I'm planning to build a Tamiya Citroen as a Wehrmacht staff car used on the home front. Would the car be in German Grey (or yellow) or civilian black? Thanks.

It seems (to me at least )that many Tractions were repainted :















You'll probably find more pics on this forum :
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=23596&start=1050

HTH

Frenchy

The cars all seem to be frontline combat ones in the pictures, but I take it to mean that if they are used by the combat arms, they are still painted in military colors even if they aren't intended to go to the front.

Just wanted to add that I discovered and ordered the Voyager PE set for this vehicle. It certainly is a big help for the radiator grille if nothing else!

I think the Traction Avant was produced for the Germans during the Occupation as virtually a standard type, as were other Citroen vehicles, e.g. lorries. So I think you'd expect to see them in any colour dependant on user; there's a well known set of photos showing the staff car of General Kussin, the town kommandant of Arnhem, after he was shot up by British paras, which is plainly a Citroen in three colour camo. Conversely, the police or Milice would use black.

IIRC, the production of the 11CV stopped in 1940 and the production of the 15CV stopped in 1942 (with only 4 built that year)




http://www.battledetective.com/Kussin_Junction.html

Frenchy

I thought the car was revived after the war?

Yes Tom. I've forgotten to add that the production of the 11CV started again in June 1945 (1946 for the 15CV). The production of both models stopped for good in 1957.

Frenchy

But the 11CV still kept its prewar appearance for several years then it was changed, like happened to the VW Beetle basic model?

Tom
Postwar 11CVs were visually similar. The best giveaway to ID postwar 11CVs is the hood : in 1946, the flaps were replaced by louvers (like those of the 15CV hood). The "Pilote" wheels were replaced by plain wheels as well.

Frenchy