One distinctive design quirk for many French cars from 1934 to the early 1950s was beltines (that run along the lower edges of side windows) that drooped or fell off downwards towards cars' aft ends.
Most French brands did not have this characteristic. But the country's "big three" car makers -- Citroën, Renault and Peugeot -- had models with just that touch. So many French cars' beltlines drooped.
Most of the images below are factory sourced or are of cars for sale.
A very early Citroën Traction Avant. This popular car and its larger 11 CV sibling were the first mass-produced French cars with the lazy beltline, as best I can tell.
Six-window cars were longer and made the effect more noticeable. One thing I do not know is why it appeared in the first place.
Once Citroën launched the style, it was adopted by its main competitors, as can be seen on this six-window Peugeot.
And on this Renault.
A few other brands fell in with the dropping beltline fashion, including some exclusive Delage models such as this one.
The French seem to prefer four-door cars. But this two-door Hotchkiss, low-production that it was, also followed the fashion in a stubby way.
2 comments:
Also Citroen DS and SM in the postwar era among others, and even the C6 a bit. Perhaps unfortunately lowered trade barriers/globalization etc. means cars aren't as nationally unique, although Citroen seems to be trying to a degree.
I was just watching some episodes of Foyle's War and noticed some drooping beltlines on a couple cars, presumably British ones from the 30's. Probably goes back to carriage designs. I stopped the video where a badge, usually on the radiator grille, was shown but I'm not familiar with anything other than an MG octagon or a Jaguar leaper etc. so I couldn't tell what they were. Wolseleys or Humblers or something, I guess.
All those British shows set from WWII to the '50's and'60's (Endeavor, Midwife, etc.) that show up on PBS or elsewhere are generally good and extra fun with their various odd to us British cars.
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