Re: Re: November/December

I’ve never had a problem with modifying Tractions. In fact at Arras, a 100% original car that had never had any mods was actually rather boring in a way. Good to see several that are 100% but lets face it, these cars have lived lives and had different owners who all thought to change their cars in ways that suited them better. Original accessories, gauges, wind wings, different wheels, sun roofs, fog lights, vintage radios and so forth.
I had a hand in building the electric Traction Familiale at Gillards’s last year. Done for a customer, he wanted it, he paid for it, he got it. 48 batteries and a complex control system. Batteries under the bonnet and also where the petrol tank used to be. The charging system was in the spare tyre well and the plug-in for it was in the old tank filler neck which I thought was a nice touch. Still had the original gear shift but it only has second and reverse gear as it’s only to be used in London. The motor was about 35 HP as I recall but it can be recalibrated as I understand. I didn’t see the final product but the car was totally rebuilt, silver with a red leather interior. It looked great and with the bonnet closed, you couldn’t tell the difference. It sure wasn’t done on the cheap. Went like a rocket, too.