Hip to be sq. – 70 years of the Citroën H Van
Ubiquitously hip. That’s one of the best ways to explain Citroën’s retro mild industrial in 2017, a mammoth seven a long time because it first appeared on French roads.
A succesful workhorse after the tip of World Battle II, it wasn’t meant to be a cool industrial in any respect. However now, like its equally omnipresent Volkswagen Sort 2 rival, it’s a vehicular landmark on streets throughout Europe. And similar to the VW, it’s now most frequently seen with its aspect panel or rear doorways open allotting all method of sizzling drinks or snacks to passing hipsters.
In manufacturing from 1947 to 1981, the Citroën Sort H (additionally referred to as the Sort HZ and Sort HY) was, functionally, a easy sq. field for carrying issues. Nonetheless, removed from easy mechanically, the H Van was probably the most superior mild industrial of its interval, and borrowed advances from its pioneering Traction Avant relative. The primary mass-produced front-wheel drive industrial car, a unitary monocoque physique with no separate chassis body, four-wheel unbiased suspension, and rack and pinion steering all translated right into a useful language that spoke to technologically-minded enterprise homeowners who positioned progressive practicality above all else.
The French box-on-wheels loved a flat flooring, an 850-1,500kg payload (relying on model), a 6ft inner standing top, in addition to a aspect loading door, a function which might not be commonplace within the UK for many years. An progressive association of three rear doorways – one which lifted up like that of a hatchback automobile, with two suicide-hinged ones under – meant that items might be loaded and unloaded below shelter.
The ground may take the burden of a horse, whereas enclosed van, pick-up and stripped-down physique for coach-built by-product variations have been accessible. Myriad wheelbase lengths have been accessible, too, and with its wheels pushed out to its corners like the unique Mini, the H Van boasted a comparatively low centre of gravity for a industrial car, which aided dealing with.
Not that you just’d be going quick sufficient to expertise the final word in roadholding. Although the primary H Vans have been fitted with a big 1.9-litre petrol engine much like these of the Traction Avant and DS, it was solely bestowed with 35bhp and a prime pace of 47mph.
A brace of 42bhp 1.6-litre and 50bhp 1.9-litre diesel engines appeared later, however have been nonetheless removed from highly effective sufficient to dislodge the syrup which is now drizzled over the crepes now served from many an H Van. However regardless of the engine flavour, the H Van’s recipe undoubtedly labored: 473,279 examples of Citroën’s corrugated industrial darling have been revamped an unbelievable 34-year interval.
In fact, it’s that particular ribbed bodywork – borne of German ‘Junker’ plane and requiring uncomplicated low-cost urgent instruments – and the pig-like snout which have elevated the Citroën Sort H above different industrial automobiles. Now ever current in city and competition landscapes, it has a retro look which endures seven a long time after it first appealed to these supply drivers, distributors, and animal-carrying famers of the Nineteen Fifties.
A positive signal of a cult car, the H van nonetheless conjures up, too: FC Automobili has launched a restricted 70-set run of fibreglass kits to remodel Citroën’s present Relay van into an €42,900 H Van tribute. With a complete of six conversions and rather more loadspace on supply, there might be twice the physique fashion alternative of the unique, however there’s definitely solely a fraction of the distinctly French brutal class.
However why has the boxy Citroën transcended time to develop into a bona-fide cult car? Whereas new-found retro enchantment is one reply, adaptability is one other. “The addition of crepe plates in a French van serving espresso made sense, and our summers have by no means been so busy!” say Mark and Sally from catering firm Van Chaud, who’ve operated a restored and transformed food-vending 1969 H Van since 2012, bitten by the classic Citroën bug after operating a 2CV elements enterprise.
There’s little doubt that only a few industrial automobiles mix the fashion and long-lasting enchantment of the Citroën Sort H. And whereas its expertise and make-up might now not be innovative, it affords a crowd-pleasing attract and rugged magnificence which has gained it many followers. We elevate a glass (or a plastic lidded espresso cup) to the Citroën Sort H and want it many joyful returns. ‘Bon Anniversaire’ – right here’s to 70 years of Citroën’s cult and cosmopolitan industrial!
Picture credit: http://www.citroenorigins.co.uk/en/cars/type-h