The 1950s saw European car manufacturers turn out some of their most celebrated and memorable models, particularly from those car builders located in Germany, France and Italy.

The cars built in Germany of this period were a sign of the economic miracle the country was enjoying as it built itself up following the end of the Second World War.

Two companies which built classic European cars of the 1950s in Germany were Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen. Having launched the W186 and W189 at the beginning of the decade, Mercedes Benz went onto produce what has been described as the greatest car they ever built – the 300S.

Launched in 1952 this wonderful car was followed up by the limited edition 300SC, complete with fuel injection and also featured independent rear suspension. By the end of the 1950s Mercedes produced the ultimate in luxury models with the Fintail, which incorporated a crumple zone, disc brakes and air suspension.

Another German car manufacturer to survive the ravages of war and become part of the countries economic miracle was Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Type 1 or “Beetle” was destined to become hugely popular during the 1950s and well beyond. Production of the VW Beetle reached one million in 1955 and it was to be a top seller in the United States.

In France a classic European car of the 1950s was the Citroen 2CV. Sold mainly in France and within Europe the 2CV was by no means the most majestic of cars, but it was to become one of the most loved and iconic cars ever built by a French manufacturer.

High import taxes and the fact the 2CV, to some, looked ugly, meant the model never enjoyed big sales in the UK or United States. It took a futuristic style of Citroen – the DS designed by Flaminio Bertoni – for the French company to makes its name on the American market.

In Italy Lancia is a famous name for the production of classic cars during the 1950s. In 1950 Lancia launched the Aurelia, famed for its success in motor sport, at the Turin motor show. By 1953 Lancia had added the Appia to its range.

Lancia’s great Italian rivals were Alfa Romeo. Alfa Romeo were to start the 50s with the production of such classics as its 1900 Saloon, the company’s first assembly line model. Later models which were to become Alfa Romeo classics were the Giulietta, rolled out in 1954, and a year later the Berlina – four door saloon- and the Spider Cabriolet.

Are you looking for informaton on 1950s automobiles and classic cars from the golden age of automobile design? 1950sAutomobiles.com is dedicated to the great cars of the age from America, Europe and the UK with articles, photos and videos

Citroen C5 is the large sedan car for adults who crazy about the French style automotive design. The exterior of C5 shows memorable and dignified image. Large front lights are designed by the aerodynamic theory and the few gradient of its make the luxurious feeling. Besides, Front Citroen logo, hood, fender and front bumper are designed to create the cars image modern. This is the French blending between with classic style and modern style actually.

The report news described about C5 which began manufactured in 2003 that Citroen spend 6,900 million franc to invest in the R&D process and the marketing survey. The C5s factory, which can produce 920 cars per day, is on Rennes-la-Janais of France. It uses the new platform that developing process take time 3 year. C5 is designed by modern design technology, and it received the strict safety standard and environment standard. The suspension kit, uses the 3rd generation Hydrative system which is entity of Citroen, can reduce the vibration well and it has good road surface gripping attribute.

Citroen had offered three C5s engine choice. First choice is the V6 benzene engine which has 3,000cc plungers capacity with 24 valves. It can generate 152 Kw or 210 Hp. powers at 6,000 rpm, 285 Newton-meters or 30 kilogram-meters torque at 3750 rpm and 232 KmHr maximum speed. And the distinctive thing of this engine is VTC (Variable Timing Camshaft) system which can control open-close degree of valves by accelerating rate and engines cycle.

Second choice is the benzene straight engine which has 2,000cc plungers capacity with 16 valves. It can generates 100 Kw or 138 Hp. powers at 6,000 rpm, 190 Newton-meters or 19.8 kilogram-meters torque at 4,100 rpm and 202 KmHr maximum speed.

And the last choice is the 2.0 HDi diesel engine which has a high pressure diesel injection system and common-rail nozzles. It can generate 80 Kw or 110 Hp. powers at 4,000 rpm, 275 Newton-meters torque at 1,750 rpm and 188 KmHr. maximum speed. The direct-injection with common-rail high pressure pump which is controlled by ECU and the Variable Geometry Turbo Charger give the good performance on every speed and reduce 20 percent of gasoline usage. And additional merit of C5s diesel engine is the low loudness like the benzene engine. Also that HDi engine gives better responsibility than old version because the gasoline feeding accord with the engine need.

Furthermore, the 3rd generation Hydractive suspension kit was developed by Citroen which increase the vibrate reduction, road surface gripping and driving performance. It is cooperated between electronic devices which are controlled by computer unit and the improved hydraulic system. It has 4 modes for appropriate usability. H mode for the wheel changing, P mode for the hitch crossing, N mode for the normal driving and B mode for the high-loading.

If you interested Citroen C5, you can ask a near car dealer. You should check the C5s current price from car magazine or websites before you will buy it. Because different models have different prices.

Citroen History

Andre Citroen founded the company he named after himself, “Citroen”, in 1919. The French company became the first mass automaker outside of America to have any mass market success, with simple designs which served the growing automobile market well. Also credited with the production of the worlds ever first front wheel drive car, the Citroen Traction Avant in 1934, Citroen has been a front leader in innovative and uncommon designs, although remaining efficient in producing mass market cars which sold well. The French based company, innovative in itself for being the first European mass market car manufacture, was later formed into the PSA Peugeot Citroen group, which has its headquarters in Paris.

It was common for automobile manufactures to switch production from cars to military hardware for the campaign in World War One, often switching back to automobile production after the world war had ceased. Andre Citroens story is slightly different, however; with the Frenchmen deciding to build cars post World War One, after he had no use for his factory after the war. Citroen, the man not the company, originally built military wear for France during the World War, but found himself with no business after the war had finished. With a factory in his possession, Citroen began to produce cars, with the newly designed (by Le Zebre) type A. The type A was the first production car by Citroen, and within its two year production life had outputted over twenty four thousand units. Originally selling for close to eight thousand francs, the price was lifted to twelve and a half thousand francs just one year later. With the number of units being produced, around one hundred per day, Citroen had established itself as the first European mass market car manufacture.

In later years of the nineteen twenties, Citroen teamed up with the pioneer, Budd, an American engineer, who worked on stainless steel bodies for railroad cars originally, but then contracted to automakers to do the same. Many car manufactures of the time, including Citroen, received steel bodies which were manufactured by Edward Budd, with the Citroen steel bodied cars believed to be the first outside of America.

Citroen believed heavily upon the promotion of the brand, with the iconic and large Eiffel Tower in Paris lit up with the word “CITROEN” between 1925 and 1934, a marketing method to epic promotions in its day. Citroen cars continued to sell well, although many other car producers began to switch and upgrade their body designs after switching from wood to steel, leaving Citroen was very basic and slightly dated designs. The low price of the cars ensured mass units were still sold, although the company began to experience losses. The development of the innovative Traction Avant, the first front wheel drive car, spurred the company onwards, with the succession of new models.

Citroen cars for sale on Thats Exactly What We Want, as well as Citroen Xsara for sale, and other cars for sale

Citroen DS – The Goddess

Designed by Bertoni and launched in 1955, the Citroen DS (or “Goddess”) sold nearly 1.5 million units during its 20 years of production. A design classic the DS was packed with innovations and safety features that took decades to appear on other cars – indeed some have never been rivaled to this day!

The DS advanced all achievable standards in terms of ride quality, road-holding, handling, and braking. With the exception of air bags and side impact bars, there have been few improvements in vehicle safety design since.

After 18 years of development in secret, the DS 19 was introduced on October 5, 1955 at the Paris Motor Show. The car’s appearance and innovative engineering captured the imagination of the public and 743 orders were taken in the first 15 minutes of the show, First day orders totaled 12,000!

Throughout its model lifetime, the DS remained ahead of its time. It’s most remarkable innovation being the oleo-pneumatic (oil-air) pressure circuit that operated the steering, semi-automatic gearbox, brakes and suspension, which – pumped up by two powerful “accumulators” – provided automatic ride-height adjustment while giving the car a floating, luxurious ride.

The suspension was also driver-adjustable so that, in the event of a flat tire, the driver could raise the car to its highest setting, prop the corner, lower the car and remove the wheel, all without a jack. Other innovations included road-following head lamps, fiberglass roof and boot panel, removable body panels and a charming single-spoke steering wheel which allowed clear view of the instruments and collapsed with impact in an accident. It was also the first production car to sport front disc brakes.

The DS was voted fifth on Automobile Magazine “100 Coolest Cars” listing in 2005 and third in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, recognizing the world’s most influential auto designs. If you want to know which cars took second and first place then keep your eyes on KOCMO’s Classic Cars

President Charles de Gaulle praised the unusual abilities of his unarmored DS with saving his life during the assassination attempt at Petit-Clamart on August 22, 1962 – the shots had blown two of the tires, but due to the self-leveling suspension the car was still able to escape at full speed.

A true classic, a silver 1973 DS 23 IE ‘Decapotable’ (convertible) sold for EUR 176,250 in auction at Christie’s in 2006.

For more information about classic cars visit our site http://kocmobg.com You will find motoring section and many more..

The baby of the current range is the C1 a highly practical and economical city car suitable for urban traffic and parking. Although compact, the C1 still manages to give ample interior space for passengers and luggage by utilising the adaptable folding rear seats. There is a choice of five door and three door versions is available of this1.0i or 1.4 HDi diesel small but attractive vehicle.

Moving up in the range we next come to the C2 a practical and spacious sporty car suitable for city and cross country driving. There are lots of great features such as a split- tailgate, three gas engines or two diesel HDi to choose from including the high performing 125hp, 1.6i 16V.

The next Citron option is the C3 a 5 door stylish and spacious car that provides a lot of driving pleasure. The C3 epitomises the French flair for sleek and elegant styling, which are cleverly combined with high tech features. Such as SensoDrive transmission that utilizes the latest in fuel saving stop-start technology, to help save the planet while saving you petrol money.

The C4 Picasso is already a classic of French motoring design makes this a driver’s dream that is a step ahead of its rivals. There are so many features such as automatic parking brake, assistance for hill starting and a combined cruise control and speed limiter as well as a multiple airbag set-up. Have combined to make it possible for the C4 Picasso to obtain the prestigious NCAP 5-star safety rating.

The sister vehicle Grand C4 Picasso is a very captivating seven-seater people carrier that gives a truly remarkable driving experience that is not like a regular boring family multi- person vehicle.

The Xsara Picasso has already proved itself to be a real crowd pleaser. This may be because of its high ability to handle just like a salon car while providing all the features and comfort of a MPV.

There is plenty of available space for people and lots of luggage, making it a winner for those with family or friends to move around in safety and comfort. ABS and EBD, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution come as standard features to give you the piece of mind you need when transporting your loved ones.

The C5 is the company’s executive saloon vehicle that provides the ultimate in classy French driving chic. Features such as the Electronic Stability Programme to keep this quick and agile exec vehicle firmly glued to the road.

Which ever Citroen contract hire vehicle you choose you can be assured of the best in modern European stylish design and well conceived safety features to make your Citroen car leasing experience a happy one.

Darrell Freeman

Citroen has had great success with its C2 model that comes with a quality engine of 110 hp c2 1.6HDI VTS. It is a diesel consuming car whose market price is lesser than 11,000, which turns out to be quite affordable than any of the car with the same specs. This car is a combination of a number of plus points including better fuel economy, low emissions and effective performance. The interior and exterior looks of the car is just like a sports car. This car looks like wearing a coat of another sports car namely Citroen’s VTS badge. The market price of VTS badge is around 10,995.

The torque laden C2 1.6HDI VTS is used in this car. Because of this great success of these petrol engines, the company later on produced its first diesel consuming supermini car namely the VTS insignia. Insignia has an engine power up to 110 hp with 1.6HDI engine. It has a manual gear box of 5-speed and its top speed is 120mph.

Insignia takes about 9.4 seconds to accelerate up to 0-60mph. The torque of this car is pretty good even at around 2000 rpm. Because of some of its special features like fun-to-drive handling, environmental friendliness and sporty looks, it performed well in the market just like the petrol version cars. Some more features that are included in these cars are four air bags, ESP system, standard ABS with EBD, 16” ‘cheetah’ alloy wheels, an alarm, and the air conditioning.

With loads of features, a trendy design and high fuel economy, the Citroen C2 simply turns out to be one of the best deals under the 11,000 mark.

CITROEN is a pioneering car manufacturer, with a long line of original, advanced designs and a tradition of engineering excellence and innovation. The world’s first front-wheel drive car, the Traction Avant, was thanks to CITROEN. Perhaps the company’s most recognised car of all time is the 2CV, which came to be regarded as an automotive icon.

CITROEN’s current crop includes the C1, C2, C3, C4, C4 Picasso and Xsara Picasso, with new models such as the C6, which replaced the XM.

CITROEN HISTORY

In 1914, Andr CITROEN set up a company that made munitions for the war. This venture proved to be a success, and by the 1920s the company became known as CITROEN.

The company shocked the world in 1934 with the Traction Avant, a revolutionary car with features such as front wheel drive. In 1934, CITROEN was taken over by Michelin tyre company and in 1976, CITROEN became part of PSA Peugeot CITROEN.

CITROEN FACTS

* Type: Subsidiary of PSA Peugeot CITROEN
* Founded: 1919
* Headquarters: Paris, France
* Industry: Automotive
* Products: Cars

CITROEN FEATURED MODELS

* Citroen C2 – the first CITROEN with a Stop & Start environmental system, and five speed semi-automatic transmission.
* Citroen C3 – a larger family friendly car, the C3 has five doors and is a “supermini” intended to replace the Citroen Saxo.
* Citroen C4 – a small family car produced since 2004. The C4 was designed to be the successor to the Citroen Xsara.
* Citroen C5 – a large family car produced since early 2001. The C5 replaced the Citroen Xantia in the large family car class.
* Citroen SAXO – a supermini manufactured from 1996 to 2003.
* Citroen XSARA – a small family car produced since 1997 in five-door estate, three- and five-door hatchback styles.
* Citroen XSARA PICASSO – an MPV produced since 1999.

DID YOU KNOW?

* The 2CV was affectionately known as “The Duck”. Citroen realised that there was an urgent need for a cheap and reliable car, and first introduced the 2CV to the public in 1938. Because of WWII, the production started in 1948. Since the car was such a success the production continued for over 40 years. The design underwent only a few minor changes in all those years.
* At the 1950 Paris Motor Show, the 2CV van was introduced. Between February 1951 and March 1978, 1,246,306 2CV vans were made. Demand was so great that there was a six-year waiting list for delivery in the 1950s.
* Citroen held the constructor title in the World Rally Championship in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
* In 2000, Citroen built a heritage centre in Aulnay, Paris. These premises of 6,700 m2, house almost 300 vintage cars and concept cars, but are not open to the public.
* The Citroen won the bronze lion award at the Advertising film festival at Cannes in 2005. This was for the Citroen C4 film “The Dancer”.

Auto Trader World of Cars [http://cars.autotrader.co.uk], Main Fact Finder Index [http://cars.autotrader.co.uk/fact-finder]

Buying a new car in Ohio

Purchasing new car is hard enough without having to deal with the sales pressure from a car salesman. It’s no big secret that almost every car dealer can be talked down on the initial price thay want for a car.

So if you decide to buy new car, we’ll help you determine what kind of cars is right for you and how best to negotiate a car purchase. Before you head out to the car showrooms with your checkbook in hand, evaluate your reasons for buying a new car. Find out the base price of each car you are interested in. The more you know about the actual cost of, the less you will have pay for it.

Before entering the dealership
Before you step foot on a dealership lot, there are several things you need to think about, including what type of vehicle you can afford, what type of car is right for you, whether you should lease or buy, and what your credit history consists of.
Once you decide on type of car you need it is time to do your research to narrow down the choices. A number resources on this site can provide you comparison information rating the vehicles within specific categories. Compare such areas as safety, reliability, fuel economy, warranties, operating costs, theft rates, general features, and options when making you decision.

Getting ready to buy new car
Do your homework first and make much wiser decision before you buy new car. To determine ahead how much negotiating room you have on basic cars and extra options, draw up awork sheet for each type of new car you considering. Using updated price lists available from above sites, write down the dealer’s cost and list price, for the particular make, model and trim line.
For each car, list the options you want, describing them with the invoice number. Also before you decided to buy new car, write down the dealer’s cost and the list price. Look up the destination charges for that car, and include this in both the dealer’s cost and the list price, since there is no murkup. The destination charge is the cost the dealer pays to get the new car to the dealership.
Now compare the dealer’s cost and the list price for that car. The difference is your negotiating room. Do the same thing with each of the options. You may be able to negotiate on individual options before you buy new car.

Buying a New Car

Buying a new car is one of the largest purchases most people make in their lives. Therefore, it is worth taking care and making sure the deal you get is the best possible.

Financing

If you need to obtain credit to fund the purchase of the car, you should be aware that the financing offered by the dealer is often not the best deal you can get. If you shop around for loans you may get financing at a much better rate. You should compare the annal percentage rate (APR) as well as the length of the loan and the amount of monthly repayments. Always look at the total amount repayable and compare this to the price of the car to see the cost of the finance.

Sometimes, dealers will offer you a very good financing rate on specific models that qualify. It may not be possible to negotiate on the price of these models and you should check to see if this is cheaper than buying another model that can be negotiated.

Make sure you have a copy of the contract and before you leave the lot, evaluate whether the repayment terms in it are affordable. If the dealer asks you to buy credit insurance, you should add this into the price and see if the car is still attractive. You should also check your existing insurance policies as you may be covered already under another policy.

If you are considering a trade in, bring it up only after you have already negotiated the best possible price for the car you want. You should also research the value of your old car so that you know what it is worth. This information will help you see what the dealer is effectively offering you for your old car and if it is a fair price.

If you are considering a service contract you should be clear on what it offers. They have many exemptions and you will already have some cover from the manufacturers warranty which is included in the cost of the car. You should certainly ask the following questions:

  • What does it offer over and above the warranty?
  • What repairs are covered?
  • Is routine maintenance recovered?
  • Will they pay for parts, labor or both?
  • Who performs the work?
  • How long does the contract last and what are the cancellation and refund policies?
  • Buy New Car Online

    Smart buyers now use the Internet to buy new cars! Buying new cars online saves your precious time, money and effort at once. It is much faster and when you buy new cars online from an authorized car dealer, you just reap a horde of benefits. Really it’s very easier to buy Cars, Vans, SUV’s and Wagons online. But, with a plethora of sites catering to online new car buying, it is imperative that you choose a website that lets you buy new cars from authorized dealers. Considering every aspect, Carwholesaleprices.com is undoubtedly the best choice as apart from the exhaustive automotive directory, you get the best new car prices from authorized dealers.

    At Carwholesaleprices, you can find new car buying guide for automotives ranging from a family wagon to Sports Utility Vehicles. The easily navigable online new car buying website makes your car buying experience a pleasure. The new car prices and reviews are very informative, and also the high-resolution car pictures gives you the best touch-and-feel experience of buying a car online.

    The vast automobile inventory at Carwholesaleprices.com includes all the latest makes and models of all popular cars, trucks and SUVs from manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Toyota, Suzuki, Jaguar, Isuzu, Hyundai, Daewoo and other auto giants. Get a free price quote from a network of new car dealers online. Detailed descriptions, prices and an overview of features make comparison easy. Lowest new car prices and reviews help buyers to get the best new car prices. Compare features, prices, models and even reviews! New car price guide helps you buy a car within your budget and new car buying guide makes it easy to find exactly the features you are looking for.

    You can rest assured about the quality when buy a new car online at Carwholesaleprices, as the car will be delivered from an authorized car dealer. Buying from an authorized dealer has its advantages as you can always approach the dealer in case of any problem. It also helps in car insurance and financing.

    So if buying a car is on your mind, it’s just a single click away. Get it right from Carwholesaleprices.com

    « Previous posts Back to top