Citroën Type B12
| Company type | Automobile model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | October 1925 |
| Defunct | January 1927 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Citroën B12 was manufactured by Citroën at the Paris factory established by André Citroën, with production spanning from October 1925 until January 1927. During this period, a total of 38,381 units were assembled. Its main competitors included the Peugeot Type 177 and the Renault KZ.
Employing advanced mass production methods that were unprecedented in France at the time, the B12 introduced "all-steel" (tout-acier) body construction for its two most commonly produced versions.
Context
Launched at the Paris Motor Show in October 1925, the B12 succeeded the Citroën Type B10 and utilized the same chassis along with a 1,452 cc engine.
The car
Retaining the 1,452 cc four-cylinder engine, the B12 was also designated as the Citroën 10HP or 10CV, indicating its fiscal horsepower category. The available body styles primarily consisted of "Torpedo" and "Conduite Intérieure" (saloon/sedan) designs, with additional options such as cabriolet, "Torpédo commercial," and "Normande" models.
The "tout-acier" (all-steel) body
Building on the B10—the first European car produced with an all-steel body—the B12 addressed previous structural weaknesses by incorporating a strengthened chassis to combat issues of body flex and component detachment experienced in its predecessor. Although this reinforcement increased vehicle weight, the powertrain remained a 20 HP engine, yielding a maximum speed of approximately 70 km/h (44 mph), slightly less than earlier versions.
Only the widely favored "Torpedo" and "Conduite Intérieure" models featured fully all-steel bodies; other variants combined steel with traditional materials to avoid expensive tooling investments for limited runs.
Brakes and springs
Responding to criticism regarding the B10's braking system, the B12 introduced an upgraded setup with drum brakes applied to all four wheels instead of just the rear axle as before. Additionally, it incorporated a new front suspension design using semi-elliptical leaf springs.
Commercial
Similar to its predecessor, the "Type B12" was effectively marketed as a one-year model. While only 17,259 B10 units were produced due to difficulties with novel body manufacturing processes, the 1926 B12 saw production more than double that figure with 38,381 vehicles built.
Its replacement, the "Citroën Type B14," debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October 1926; however, manufacturing of the B12 continued into early 1927 to fulfill remaining orders.
Classification in the French tax and insurance system
Consistent with earlier models, this vehicle was categorized within the 10 HP (10 CV) tax bracket.