Citroën type B12

Citroën
Citroën type B12 sedan
Type B12
Production period:	1925-1927
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , touring car , pick-up , panel van , omnibus
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.5 liters (15-16 kW)
Length:	4000 mm
Width:	1450 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2830 mm
Empty weight :	1020 kg
Previous model	Citroën type B10
successor	Citroën type B14

The Citroën Type B12 replaced the Citroën Type B10 in October 1925 . By January 1927, the French car manufacturer Citroën had produced 38,381 copies. The B12, whose strongest competition in France was the Peugeot Type 177 and the Renault Type KZ , was manufactured in a modern assembly line and was significantly more successful than its competitors.

The B10, from which the B12 took over the chassis and engine, was built using an all-steel body construction. Citroën was the first manufacturer in Europe. However, there were starting difficulties at the beginning and the rigidity of the body was not high enough. As soon as the vehicle moved, the frame twisted or bent, which meant that parts of the body were free or doors opened spontaneously. This led to a deterioration in the reputation of Citroën. The B10 had taken over the chassis from the Citroën Type B2 and it quickly became clear that a solid and stiff chassis would be required for the necessary rigidity of the all-steel body. In a constant, short learning process, the chassis was reinforced to such an extent by adding steel reinforcements that no more problems occurred. To make this clear to the outside world, the B12 was introduced as a successor after only one year of construction of the B10.

Due to the additional weight of the chassis and body, the maximum speed of the 1452 cc petrol engine, which was first introduced in the B2, was reduced to 70 km / h instead of 72 in the B10. An overhaul of the engine brought an increase in output from 20 to 22 hp, which enabled the heaviest version, the sedan , to achieve 72 km / h and better acceleration. This version of the engine was optionally available for all other body variants, because with the start of the B12, production of the B2 also ended. While the B10 was only available as a sedan and torpedo , Citroën now also offered a flatbed truck for commercial sale, with a box body as a Boulangère, as well as a commercial sedan version - primarily as a taxi - and a special convertible sedan .

The B10 only had rear drum brakes and was unbraked at the front. The B12 now also had drum brakes at the front and also a new semi-elliptical leaf spring arrangement at the front to improve driving comfort.

While only 17,259 copies were made in the one year of production of the B10, the B12 with 38,381 copies was more than twice as many. The B12 was produced until January 1927, but the successor model Citroën type B14 was also produced and sold since October 1926 .

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  dashboard

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  engine

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  B12

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  torpedo

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  Box van Boulangère

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  B12 Torpedo Cabriolet

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  Cabriolet cockpit

literature

• Jacques Wolgensinger, André Citroën, Lupetti, ISBN 88-85838-69-3
• JP Foucault, Le 90 ans de Citroën, Éditions Michel Lafon, ISBN 978-2-7499-1088-8

Web links

Commons : Citroën B12  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• History of Citroën on the manufacturer's website