Citroën
French automobile manufacturer started in 1919 by André Citroën (1878-1935).
Originally a mass-market car maker with relatively straight-forward designs, Citroën shocked the world in 1934 with the innovative Traction Avant (1934-1956) and until the late 1980s had a reputation for approaching auto design in a unique way. Later significant models include the H Van (1947-1981, aka HY), 2CV (1948-1990, aka Duck), DS (1955-1975, aka Goddess) and CX (1974-1989).
In 1934 heavy debts meant the company could not continue as it had; it was taken over by its biggest creditor, the tyre company Michelin. In 1967 Citroën took control of Maserati, the Italian sportscar maker and launched the sportscar SM, which contained a V6 Maserati engine. This was unfortunately timed, with the impending oil crisis making sports car manufacture an unprofitable business. In 1974 Peugeot bought a 30% share of the weakened company, completely taking over Citroën in 1976.
The company's "double chevron" logo derives from André Citroën's early business in gear-cutting.