club of North America has added a Meet the Members category to the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story.
Citroën Club member, Richard Citron, just sent in some beautiful photos of his Citroen 2CV . Thanks, Richard. Richard will be moving back to the states soon, to the NY area. Welcome Home!
Citroën Club of North America Member Paul Riccardi Shares FL Vacation With His Citroën Mehari
March 19, 2009 by Denis · 4 Comments
Citroën Club of North America has added a Meet the Members category to the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story.
Citroën Club member, Paul Riccardi, from Durham, NH. just sent in some beautiful photos of his 1971 Citroen Mehari . Thanks, Paul.
I decided to bring my Citroën Mehari with me several weeks ago on my last trip to Florida . I didn’t want to drive it, for obvious reasons, and I really didn’t want to tow it on my car trailer. So, I bought a tow dolly instead. This turned out to be the perfect answer for towing something as small and light as a Mehari. I could barely feel it behind my camper van and was able to drive 70 MPH as well.
I was pulled over once, in Virginia, at seven AM. I didn’t know what was the matter, as I had added extra light for towing and everything else was in order. It turned out the Virginia HP officer had never seen a Mehari before and couldn’t figure out what it was after tailing me for several miles so he pulled me over to find out!
There was plenty of extra room at the campgrounds we stayed at for the Mehari, tow dolly and camper and we were able to park the camper in one spot while in Florida and drive all about in the Mehari.
As usual I received all the same old questions. Does it float? It’s a VW Thing, right? How fast will it go? Did you drive it down here from NH?
The Mehari was right at home in Florida (with no roof) and perfect for driving on the beaches with the windshield down as you can see in this short movie. CLICK HERE
Like this post? Tips are appreciated!Meet CCofNA Member Bob Shallenberger and His 1954 TAV
February 16, 2009 by Denis · 1 Comment
Citroën Club of North America has added a Meet the Members category to the blog so the community can get to know one another. We’d like to feature someone each week, so if you’d like to be on the blog and share your bio and some pictures, please send them to citroenclubofnorthamerica@gmail.com and we will post asap. Get to know your Citroën friends and share your story.
Citroën Club member, Bob Shallenberger, from Parks, Arizona just sent in some beautiful photos of his 1954 Citroen TAV . Thanks, Bob.
“I had my 1954 TA for about six years before I got it ready to show. I am the last of four owners in ten years and had the pleasure of reassembling, painting and reupholstering the car. Previous owners had done much for the mechanicals including replacing the engine.
I am very pleased with the results and the car has taken trophies in local (Arizona) car shows.
I may be looking for another project and will probably keep this one for driving and show.
Thank you to Brad Nauss for sage advice and support along the way.”
Bob Shallenberger,
Parks, Arizona
1954 Citroen TAV before restoration.
1954 Citroen TAV after restoration.
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