Rosalie in special bodies
It was the last rear-wheel drive Citroën, but also the last for which certain special bodies were made by external coachbuilders, until the DS cabriolet Chapron several decades later.
Citroën and the coachbuilders
From the 10 HP Type A in 1919, André Citroën delivered cars ready to drive.
Customers have the choice between different bodies presented in the catalog, and the chassis are bodied by the Citroen factories.
However, some very specific models will be bodied
outside the factories of the brand...
Rosalie were offered in the Citroën catalog in dozens of different body styles. Some of them, generally manufactured in very few copies,
were entrusted to coachbuilders.
Two of them are on display before you today.
The 10A convertible coach on display
was built by SICAL.
The "Société Industrielle de Carrosserie de Levallois-Perret", more commonly called SICAL, manufactured two-door cars for Citroën.
Manessius, a very large coachbuilder also based in Levallois, also assembled coaches, coupes and convertibles.
The 8A coach presented
was built by Manessius.
SICAL and Manessius
At the beginning of 1932, Manessius bought SICAL. When the Rosalie was presented, the two coachbuilders therefore no longer formed a single company, although the two names had been preserved.
In the Citroën catalog, you can order a Rosalie
bodied by SICAL between 1932 and the end of 1933.
Then the SICAL name disappears
and the bodies are made by Manessius.
8A coach SICAL.
8A coach Manessius.
The Rosalie SICAL and Manessius are all two-door cars,
but do not have the same body.
Special bodies
manufactured by the Citroën Factories
Certain particular bodies
were however assembled by the manufacturer.
This is the case of the
convertible-roadster of which you
can discover a copy today.
"All Steel"? Not really all...
Whether made by SICAL, Manessius or Citroën,
most of these special bodies have a particularity.
Part of their structure is still made of wood, although Citroën sedans have been entirely made of steel since the B10 presented in 1924!
