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Citroën H Van
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Citroën H Van
The Citroën H-Type vans (most commonly the Citroën HY), are a series of panel vans and light trucks, produced by French automaker Citroën for 34 years – from 1947 through 1981. They are notable for their industrial design, using many corrugated metal outer body panels to save material, weight, and costs. Early models of the uniquely styled trucks were just named Type H, but soon they were differentiated by a second letter, using the last four letters in the alphabet – except for the type HP for (flat-bed) pickups. Thus the vans were built as the types HW through HZ – with the majority of them built as Citroën HY.
The Citroën H-types were developed as simple, low-cost, front-wheel drive vans after World War II, using the same design philosophy as on Citroën's 2CV, but featuring a frameless, unitary body-structure. A total of 473,289 of their variants were produced in 34 years in factories in France and Belgium.
Like the 1934 Citroën Traction Avant, the H had a unitary body with no separate frame, front independent suspension, and front-wheel drive. For a commercial van, this combination provided unique benefits: a flat floor very close to the ground, and 6 ft (180 cm) standing height. Loading is by a combination of an upward-hinged tailgate with lower double half-doors at the rear, and optionally a sliding door on the side. There were short- and long-wheelbase models, and choice of short or longer rear overhang. The sides of the vans got varying treatments.
The distinctive corrugated bodywork used throughout the period of production was inspired by German Junkers (Aircraft) who used this technique starting during the First World War until the 1930s, the three-engined Junkers Ju 52 being the last to use this construction. Henry Ford adopted the same type of construction for the Ford Tri-Motor passenger aircraft. The ribs added strength without adding weight, and required only simple, low-cost press tools. The flat body panels were braced on the inside by 'top hat' box sections, installed at right angles to the ribs. The welded floor was strong enough to support a horse.
Most H Vans were sold in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. At the Slough Trading Estate assembly facility (1926–1966), Citroën UK built a very small number of right-hand-drive versions. The German market, however, was supplied by key competitors: the direct rival Volkswagen Type 2, and the also-front-drive DKW Schnellaster minivan.
As with the Volkswagen, the H Van could not be competitive in the US after 1964, due to the Chicken tax, a 25-percent tariff on commercial vehicles.
The engine, gearbox and many smaller parts are shared with other Citroën models. The engine and gearbox are nearly identical to those in the Traction Avant and later the DS, only mounted with the engine in front of the gearbox. The headlights were identical to those of the 2CV, while speedometers were successively borrowed from the Traction Avant and the Ami 6.
While the derated "Traction Avant" four-cylinder engine and the unsophisticated three-speed gearbox (non-synchromesh on first gear) offered only a modest top speed of just under 100 km/h, the chassis and suspension layout provided good roadholding qualities for a van of the era, especially on the short-wheelbase version: low-slung chassis, with very little overhang, combined with sophisticated totally independent suspensions (the front using double torsion bars instead of conventional coil springs). With 35 hp (26 kW), the downtuned 1.9-litre 11D engine in the initial, cast-iron-head variant offered more usable power than the 1.2-litre engine of its competitor, the 1950 Volkswagen Type 2.
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Citroën H Van
The Citroën H-Type vans (most commonly the Citroën HY), are a series of panel vans and light trucks, produced by French automaker Citroën for 34 years – from 1947 through 1981. They are notable for their industrial design, using many corrugated metal outer body panels to save material, weight, and costs. Early models of the uniquely styled trucks were just named Type H, but soon they were differentiated by a second letter, using the last four letters in the alphabet – except for the type HP for (flat-bed) pickups. Thus the vans were built as the types HW through HZ – with the majority of them built as Citroën HY.
The Citroën H-types were developed as simple, low-cost, front-wheel drive vans after World War II, using the same design philosophy as on Citroën's 2CV, but featuring a frameless, unitary body-structure. A total of 473,289 of their variants were produced in 34 years in factories in France and Belgium.
Like the 1934 Citroën Traction Avant, the H had a unitary body with no separate frame, front independent suspension, and front-wheel drive. For a commercial van, this combination provided unique benefits: a flat floor very close to the ground, and 6 ft (180 cm) standing height. Loading is by a combination of an upward-hinged tailgate with lower double half-doors at the rear, and optionally a sliding door on the side. There were short- and long-wheelbase models, and choice of short or longer rear overhang. The sides of the vans got varying treatments.
The distinctive corrugated bodywork used throughout the period of production was inspired by German Junkers (Aircraft) who used this technique starting during the First World War until the 1930s, the three-engined Junkers Ju 52 being the last to use this construction. Henry Ford adopted the same type of construction for the Ford Tri-Motor passenger aircraft. The ribs added strength without adding weight, and required only simple, low-cost press tools. The flat body panels were braced on the inside by 'top hat' box sections, installed at right angles to the ribs. The welded floor was strong enough to support a horse.
Most H Vans were sold in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. At the Slough Trading Estate assembly facility (1926–1966), Citroën UK built a very small number of right-hand-drive versions. The German market, however, was supplied by key competitors: the direct rival Volkswagen Type 2, and the also-front-drive DKW Schnellaster minivan.
As with the Volkswagen, the H Van could not be competitive in the US after 1964, due to the Chicken tax, a 25-percent tariff on commercial vehicles.
The engine, gearbox and many smaller parts are shared with other Citroën models. The engine and gearbox are nearly identical to those in the Traction Avant and later the DS, only mounted with the engine in front of the gearbox. The headlights were identical to those of the 2CV, while speedometers were successively borrowed from the Traction Avant and the Ami 6.
While the derated "Traction Avant" four-cylinder engine and the unsophisticated three-speed gearbox (non-synchromesh on first gear) offered only a modest top speed of just under 100 km/h, the chassis and suspension layout provided good roadholding qualities for a van of the era, especially on the short-wheelbase version: low-slung chassis, with very little overhang, combined with sophisticated totally independent suspensions (the front using double torsion bars instead of conventional coil springs). With 35 hp (26 kW), the downtuned 1.9-litre 11D engine in the initial, cast-iron-head variant offered more usable power than the 1.2-litre engine of its competitor, the 1950 Volkswagen Type 2.
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