The U23, or Type 23, was a light two-tonne truck introduced by Citroën in 1935. Its engine cowling and front body looked similar to the Traction Avant’s, but the U23 had a conventional rear-wheel-drive layout, and production lasted through 1969 with approximately one million built.
Citroën U23 at a glance
| Maker | Citroën, France |
|---|---|
| Production | 1935–1969 |
| Built | approximately one million |
| Class | light truck, 2 tonnes |
| Petrol engine | 1,911 cc four |
| Diesel engine | 1,767 cc four, available from 1936 |
| Layout | rear-wheel drive |
| Bus and coach version | Type 23 RU, from 1941 |
| Military orders | more than 12,000 delivered in under ten months |
| Restyling | mid-1950s, with a wide horizontal grille including the headlamps |
| Replaced by | Citroën 350 to 850 range, the Belphégor |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Citroën U23
1935: a truck that looked like a Traction
The U23 was introduced in 1935 as a light two-tonne truck, and although its engine cowling and front bodywork resembled the Traction Avant’s, it kept a conventional rear-wheel-drive layout rather than the car’s front-wheel drive. It was powered by a 1,911 cc four-cylinder petrol engine, with a 1,767 cc four-cylinder diesel made available in 1936.
The war years
One major customer was the French military, which ordered large quantities of Type 23s after the declaration of the Second World War: at the time of the German invasion more than 12,000 had been delivered in less than ten months, and about 6,000 were pressed into German service after the French defeat of June 1940. Bus and coach versions, called the Type 23 RU, were introduced in 1941.
Restyling and a long retirement
The U23 underwent a major restyling in the mid-1950s, which gave it a wide horizontal grille incorporating the headlamps that had previously been mounted on the fenders. It was gradually replaced by the Citroën 350 to 850 range, also called Belphégor, introduced in 1964, although U23 production continued until 1969. Over its life about one million were built, which makes it one of the most numerous commercial vehicles Citroën ever made.
Design and features
- Traction-style cab: the front bodywork echoed the car, but the truck kept rear-wheel drive.
- Petrol and diesel: a 1,911 cc four from 1935 and a 1,767 cc diesel from 1936.
- Military service: more than 12,000 delivered to the French army in under a year.
- Type 23 RU: bus and coach versions from 1941.
- 1950s grille: a wide horizontal grille with the headlamps built in.
Citroën U23 versions
- U23 truck: the standard two-tonne lorry.
- Type 23 RU (1941): bus and coach versions.
- Post-1950s restyling: the wide grille with integrated headlamps.
The U23 belongs with Citroën’s lorries such as the 55, and its cab style comes from the Traction Avant. More vehicles are in the Citroën collection.
Video: CITROEN U23 / 1939 (1ère partie)
Video by CDRbroadcast on YouTube.
Sources
- Citroën U23, English Wikipedia: engine, production, military orders, bus version, restyling
