No major car has taken its place in French life more than the Traction Avant.  It appeared the day after an unprecedented economic crisis.  After overcoming some early faults, it established itself as a truly modern car.  During the troubled wartime period, the opposing camps appreciated its qualities and put it to use.  Finally, when peace was re-established, the Traction, which was still technically advanced, was able to maintain its place in the market and helped the French in all aspects of the country’s reconstruction; all this until it gave way to an even more revolutionary car – the DS.

 The parade does not pretend to be an historical reconstruction, but will show many different symbolic events associated with theTraction and in French life:

· The Concours d’élégance where it has been displayed numerous times

· Pre-war paid holidays

· Peace and post-war celebrations

· Traction Avant gangsters about which many owners of the 15/6 have fantasised

· Members of the French Government, of which we have illustrated the 4th Republic, together with the return of General de Gaulle

· Family celebrations, especially weddings

 

But the Traction is not limited to daily French life.  It established itself right from the start in unusual adventures, not least of which was the successful challenge by François Lecot of covering 400,000 km in a year.  These long journeys did not stop when production stopped; on the contrary, they took place in other continents and participated in by many more people.  The last-but-one tableau will therefore show this aspect of the Traction by welcoming the “Traction Homage to François Lecot”, the cars of “Tractions sans Frontières” which have undertaken long journeys in all continents, and the cars of the “Raid Paris- Moscow-Paris 2009”.

 

Finally, the spirit of  the Traction is still alive; not only with French collectors, but throughout the world.  The last tableau welcomes 14 cars from different nations, although three nations have been unable to be represented because they are too far away.  Amongst the many nationalities, the tableau adds to the variety of models and colours of the cars.

 

 

The Route

The parade takes place in the squares of Arras, which are Spanish in style and registered with UNESCO as World Heritage sites.  The parade starts in the square in front of the belfry which is also included in the UNESCO listing in its own right.  The parade will circle around the Place des Héros and, by way of Rue de la Taillerie, circle around the Grand’ Place and then back along Rue de la Taillerie into the Place des Héros, where it will run along the remaining side of the square and exit via Rue de la Braderie.

The parade will be joined by the “Giants”, not only those of Arras, but others representing industrial activities at the times of the Traction.

Finally, three groups of musicians will then liven up the proceedings in various ways, some rather crazy.

 

 

Parade Timetable

The parade starts at 4.00 pm and will finish at 6.00 pm.

 

 

Parade Order

 

1) Opening led by representatives of the organising clubs.                                         2) Concours d’élégance.

3) Congés payés                                                                                                4) Zinc-Zinc Giant

5) Harmonie de Burbure                                                                                       6) Achilles Giant

7) “Celebration of Peace”                                                                                     8) Traction Avant Gang

9) “Banda les Boyaux Rouches de la République"                                                  10) "Officials of the Republic"

11) 1950’s Wedding                                                                                             12) “Les Pères la Joie de Saint-Pol sur Ternoise"

13) Traction adventures around the world                                                                14) The Traction around the world