Citroën U55 Currus Cityrama
| Industry | Coachbuilding, Bus manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Sightseeing buses |
The Citroën U55 Currus Cityrama was a French sightseeing bus specifically engineered for city sightseeing excursions.
Background
In 1956, the Parisian tour company Cityrama commissioned the coachbuilder Currus to create double-decker buses with expansive glass panels, aiming to maximize passenger visibility and deliver a distinctive appearance that set them apart from other models on the market.
Origin
Albert Lemaître, Currus' technical director, designed the vehicle using the Citroën Type 55 chassis. The lower body, crafted from lightweight metal, drew inspiration from the hull design of the Mouches excursion boats operating on the Seine. Notable features included two large rear fins and curved Plexiglas enclosing both passenger decks. A red stripe ran along the sides, culminating in an arch-shaped tail fin at the back, while a pointed ram-like extension projected forward from the roof edge of the lower deck.
Innovatively equipped, each seat was fitted with headphones providing commentary in eight different languages. The bus’s eye-catching styling led to strong commercial demand and further orders from Cityrama.
However, operational difficulties arose: the extensive glass construction caused significant heat accumulation inside, as no air conditioning was installed. Although the upper deck roof could be almost fully opened, it offered only limited ventilation. The heavy build placed considerable strain on the engine, which suffered overheating due to inadequate cooling from a single radiator grille. Later enhancements included multiple radiator grilles and an oil cooler; nonetheless, one vehicle caught fire on Rue de Rivoli, resulting in total loss but fortunately no casualties.
Problems
Due to these technical complications, Cityrama ceased ordering this model after receiving their final batch in 1959. They instead opted for a successor double-decker designed by Currus based on the Saviem-Chausson SC1 chassis. This replacement featured a more traditional construction while maintaining some of the original design cues.
Whereabouts
The Citroën Currus buses served Cityrama for many years and became emblematic of Parisian sightseeing, even appearing in films such as Zazie dans le Métro. The last Currus bus was withdrawn from service in 1980. One unit was subsequently used by the French circus Sabine Rancy, though its current condition is unknown. The sole surviving 1959 model remained stored for over three decades and is now under restoration by the Association Normande d’Anciens Utilitaires.
External links
- Official Facebook page for the restoration of the last surviving Citroën U55 Currus Cityrama
- Fondation du Patrimoine - L'autocar Cityrama
- CarJager - Currus Citroën U55 « Cityrama » : le futur à portée de main
- scann R -Citroën U55 “Cityrama”
- Messy Nessy - A Back to the Future Tour of Paris in the 1950s
- Terránea - Cityrama Currus, the first autobus turístico de Paris
- Auto.cz - Citroën U55 Currus Cityrama (1959): Autobus z jiné planety
- Dark Roasted Blend - Most Extravagant Bus Ever Built
- The Tim Traveler - The Cityrama Citroen 55: The Strangest Bus Ever Built?
- The Tim Traveler - WE FOUND IT! The Last Surviving Cityrama