Traction Avant 11AL production figures and serial numbers

 

1934
Serial numbers: 350 001 - 351 500
350 112 exported to belgium as demonstration car.
Production: 1908

 

1935
Serial numbers: 351 501 - 353 500
Production: 2181

 

1936
Serial numbers: 353 501 - 358 800
Production: 4453, of which 164 Cabriolet, 35 Faux Cabriolet.

 

1937
Serial numbers: 358 801 - 360 000 and 360 316 - 360 500
Produtcion:

 

1937 11AM
Serial numbers: 360 001 - 360 315
Production: 315

Engine numbers
Engine numbers for the 11AL start with a D and have green and white engine plates (as found on the 7S).

 

The full Traction Avant 11AL history

1934

 

Pre production

The 11AL is basically the continuing of the 7S but now under the name it should have had from the beginning. The 11AL is introduced on the October 1934 Paris Autosalon. It is marketed as the intermediate between the cheaper and less powerful 7C and the larger and equally powerful 11A. The car with serial number 350 000 and engine number DG 0651 is presented for type approval which is granted on October 2nd1934. The sales of the 11AL start shortly after the October Salon. The first 11AL is registered on October 20th 1934.

 

Production

In 1934, from October? onwards, 1908 11As are built. Only 1500 cars are sold and therefore in October 1934 production is temporarly ceased in order to sell the remaining stock first. The cars get their serial number when the purchase order has been confirmed and it is quite likely that the cars put into storage first, came out last.

Characteristics for the 1934 11AL when launched:

 

Mechanical

• Front axle:
  The front axle is the similar to that found on the 7C of the same age. Some cars have 5 stud forged brake drums, but most have 6 stud ones. The 11AL has friction shock absorbers mounted on the front of the cradle on torsion bar extensions.

• Steering:
  Steering is the early Gremmer type, identical to that found on the 7C, with a one bearing steering box.

• Engine:
  The engine is identical to that found in the 11A of the same age. The 11AL is equipped with an automatic choke, which is activated by a temperature sensor on the exhaust manifold. All 11ALs have a horizontal carburettor (Solex 30 THD). All engines manufactured before the war have their date of manufacture cast into the block below the exhaust manifold as well as 78x100 on the cylinderhead between the second and third sparkplug.

• Engine mounts:
  The 11AL features the Pausodyne engine suspension system. The suspension point in the gearbox cover is fitted with a cilindrical silentblock. Some of the very early cars have the Moteur Flottant system.

• Gearbox:
  The gearbox is identical in construction to those found on the 7A, 7B and 7C with one selector shaft housing, visible on the front of the gearbox cover. On later cars you can see two of these housings.

• Rear axle:
  The rear axle is round with twin locating bars. The 11AL features leverarm shockabsorbers. Some cars have 5 stud forged brake drums, but most have 6 stud ones. The rear brake drums on the 1934 11AL they are secured in the same way as the front drums.

• Exhaust:
  The exhaust system has a flexible section and different supports. It passes through the right-hand-side jambonneau.

• Fuel tank:
  The fuel tank has a 45 liter capacity and has 2 filler openings, one on either side of the spare wheel.

 

Exterior

• Bumpers:
  The bumpers are the same as on all Traction Avants until 1952 with the difference that the 11AL doesn't have overriders (just like other 1934 Traction Avants).

• Horns:
  The 11AL has the horns behind grilles in the front wings. First these were secured to the back of the horn grille with a rubber ring in between. Due to the extra strain this puts on the wings this is later replaced by fitting the horns on a bracket on the bumper supports. These horns were still located behind the grilles in the wings.

• Grille:
  The grille is made from copper and chromed. All 1934 cars have the chevrons behind the grille. On some cars the bars and grille surround are seperate pieces.

• Front wings:
  Wings are the same size as the 7C wings but have small round grilles behind which the horns are mounted. The grilles are painted the same color as the wings but chromed or enamelled grilles are an option.
  Width is 68 cm (measured along the headlight support).
  Height is 29,5 cm (measured from the headlight support down).
  The centre of the grilles for the horns are 10 cm from the bottom of the wing.

• Headlights:
  The headlights are 200mm in diameter headlights and have flat glass. The headlight supports are completely closed.

• Bonnet:
  The 1934 11AL has the bonnet shutter handles on the rear of the shutters. The early cars have shutters which all open at the rear, later cars have front shutters opening at the front, the rear shutters opening at the rear.

• Windscreen surround:
  All 1934 cars have a chromed steel windscreen surround. Later cars have an aluminium windscreen surround.

• Wheels:
  The 11AL has 6 stud wheels allround. A smal number of cars is fitted with 5 stud wheels. Hubcaps are secured without the center bolt and 6 stud hubcaps can be identified by their rounded edge. The hubcap is pressed over a ring on the wheel. Tyre size is 150x40.

• Body:
  The 1934 11AL twin air inlets below the windscreen, no bootlid, flat floor without reinforcement dents and no raingutters. On the Cabriolet, there is no dickey seat lid handle. The dickey is opened by a lever on the hood tray.

• Doors:
  The doors don't have the alu trim strip and the rubber knobs are mounted in the doors, while on later cars these rubbers are mounted in the body.

• Rear wings:
  The wings have a very small width and are the identical to those of a 7 of the same age. Each wing has a hole with a curved edge for a rear light 29 cm above the bottom of the wing..

• Rear lights:
  Two round rear lights are located in the rear wings. The lights have a pressed steel profiled edge and flat red glass with a small "lump" in the center.

• License plate holder:
  The illuminated license plate holder is mounted in the middle above the rear bumper, mounted on brackets secured between the body and the dress panel between the wings. The license plate is lit by painting the digit negatives on transparent plastic, with two lights behind the plastic in the holder.

• Spare wheel cover:
  The spare wheel cover is made up by several pieces. One piece is put on the body, after which the wheel is placed on the body and secured. Then the outer piece is put on the wheel. A chromed steel ring with a spring in it keeps the 2 pieces together. The hubcap is put on last securing the cover to the wheel.

 

Interior

• Floor:
  The floor is flat without reinforcement dents.

• Dashboard:
  The dashboard has a central placed combined speedometer (130 kmh) with white digits on black background. The oil pressure meter, fuel gauge (45 liter), amp meter and clock have black digits on white background and white meter hands. It also has 2 glove compartments. The lights are operated by a switch to the right of the speedometer and a ring on the steering wheel. The horns are operated by a knob in the centre of the steering wheel. The gear selector surround has arabic digits and is the same shape and size as the light switch surround.

• Front seats:
  The 11AL has separate seats. The upholstery is grey, blue, or brown.

• Rear seats:
  The rear bench is upholstered the same way as the front one. Because these cars don't have a boot lid, the rear back rest can be opened, hinging at the top and secured with 2 leather straps.

• Door panels:
  The door panels are from the same material as the benches and have a curve stitched into them, filled with wood. The front doors have a small pocket for roadmaps.

 

1935

Early 1935 the body gets raingutters above the doors and a reinforced floor. The front bonnet shutters now have their handles at the front. On the Cabriolet the dickey seat lid now has an exterior handle.

• April-May: The front axle is replaced by the improved "Stade 1" one.
  The friction shock absorbers on the front axle are replaced by telescopic ones mounted on the rear of the suspension arms.
  The driveshafts are replaced by Glaenzer-Spicer ones.
  The steering box is gets a second bearing.
  The round tube rear axle is replaced by the cruciform type.
  The lever arm shock absorbers on the rear axle are replaced by telescopic ones.

• May: The combined light switch on the dashboard and steering wheel is replaced by a commodo, 2 levers on a unit connected to the steering tube.
  The ignition key stays where the dashboard light switch was and a special backplate of the same shape as the switch and the gearlever gate opposite is fitted.

• June - July: Along the tops of the seats, a chrome bar is fitted and there are now 2 sun visors.

• July: The front axle is again replaced. This time by the "Stade 1 bis" one.

• September: The backplate behind the ignition key dissapears as well.

• October: All cars finally get a bootlid (serial number 353 400 onwards), although this had been optional for a short time.
  With the bootlid, the fuel tank only has one filler opening.
  The spare wheel cover is replaced by an one piece one.
  The grille is made from brass, painted and the chevrons (flat with double edges) are mounted on top.
  The front wings get much bigger. The height (measured from the headlight support down) is increased from 29,5 cm to 34,5 cm. The centre of the grilles for the horns are now 14 cm from the bottom of the wing (was 9 cm).
  Headlights no longer have flat glass.
  The rear license plate is on the left rear wing. One rear light is mounted on the license plate holder, the other in the right wing, both 19 cm (was 29) above the bottom tip of the wing.

• December, the gearbox cover is altered and fitted with a conical engine suspension rubber.

 

1936

In the beginning of 1936 the upholstery is simplified and less luxureous. A new air filter makes the engine less loud.

• January: The 11AL gets the third type Glaenzer-Spicer driveshafts.

• February: The hand brake handle gets the shape it will keep untill the end.

• May 15th: From serial number 356 001 onwards a new front axle with the crémaillière (rack and pinion) steering is fitted. This alteration makes the steering much lighter and more direct, both big problems on the old steering. The steering now also has a much longer life.

• May - June: The round pedals are replaced by square ones. The exhaust no longer runs through the right jambonneau.

• June: From serial number 356 300 onwards, the speedometer is moved behind the steering wheel and the twin air inlets are replaced by a single one. The new speedo has a black background with white digits and reads up to 130 km/h. The clock is mounted in the middle of the dash, being either mechanical or electrical.

 

1937

In February, because of standarisation of parts, the 11AL is renamed to 11BL and is now largely identical to the 11B.

 

11 AM

In 1937 a special series of 315 cars is built as intermediate model between the 11AL and the 11BL. These cars were called 11 AM and this is also how they are named on their identification plate. A 11AM with serial number 360 000 and engine number DG 01980 is presented for type approval which is granted on January 26th 1937. The interior is similar to the luxureous early 1936 models. Unlike the 11AL, they have 5 stud wheels, as on the 11BL. A new cylinder head and new Solex 30 DHT carburettor give it a littlle more tractability compared to the 11AL.