‘SXS 935’ is a wonderfully original and lightly patinated Citroën Traction Avant that was built in Paris in 1951.

Fitted with the 1,951cc engine, it’s been used properly over the decades to transport its previous owner, a doctor, from the south of France to Paris and back a couple of times a year, a journey its long-wheelbase chassis would have made even more comfortable than usual.

The seller bought it from Chateau Berne in 2022 along with two other cars from the same collection.

He’s found it “very reliable” but acknowledges that it does need some gentle TLC to enable it to fulfil its considerable potential.

Because the Citroën really does present very well indeed, which is quite the compliment for a black car because no other colour highlights flaws and imperfections so ruthlessly, so the fact we can’t see any significant dents or dinks in the panels speaks volumes.

Being a French car there are yellow bulbs in the headlamps, of course, plus a magnificent pair of supplementary d...