Melbourne Traction Memories.

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Craig Little is an affectionate Citroënnist and Amilcarist. We recently heard about the series of nine-seater TA's he owned. The one depicted here was among the first. We understand that only 27 English Family 9's were produced. The car is most probably a 1953 model and the photo was made in 1965. Below Craig's recollections of the car he bought when aged 19. Anybody who knows of the whereabouts of GKJ796?

"I was working in the advertising industry and had dealings with Newton & Talbot, a fashion photographers company in Melbourne. A member of a the family of a young girl who worked there had died and the car was part of a deceased estate and was offered for sale. Tractions were generally regarded as odd and complicated here then, apart from those few committed Francophiles like myself.
The price for the vehicle with just 40,000 miles on the clock was subsequently modest which made it perfect for me and my then modest salary. It was in great condition with mid blue metallic upholstery and wine coloured leather with three neat jump seats that folded out of the floor directly behind the drivers seat. With the seats folded down there was a luxury of space in the rear.
The photo I have sent you was taken in Carlton which was and still is a hub of cosmopolitan activitty. It has a large student population as it is the location of Melbourne University and various emigrant communities there gave it a multicultural cafe and bar environment with much late night activity. I finally sold the car to a teacher who begged me to sell it to him. At that stage and age I thought the small traction with a tyre cover on the boot was the ants pants and finally parted with it for one I found equipped with a sun roof."

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