We love a good wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel, wooden dashboard, and sporty instrumentation as much as you do, but there’s something to be appreciated with classic and very fashion-forward interiors produced by Citroën from the ’50s until the mid-to-late ’70s.
So what makes these odd-looking designs appealing even today?
Besides the fact modern automakers still look over Citroën’s shoulder (many modern Audi interiors have an overall layout and design quite similar to that of the SM, for instance) you’ll often notice elements the company introduced decades ago finding their way into new cars.
Design features like having controls clustered around the driver’s fingertips was pretty far-out in its day, but the noteworthy item here is that Citroën introduced dashboards-as-sculpture to its entire range, with even the 2CV getting special interior features and trims thanks to a number of special editions. Want your 2CV with a floor-mounted cooler that features two cupholders on top? Find a Perrier edition…
Now, as our cities become more congested and very sporty classics continue their incredible rise in value, we’ve started considering cars that are a very nice place to spend a lot of time in, and having a classic with an interior that will instantly warp you back in time is a definite plus.
Moreover, Citroën designers often pushed out different trim choices and materials—choices were so extensive that there’s now a fan site for tracking all of the different color options!
Be inspired by these interiors, and while a classic Citroën isn’t likely to keep up with a Porsche 911 on the Stelvio Pass, they’re wonderful places in which to spend time. What’s your favorite Citroën interior feature?
Image Sources: citroenet.org.uk, uniquecarsandparts.com.au, carstyling.ru, citroenet.org.uk, citroenet.org.uk, photobucket.com, theregister.co.uk
