Conservatoire

CONSERVATOIRE

THE SITE

The Citroën Conservatoire or heritage centre houses more than 400 vehicles and models, from the 1919 Type A to the most recent launches. It also holds a huge quantity of archive material and a fabulous array of objects steeped in memory. It is a fascinating anthology of the Citroën brand. Although the Conservatoire is a reflection of the past, it also points the way to the future. The items making up this extraordinary collection, which are loaned out for events the world over, convey a strong message: Citroën still has surprises in store. Let’s join the Conservatoire manager Denis Huille, as he takes us on a tour of this unique centre, which occupies 6,500 m2 in the grounds of the PSA Aulnay-sous-Bois plant outside Paris. An opportunity to discover a wealth of riches, stored with the greatest of care!

PRE-WAR VEHICLES

The pre-war vehicles saw the birth of the Citroën brand and played a role in its emergence. The Conservatoire has many pre-war vehicles, most of them in perfect condition. The technical staff restore four or five vehicles a year, part by part, in compliance with the recommendations of the time and in liaison with the official clubs and suppliers. From the Type A to the Traction Avant, via the B10, C4, C6 or Rosalie, Denis Huille shares with you the secrets and anecdotes from the early days of the Citroën adventure. Each aisle takes you back in time to rediscover the technologies and innovations that have always kept Citroën one step ahead.

POST-WAR VEHICLES

"The Conservatoire not only has the first models produced by André Citroën. It also houses many post-war vehicles, some of which have earned a place in our collective memory: the 2CV, the beautiful DS, the luxurious SM coupé, and other more recent vehicles in rarely seen forms. Commercial vehicles are also centre stage, since the Conservatoire – a real treasure trove – houses a number of models, including the renowned Type H van with its ribbed bodywork. This example is the last one produced by the Aulnay-sous-Bois plant in 1981 at the end of a career that began in 1947. Come with us to rediscover the models and innovative technologies that launched the Citroën brand in the international market arena!"

SPORT AND ADVENTURE

Adventure and sport are written into Citroën’s DNA, with the Croisière Jaune and Noire expeditions, the rally-raids, and – more recently – the WRC. It was therefore only natural for the Conservatoire to set aside an area for the vehicles that were the main players in these key moments of the Marque’s history. With Denis Huille and his team, step on board a C4 half-track, an identical reconstruction of the 1931 model. Step back in time to the 2CV Cross, a popular, fun motorsports event, or start up a ZX from the 1992 Moscow-Beijing rally raid! Through the wide range of vehicles housed by the Conservatoire, explore the extensive experience accumulated by Citroën, paving the way for its current success in the World Rally Championship, primarily with Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena.

UNUSUAL VEHICLES

Although the Conservatoire houses many production vehicles widely known to the general public and that are part of the brand’s history, it also has a number of vehicles that are more unusual, either by virtue of their history or their specific characteristics. Did you know, for example, that the Citroën Type J placed its stamp on the chevron tyres of a tractor? Could you have imagined that in the 1970s the brand would use its automotive expertise to develop a two-seater helicopter? Do you know the story behind the special version of the DS with a built-in safe? The Conservatoire has no lack of surprising curiosities. Denis Huille, Citroën Heritage Manager, will be pleased to share some of the stories with you!

ARCHIVES

The Citroën Conservatoire does not simply collect and restore vehicles. It also houses another treasure trove: the archives. Located next to the collection of vehicles, they take up almost one and a half kilometres of shelf space! An exceptional source of information, including: vehicle registers, sketches and plans from Citroën’s design offices, newsletters and magazines, press kits, technical documents and style drawings. Catherine Jeannin, Citroën Archives Manager, invites you to step into the archives, which are normally closed to the public, and to walk around, looking at documents that retrace the history of the Marque.

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