Citroen Cabriolet - 1969 to 1971

The Citroen Cabriolet was dark blue with beige leather upholstery. It had so many original and advanced details (considering it was designed in 1956), except for one, the engine, which must have been a left-over from the 1920s. The 2 litre long-stroke 4 cylinder engine offered no power or acceleration in such a large motorcar.

The boot was huge, no rear axle (front-wheel drive), no spare wheel (it was under the bonnet, on top of the engine). And the air suspension was outstandingly comfortable.

The one-spoke steering wheel was probably a modern-art statement, as was the brake pedal; there wasn't one, it was like half a tennis ball on the floor, when you gently trod on it compressing the air inside, it progressively activated the power assisted brakes. There was no clutch pedal either. Sticking up behind the steering wheel was a bent stalk. You nudged it a bit, this way or that, and after a few hydraulic gurgling noises, the gears changed, a clutch didn't seem to be required.

The headlights were brilliant. The two pencil beams lamps behind the aerodynamic headlamp windows, could be focused onto a distant point. Cables connected these lamps to the steering, so when you turned a corner, the pencil beams turned with the front wheels, while the other headlamps shone straight ahead.