Summary of hydrostatic transmission vehicle tests (1960-1973)

In this document

Page 1 — 2 CV and 3 CV tests (1960-1972)

The handwritten record lists nine test vehicles equipped with hydrostatic transmission, each identified by an ELV number (Citroën test registration) and a driving period:

The total for this series amounts to 936,649 km p. 1.

A red annotation, dated 15/12/73, refers to "Mr. Meunier's note" (reference EP 3091.03.008 H) specifying additional mileages for ELV 1405 (81,340 km), and for ELV 1294 and 1323 (91,427 km) p. 1.

Page 2 — GS 1015 and GS 1220 tests (1970-1973)

Four GS vehicles continue the record, with tracking by model generation:

• ELV 1583: GS 1015 1st generation (Dec 70 → Sep 72, 49,127 km), GS 1220 2nd generation (Dec 72 → Jul 73, 15,690 km), GS 1220 3rd generation (Sep 73 →, 5,870 km).
• ELV 1774: GS 1220 2nd generation (May 1972 →, 57,998 km).
• ELV 1654: GS 1015 1st generation (Jan-Jul 72, 17,237 km) then 2nd generation (Jul 72 → Feb 73, 20,054 km), GS 1220 2nd generation (Feb 73 →, 13,000 km).
• ELV 1832: GS 1220 2nd generation (May 73 →, 11,000 km).

The GS subtotal reaches 189,976 km p. 2.

The document concludes: "Total mileage completed to date 05.12.73" with the addition of the two subtotals (936,649 + 189,976 km), resulting in 1,126,625 km, a figure boxed in blue and underlined in red p. 2. Another total, "1,157,996", as well as a red box mentioning "Total", "14 cars", "1,458,000 km", appear crossed out p. 2. The page also bears the date "as of 6/12/73" p. 2.

Context

Hydrostatic transmission is a technology that transmits engine power via pressurized fluid rather than conventional mechanical components (clutch, gearbox) — a field of research explored at Citroën in parallel with the famous hydropneumatic suspension developed by Paul Magès.

The vehicles mentioned — 2 CV, 3 CV (a less common variant of the range), and GS (launched in 1970) — served as rolling test benches for these experiments, with La Ferté-Vidame being Citroën's historic test centre.

Archivist's perspective

This summary, dated 5-6 December 1973, seems to have been established as a progress report for a test programme conducted over nearly fourteen years (1960-1973). The successive erasures and corrections of the totals p. 2 likely testify to an internal working document, revised as mileage verifications were reported by various departments (Meunier note, p. 1).

It constitutes a valuable piece for measuring the scale and duration of the development effort devoted to hydrostatic transmission within Paul Magès' teams, far beyond the sole commercial success of the hydropneumatic suspension.