Chassis |
A rolling chassis consists of the frame, the wheels, the engine, the brakes, the transmission, the axles, the steering and the suspension.
The chassis of the 7.5hp is riveted from cold pressed U-profiles from 3mm-steel. To avoid torsions of the long profiles, a trapezoid shape was chosen.
Two kinds of chassis were manufactured:
Chassis | Engine | Approx. production period | Approx. serial nr. |
---|---|---|---|
Type C2 (short chassis) | Battery ignition | March 1922 until September 1922 | 1 to approx. 5000 |
Magneto | October 1922 until September 1923 | ca. 5000 to ca. 18000 | |
Type C3 (long chassis) | Magneto | October 1923 until Mai 1926 | ca. 18000 bis 76000 |
Chassis Type C2 |
![]() |
![]() |
End 1921 until September 1922:
Official serial production started in march 1922 in the new works at Levallois, specially
built for manufacturing the 7.5hp. It is nevertheless possible
that the very first cars have been assembled at the main factory at Quai de Javel.
The first about 3500 cars (until summer 1922) were equipped with a bonnet with three airvents
and with a combined radiator with riveted lower mounting
brackets. The Citroen logo on this mask shows blue Citroen-chevrons on a nickel plated ground.
For production reasons from middle 1922 on the radiator was made from a radiator element
and a separate nickel plated shell.
Picture 1-1: Chassis Type C2 (First version, engine with battery ignition).
Specifications:
Frame | 4 traverses, rear open |
Wheelbase | 2.25 m |
Ignition | battery (DELCO) |
Brakes | separate |
Number of spring leafs | front 5, rear 7 |
Wheel dimension | 700x80 |
Pitch circle diameter | 100mm |
Engine with DELCO-Batteriy ignition:
Picture 1-2: Engine bay, seen from the right side
Picture 1-3: Engine bay, seen from the left side
October 1922 until September 1923:
As the small additional sheet on the harvest 1922 catalogue shows, the model 1923 was
equipped with a magneto ignition. The exact reason for this change is not documented in
any official bulletin. It is generally assumed that the reliability of the battery ignition
did not fulfill the expectations.
Picture 2-1: Chassis Type C2 (Second version, engine with magneto )
Specifications:
Frame | 4 traverses, rear open |
Wheelbase | 2.25 m |
Ignition | magneto |
Brakes | separate |
Number of spring leafs | front 5, rear 7 |
Wheel dimension | 700x80 |
Pitch circle diameter | 100mm |
Picture 2-2: Engine, starter side
Picture 2-3: Engine, carburettor side
Chassis Type C3 |
![]() |
![]() |
October 1923 until May 1926:
On the 1924 model the frame was modified. The chassis became longer, was now overslung
over the rear axle and its rear was cloed by a fifth traverse.
The wheelbase was raised by 10cm to 2.35m. This frame was used until production end without
major modifications.
All chassis were equipped form june 1924 on with the newly introduced Michelin Confort
ballon tyres and the corresponding rims.
From 1. June 1925 on, the cooling system was improved by a ventilator (from serial number
58517 on).
Picture 3-1: Chassis Type C3 (Top view)
Specifications:
Frame | 5 traverses, rear closed |
Wheelbase | 2.35 m |
Ignition | magneto (RB) |
Brakes | separate (from 1926 on coupled) |
Number of spring leafs | front 6, rear 8 |
Wheel dimension | 700x80, from middle 1924 on 715x115 |
Pitch circle diameter | 100mm (later 130mm) |
Picture 3-2: Engine with cooling fan