Give an artist six months and free rein to search out more than 260 iconic pieces of automotive history and what do you get? If you’re French automaker Citroen, you get a sculpture that celebrates your brand’s centennial for you to showcase as part of your display at Retromobile in Paris.
As part of its huge stand that showcased 30 historic Citroen vehicles at the recent automotive retro show, Citroen also displayed “Made with Icons,” a sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Senequier, a designer who has owned several Citroen vehicles of varying vintages.
The sculpture uses the 263 parts to present not only key moments in Citroen history, but in the form of the company’s double chevron emblem.
Among the items Senequier selected for the sculpture are a lighting switch from a 1919 Type A 10 HP Citroen, Andre Citroen’s first production vehicle; lights from the 2CV, DS, GS and AM18 models; switchgear from the GSA and Visa; door handles from the Rosalie, Traction, DS, 2CV, CX, C2, C4 and Cactus, windshield bolts from the SHP Trefle; a hydraulic suspension sphere from the DS; the brass badge with chervrons from the quarter panel of Gen. De Gaulle’s presidential DS 21; an oak shim used in the engine compartment of the 2CV; a fixed-hub C4 Picasso steering wheel; and the comb given to buyers of the Visa as part of an advertising campaign: “The Visa blows you away.”
He also used an “8” badge from the Traction 22, but only a copy because such badges are extremely rare and are considered the “Holy Grail” among Citroen collectors.
Scale-model cars in the piece illustrate Citroen racing and concept vehicles.
