Summary of the "60-74" folder: BEA meetings, projects and decisions (1959-1974)

In this document

This document is a period summary paginated "1/2" and following, which chronologically lists the contents of the "60-74" folder dedicated to BEA meetings (Automotive Design Office) and "Projects, decisions" concerning the AP, F, G, AY, DS, L and SM vehicles p. 2-3. It covers a period from 11 September 1959 to 19 July 1974.

Early years (1959-1963)

The summary opens with a study by Mr. Cadiou on a pneumatic and hydropneumatic suspension, deemed "bizarre" by Paul Magès (p. 2, 11-09-1959), followed by several conferences with Messrs. Bercot, Brueder and Cadiou (known as "BBC") on the developments of the 2 CV, AM, DS, ID and trucks p. 2. It also contains technical notes on the DS (clutch, gear control, hydraulic anti-roll, 100% power-assisted steering) and investigations into hydraulic incidents in the network p. 2.

Mid-1960s

The document mentions exchanges with Rolls Royce on hydraulic braking (18-03-1963), a request for a regulatory derogation on gas pressure devices (01-1964), comparisons between NSU, M4 and DS 62 vehicles (20-07-1964), as well as a patent proposal for swivelling headlights (08-06-1965) and press clippings on this subject (1967-1968) p. 2-3.

Late 1960s and 1970s

The summary lists notes on the AP 3 vehicle, the F vehicle, a study on customers who had left the DS (02-1969), the "Delmont Affair" (inadvertent starting of a DS, 28-10-1970), the test of an SM by an insurance company (09-02-1971), the specifications for the L vehicle and its feasibility for "16,000 francs, with a 2-litre engine" (11-04-1971), a preliminary project for a hydropneumatic suspension for a FIAT vehicle by Mr. Petitdidier (12-05-1971), as well as information on the GS Birotor (25-07-1973) and press clippings comparing the DS to the rear axle of the Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 litres (19-07-1974) p. 3.

Context

The BEA (Automotive Design Office) was, at Citroën, the department where the technical orientations of vehicles were decided. Paul Magès occupied a central place there as the inventor of the hydropneumatic suspension: having joined Citroën in 1925, he had drawn up his first plans for hydropneumatic suspension as early as 17 February 1944 (Hydropneumatic suspension plans with differential interaction (17 February 1944)), before the first tests on the 2 CV in 1946, the test of the 15-Six H in April 1954 and the presentation of the DS on 6 October 1955; the technology was then extended to other models (ID, GS, SM). The period covered by this summary (1959-1974) ends the very year Magès retired from Citroën, in September 1974 (Photographs of Paul Magès' retirement (1974)).

The acronyms encountered refer to projects or personalities well known in Citroën history: Pierre Bercot (CEO), as well as engineers such as Brueder or Cadiou. The "L" vehicle mentioned likely corresponds, in the Citroën chronology, to a project that led to the future LN/Visa; the "G" vehicle to a medium-range project. These connections are based on general historical knowledge and are not explained in the document itself.

Archivist's perspective

This summary constitutes a valuable table of contents for understanding the organization of Paul Magès' work over nearly fifteen years: it allows for the linking of many isolated pieces from the collection, such as the note of 11 September 1959 or the road test report of April 1962.

It also reveals, through the diversity of the subjects listed (patents, press, customer incidents, relations with Fiat or Rolls Royce), the extent of Magès' role, far beyond mere technical invention: arbitration, competitive intelligence, crisis management. The mention of a hydropneumatic suspension project for Fiat p. 3 also suggests a dissemination of this technology outside the Citroën group, a point that would deserve to be cross-referenced with other pieces in the "60-74" folder.