1933 Citroen Rosalie Tourer & the Parting of the Ways

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Reg Harris reports: "I have always had an interest in cars and even as a ten year old I could identify most makes and models that were common at the time (early 1940's). As with most of us, cars became just a means-to-an-end . However, many years later the "Old Car Bug" caught up with me and I just had to have one. Just what, I did not know but I knew that when I saw IT, that would be the one. This happened in Novemver 1971 when I bought my 1933 Citroen Rosalie Tourer in a very-much unrestored condition only 2 hours after seeing it and never having seen one before.

At the time I did not realise how rare it was here in Australia, and this presented some big problems. So far as I know there is only one other rosalie on the road, a sedan,  and many "gunnadoos", all sedans. Mine is the only tourer, and as all had Australian bodies, they are slightly different  to the English & French ones. Slough cars were imported in chassis-cowl form and had bodies built here. Flood Body Works in Melbourne bodied the sedans and coupes, ahile TJ Richards, in Adelaide did the tourers and roadsters. Restouation was a long drawn out process what with setting up a new home, family commitments and financial constraints.

However, in early 1980, I finally had Rosie on the road and it gave Pam & me a great deal of pleasure going on many Club runs and displays. Many other involvements got in the way of car club activities so her total milage since restoration  is fairly modest. Towards the end of 2013, I realised that at 82 years of age, I was losing confidence  driving an old car in modern traffic, so decided that the time had come for the parting of the ways. Also we were moving into a retirement village villa with accommodation for only one car.

I am very fortunate that an avid Citroen collector had admired the car for over 30 years as he did not have a Rosalie in his very extensive stable. Years ago I decided that when this time came that is where I wanted her to be. It was with some sadness, but knowing she was going to a good home, that I drove her onto the trailer for my last drive and we waved goodbye to Rosie after 43 years of happy (mostly) ownership. As she is only about 300 km away, I know that I can drop in to see her in her new home."

(edition 5000 competition , comp5000 )
 

Ajoutez un commentaire...