The Citroën Terra America Adventure

The Citroën Terra America Adventure, the Pan-American in a Traction Avant

L’Aventure Citroën is a partner of the Terra America expedition: an unprecedented documentary journey through time and the history of the Americas, to meet the native peoples.

An extraordinary human adventure

At the wheel of her old Suzanne, a 1956 Citroën “Traction Avant” that arouses so much sympathy, Fanny takes the mythical Pan-American Highway, the longest road in the world, which stretches from the Arctic Ocean in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south, to meet those who have always defended a global and unique vision: the indigenous peoples.

40,000 km, 14 countries and 4 climatic systems: the Pan-American Highway illustrates the confrontations between development and preservation of nature, all the human and natural contrasts of the Americas. This legendary road becomes his physical, intellectual and spiritual journey, and each encounter with a native people constitutes a new stage in his understanding of the American continent, incredible in its diversity of nature and the people who inhabit it, and of its challenges.

This adventure, both human and mechanical, is part of the heritage of the expeditions imagined and led by André Citroën from the 1920s onwards, when the automobile was considered a means of exploring the world and bringing people together. Despite a century of evolution in means of transport, the automobile remains today a tool of autonomy and simplicity for travelling such distances.

The Citroën Terra America Adventure started on 26 May 2021 from the Citroën Conservatory, a symbolic place where the largest international collection of Citroën vehicles is maintained. Among the 280 exhibits on display, the Traction Avant and the vehicles that took part in the famous Cruises were also honoured for this great moment.

30 September 2021: successful crossing of North America!

Despite the difficult health situation and the numerous restrictions imposed in the USA and Canada, Fanny arrived in California, in Los Angeles, after 75 days of travel, including 60 days on the road from northern Alaska, and more than 15,000 km travelled.

Terra America made history and fulfilled its mission, bringing back more than a hundred hours of film, witnessing not only the mechanical adventure of a woman in a Traction, but also meetings with indigenous communities (Athabascans, Flathead, Blackfeet, Navajos, Tohono O’Odham to discuss many subjects such as: global warming, their resilience, the struggle against violence against indigenous women, the preservation of their cultures and traditions).

Teaser : https://vimeo.com/641456850/d6664fffa4

The first part of season 2 ended on 29 April in Mexico City.

After 25 days on the road, 12,000 km travelled, and dozens of hours of films on the Adventure and its encounters, notably with the indigenous communities, Suzanne will remain in Mexico City, in a garage, waiting to get back on the road after the rainy season.
See you soon for the rest of the story with Fanny and Suzanne!
To discover the complete story of this season and to follow this ADVENTURE in three main parts (North, Central and South America), go to https://terramerica.fr

TO FOLLOW THIS ADVENTURE IN 3 MAIN PARTS (North, Central and South America):
In 2022, Fanny will continue on to the second major leg, Central America, crossing no less than 9 countries and covering more than 10,000 km.
It should be noted that it is possible to follow the route in real time, using on-board geo-navigation: as in the Vendée Globe, you can follow the car's progress live on a map via satellite relay and enjoy an unprecedented immersive experience of the expedition thanks to the images, videos and stories sent regularly along the route..

This Traction Avant Citroën 11B Grand Raid was chosen for the qualities that this type of Grand Raid preparation brings. This Citroën Traction11B, which left the Javel factory in April 1956, was bought in 2005 by Robert Muller. This supplier of special mechanical parts for rally cars has specially adapted the car to carry out Grand Raids for 15 years with the associations: Tractions sans Frontières, Globe Drivers, Traction Euro-Travel and La Traction Universelle. From 2006 to 2017 the car has travelled the world: Australia, Morocco, Russia, Italy, Northern Europe, Argentina, Malaysia, Thailand, Andes, Sardinia, Corsica, Greece, Portugal, Sicily. Year after year, the preparation has been perfected, taking into account the experience acquired by all the participants in these raids, to arrive at what is considered today as the ultimate in the field. Since these trips, the car has been entirely revised, the engine rebuilt (5000 km at the time of purchase).

Grand Raid Modifications: Hull: body reinforcements / Engine and gearbox: DX2, 5 bearings, BV 5 / Large capacity radiator and double ventilation / Electricity: 12V, alternator, electronic ignition / Electric petrol pump and 70 litre stainless steel tank / Triangulation reinforcement of the front axle / Power steering / Front disc brakes + power assistance and silicon fluid, stainless steel circuit / Original torsion bar suspension, reinforced shock absorbers / BX velour seats, with head restraints / Miscellaneous : Safety belts, powerful lighting, laminated windscreen, thermal and sound insulation, warnings / Windscreen and headlight protectors / Storage trunks bolted to the body / Auxiliary heater.

Thus prepared and equipped with the spare parts kit supplied by the Aventure Citroën team, the Traction Avant is ready for the Pan-American Rally!