I got to Paris fifty years too late. In the late fifties and early sixties, the way to really see the city was through the countless windows of Citirama’s Citroen U55 Currus buses. How’s that a for a contrast to London’s old double-deckers of that vintage? France was the avant-garde, and these buses built by coachbuilder Currus went out of their way to prove the point.
Flash Rogers would approve, especially that bowsprit (?) Just don’t get on in a heatwave in August. Air conditioning was not part of the avant-garde.
I want one!
You had me until the non-a/c part. Maybe I’m just sensitive right now because it will be about 105F here today.
What is with the gigantic forward-thrusting appendage over the (lower) windshield?
On second thought, I would like one of these, if only to pull into a full service gas station (if those still exist) so that I could see the guy’s face when I say “Fill er up and make sure to get all the windows.”
Seriously, I need to print and frame this one so that I can just stare at it and contemplate every so often.
is it supposed to lean like that at the curb? i wouldn’t want to be in one of these at speed on a windy day!
Wow. Yet another reminder that something’s been lost in the globalization of the automobile industry. For example, what would a contemporary Mercedes look — and function — like if it were still designed according to old-school German standards?
Finally, a weirder Citroen than the SM!
With no A/C, must have been like riding in an oven. A sweaty, smelly oven.
Don’t forget the toxic smoke from all those Gitanes et Gauloises! Pretty sure I would have tossed my petit-fours tout suite.
It reminds me of one of a full vista dome passenger car.
It reminds me of the “hippy” bus conversions where they stick a VW Bus body, usually a now valuable 23 or 21 window version for the second story.
Now I know you read DRB, Paul, excellent. I thought of you when I saw it there.
Is this the 85 or 87-window version?
That prow reminds me of sightseeing “duck boats” like this one. Now there’s an idea, how about a double-decker duck boat?
I go there every once in a while, but not lately. I’ve seen it before, and it popped up while I was doing some google image searches for the VW Samba, not surprisingly.
it looks like a parasitic bus-twin
Love it but no ac surely some of those windows must open?
Flat plane side glasses appear to slide open on both levels. Entire roof segments telescope open.
Do any of these still survive?
There’s at least one, in a warehouse and in pretty bad shape. But I bet it will see the light of day again.
Can you imagine this thing in the summer?
Maybe it should have been painted black with a white stripe down the side no?
Mais oui!
Things were so optimistic back then that even the buses smiled! Just look at the giant smile on the front of this thing!
I can’t believe this actually existed on public roads at one time… outstanding.
Would make a mean looking camper conversion… IF the top was sawed off.
Didn’t they make a movie with this atomic powered monstrosity called “The Big Bus”?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074205/
Wow. It’s called the “Cyclops”. Though I think the Citirama has more windows.
You beat me to “The Big Bus” reference. IIRC, it was a satire filled with all the cliche’s from the Airport movies and The Poseidon Adventure.
At the time, my buddies and I were all working at Amtrak designing new cars such as the Superliners and Viewliners. We went as a group to see the Big Bus. Much of the humor was lost on us-it just looked like Amtrak’a passenger services department had gotten every wish it had. That’s what is normally called a “blivet”, 15 pounds of shit in a three pound bag. I have the DVD. Love it.
The front of that thing must have been designed by a pastry chef…
The world needs more France…
In love. Want, no wait, NEED it now to convert to motor home…
Flash Gordon? Buck Rogers?
That’s pretty amazing. It must have been *the* way to see the city! Though with no A/C, and the prevalence of smoking years ago, on a hot day it would have been miserable.
Still I’m glad to hear one survives, even if not in great shape, just so one can say “see?? It really *did* exist!” Hopefully it will be restored someday.