Wood Burning ! 1956 Citroen 11BL Traction Avant & Engine Sounds on My Car Story with Lou Costabile

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On "My Car Story" we're at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach CA on 8-18-22.
We're looking at a 1956 Citroen 11BL Traction Avant in Black Paint. The car comes with the inline 6 cylinder engine.
The car's Care Taker is Kevin Berger from JWR Auto Museum in PA. Kevin shares the details of this rare wood burning car.
ENJOY!

[@loucostabile]

*Hi, If you like this video, please click on the ❤ THANKS button under the video title" Thank you! Lou*

[@440supercommando8]

It’is call gazogène in France. A lot of cars work at this time 1940 1945 . It was a solution in the war. Sorry for my bad English ….hello from France for the USA people

[@derekantill3721]

Word burning and gas powered vehicles appeared on the streets during WW2, a real good one this Lou.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Derek, Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@terrym5023]

It seems like a designer got quite confused when Citron management said "hey we love those old American Woodies we need to create a woody of our own" 😝 Thanks Kevin for sharing this bizarre amazing vehicle with Lou and his great community 👌

[@loucostabile]

Hi Terry M, That's funny :-) My pleasure sharing this car with you. You're welcome, Lou

[@TheGunfighter45acp]

Yep, probably a 'one and done' viewing for me. This car is amazing and must be ultra rare, anywhere. How ingenious the designers were! Thanks, Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi TheGunfighter45acp, "Yep, probably a 'one and done' viewing for me." NICE! You're welcome, Lou

[@jiveturkey9993]

You learn something new everyday. I didn't know a byproduct of making charcoal was some sort of gas like methane or acetylene. I wonder if a matching barbecue came with that car?

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jive Turkey, Happy to read "You learn something new everyday" :-) I'm learning all the time from the Caretakers and I find that to be so much fun, Lou

[@tombollig612]

Amazing car. I can't help but imagine a French family driving this car, loaded with wood, past the petrol station and yelling at the attendant, "We don't need your overpriced fuel!" Of course it would sound much better in French!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom, "We don't need your overpriced fuel!" Of course it would sound much better in French!" NICE! :-) Lou

[@w05apple22]

Never ever heard of a wood burning car You could smoke a brisket while you’re driving. Forget about electric we need wood burning cars! Thanks for the video!

[@loucostabile]

Hi W05apple, I have not heard of one either. Brisket sounds yummy :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@printerudell3604]

I love old Citroens

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@konradbenz7110]

❤️❤️❤️ the europeans most loved gangster-car.... jean gabin, delon, belmondo, our little-boys heros 💕 we all wanted a car like this..... hello from nice, french riviera .....🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@loucostabile]

Hi Konrad, Happy to read / see you enjoy this car :-) Lou

[@kevinsnyder4425]

That's amazing ! I've never seen one of those. ! I'll bet you never need to turn on the heater when it's cold out.! Thanks Lou ! You always seem to find the most rare and entertaining cars.! This man also has an excellent first name. !

[@loucostabile]

Hi Kevin, Happy to read "That's amazing ! I've never seen one of those." :-) My pleasure sharing with you. Lou

[@dcanmore]

Wood and coal gasification-powered cars were quite common during the war years due a lack of petroleum for civilian use, in the UK buses towed a trailer with a gasification unit attached. Other vehicles had large gas-filled bags fitted to the roof with the furnace poking out of the boot (trunk). This French fitment to the Citroen seems a more elegant addition to this post-war car when petrol was still rationed, I believe around 2000 Traction Avants were converted (not by Citroen, they were done third party). Thanks, Lou.

[@loucostabile]

Hi dcanmore, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. You're welcome. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@bryantcurtis2665]

My dad would say,”That’s one strange bird.” Thanks my friend.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mr. Fruity Pebbles, "My dad would say,”That’s one strange bird.” He's right :-) You're welcome my Friend, Lou

[@MAGronemeyer]

A wood burning car? That's too weird! Interesting though. Leave it to the engineers at Citroen to come up with something like this! That car has to be one of the strangest cars I've seen on any of your videos!

[@loucostabile]

HI Michael, Happy to read "That's too weird! Interesting though." :-) Lou

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Eustis on "Mountain Men" had a Toyota truck which he converted to wood burning. I believe that the byproduct of the wood burning is ethanol or methane. Great video, thank you!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Automated Electronics, Thank you for sharing. Appreciate the kind words on this video. You're welcome, Lou

[@garylewis3641]

Very interesting vehicle, not sure I totally understand but I can appreciate its unique design. Good video Lou and thanks!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gary, Happy to read "Very interesting vehicle" :-) I thought so too. You're welcome, Lou

[@peterevans3229]

@lou -- who knew!!! Thank you sir from bringing this to light - have an excellent Tuesday!!!

[@loucostabile]

@peter - "who knew!!!" Not me :-) My pleasure sharing this car with you. You're welcome, Lou

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

Hi Lou! It was interesting for you to step outside the box and show us something different. A wood-burning 1956 Citroen, of all things! I have never seen one in person - only in books and on KZbin videos. It's interesting that this car was introduced in 1934 (the world's first unit body car, IIRC) and remained unchanged for more than 20 years. Many people who have watched this video don't believe that is actually a 1956 car. What's more amazing is that was still in production alongside the company's DS model, which was introduced just the year before! (That car had an impressive production life too, lasting until 1975!). Citroen really know how to make cars. And I shouldn't forget about the Deux Chevaux - it had a _42-year_ (1948-90) production run! Thanks again, Lou! You're the greatest! _(10/28/2022)_

[@loucostabile]

Hi Know Bodies Full, I've never seen one in person either. Glad to read the details you enjoy, and thanks for sharing your knowledge. Appreciate the kind words. You're welcome, Lou

[@larryborkstrom3580]

Too cool I've never seen one like that before a wood burning motor wow I believe that without seeing it

[@loucostabile]

Hi Larry, Happy to share with you one you've never seen before. I've not seen one before either, Lou

[@JaimeSalcedoA_72]

Muy bonito este Citroen 11BL Traction Avant en negro. Pero lo más interesante son los depósitos situados en los guardabarros delanteros donde se queman la madera para producir el gas que mueve a su motor! Y, de hecho, tenía un sonido muy particular! Un vehículo que, realmente, no sabía que existía! Saludos cordiales!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jaime, I didn't know about this one either :-) My pleasure being able to share it with you, Lou

[@noelanthony1204]

That's some car from 1956 -- engineering style looks very old like ancient technology maybe millions of years old like Google and KZbin sites maybe -- many mystery's that are kept secret not to be told but why the secrets ? a great intelligence is present among us -- many things manufactured in the millions by machinery, all kinds of machinery just like this automobile as unique as it is ---- thanks Lou .. great show

[@loucostabile]

Hi Noel, Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@zachwheeler9846]

Wow, I've never seen a car like this before. I was surprised they were still doing cars like this in 1956 that ran on other types of fuel besides gas. Great video Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Zach, I've never seen anything like it either. Happy to read you enjoy this video.

[@sabba_dabba8649]

This is the craziest car I have ever seen

[@loucostabile]

Happy to share this one with you :-)

[@CreatorCade]

I remember my grandfather telling me a story about his days in the navy. He said one day he had to catch a cab to get back to his ship but the only taxi in Haiti at the time was a wood burning car.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Josh, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Grandfather's story about the wood burning car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@LITTLE1994]

Wow, nice oldies.

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@TreadTalk247]

So it’s powered, or more so, fueled by Gasification!! Awesome, very unusual!! Thanks for bringing it to us!

[@loucostabile]

Hi CrazyMoFo, Happy to read "Awesome" :-) My pleasure sharing this car with you. You're welcome, Lou

[@TreadTalk247]

@@loucostabile we have a 1927 Buick that was a garage find, previous owner had a small collection, see below, and we found the car locally 5 years ago. If you are ever going to be at Hershey, heading there as we speak, for the meet I’ll drive it one day and I’d be happy to show it to you. Nothing crazy special but cool find nonetheless! The gentleman had two 1953 MG TD’s that were mint w frame off restoration, even had a removable hardtop I found in the rafters of the garage, the 1927 Buick Standard Six we now own and enjoy, as well as approx 150 vintage outboard motors, and he also had another garage with a 1939 LaSalle Hearse….yes HEARSE….and a 1953 Cadillac Hearse! He and his wife owned a funeral home and used the LaSalle and the Cadillac regularly prior to his passing!

[@garydesbois5415]

What an awesome, unique car ! You'll be searching a long time to find another !!! Great find Lou !!!👍👍

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gary, Happy to read "What an awesome, unique car !" :-) You're right, not sure when I'll see another wood burning car, Lou

[@jeffc6268]

Thanks for sharing this amazing vehicle with us!

[@loucostabile]

My pleasure sharing with you Jeff :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@willsco76]

Much better than an electric and better for the environment.

[@loucostabile]

Hi William, Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@urideamabal]

1956? 🔥 🤯 ✔

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@JeffKing310]

Very interesting! I knew about wood burning trucks from the late 19th and early 20th centuries but I never realized that the technology still existed in the 1950s. Fascinating car from a bygone era. Thanks Lou for bringing us this treat.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jeff, Happy to read you learned something with this car. I learned something too. My pleasure sharing with you. You're welcome, Lou

[@chloescars22]

Amazing !!

[@loucostabile]

I think so too.

[@bryantcurtis2665]

I missed this beautiful 😍 ride. Needed a new Samsung galaxy phone 📱. Mine had walking papers or something 🤔.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mr. Fruity Pebbles, Happy to read you found this one :-) Glad you have a new phone too, Lou

[@aldente2676]

That particular 11 was based on an innovative 22 year old design. Back then, when they had something good, they weren't eager to change to something else. Too bad, it isn't that way anymore. That low center of gravity and mid-engine design were revolutionary for 1934. In fact, that very same engine layout was carried over to the Citroen DS and was used by Renault, until their R4 ceased production in 1992. Those cheek pouch fenders are also a work of art. The problem with burning wood gas had always to do with the tarry soot of which clogged engines to the point to where they needed to get frequently torn down. I'm wondering if an oil bath air cleaner would do the best job in filtering it out or not. They still make the most efficient air filters. Don't be surprised, if these systems start getting copied and put to use, due to inflating fuel prices

[@loucostabile]

Hi Al Dente, Thank you for sharing your knowledge, and he details you enjoy. Lou

[@champlain2222]

Never see this before

[@loucostabile]

Me neither.....and they had two different wood burning car there this year :-)

[@jwelchon2416]

My uncle was in the Korean war in 1950. He told about how some Koreans drove wood burning cars.

[@loucostabile]

Hi JWelchon, Happy to read this car brings back memories of stories your Uncle shared about wood burning cars :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Wow 😀

[@loucostabile]

Happy to receive a "Wow" from you :-)

[@tuckyonald1119]

The electrec motor looks like a turbo

[@loucostabile]

You're right :-) Thank you for sharing what you notice.

[@ilgiusto6885]

More interesting ! Also in Italy different Cars run whit wood ...Sad Age....

[@loucostabile]

Hi Il Giusto, Thank you for viewing and sharing. Lou

[@kimosabbe50]

We're currently living in a "sad age" 🙄

[@ilgiusto6885]

Yes ......!!!

[@boson2916]

If I remembered correctly Citroën Traction Avant 15CV was the pioneer of the front wheel drive, not sure about this wood burn model.

[@loucostabile]

Hi boson, Thank you for sharing, Lou

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

👍👍👍👍

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@titou3744]

voiture rare j en est jamais vu en France 👍

[@loucostabile]

Hi titou, Happy to read you appreciate the rarity of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@titou3744]

@@loucostabile merci Lou j aime beaucoup les voiture américaine surtout année 1950 les Ford et Plymouth les vidéos sont génial on a en France aussi qu elle que voiture rare Ford escort cabriolet que je possède de 1988

[@user-ys7ng6hq5j]

Дякую! Чудово? А на даху авто "каністра з пальним"?

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing and sharing.

[@bruceh92]

Unique, creative, and highly collectible! Thanks guys for a very cool feature 👍👍

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bruce H. High praise :-) Lou

[@josew6997]

How many mileage and can this car be driving on interstates too

[@loucostabile]

Not sure, and I wouldn't drive it on the interstate.

[@carllavell8673]

🔥👍😎👍🔥

[@loucostabile]

Nice !

[@stevenmatsoukas7905]

When you thought you’ve seen it all….

[@loucostabile]

.... then this comes along :-)

[@chonpiras2815]

mr louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[@loucostabile]

mr chonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[@garylewis6495]

Citroen always had very interesting cars. The French have a different way of thinking. Thanks, Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gary, Happy to read you find this one interesting. Me too. You're welcome, Lou

[@stoneylonesome4062]

Very odd-looking. I initially assumed that those fender bulges were to accommodate hydro-pneumatic suspension spheres.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Stoney Lonesome, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@2098elk]

Shows that the French are crazy!!!

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing and sharing.

[@V8_screw_electric_cars]

They were gonna make V8 too but didn't in the end

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for sharing.

[@rossellagiovanardi9154]

Si copiavano tutti tra loro, i costruttori di automobili 😂😂😂 hanno tutte lo stesso muso, quelle macchine 😂😂😂...

[@loucostabile]

Hi Rossella, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@bazzhm1447]

I dont see anykind originality on this car... sounds like derivatives of american old 1930's - 1945's body design

[@loucostabile]

Hi ☆bazzhM, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou