front drive - ds in asia · front drive’. hhowever, there is material on owever, there is...

1 C I T R O Ë N O W N E R S A N D E N T H U S I A S T S

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2013 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2013 V VooL 36 L 36 NO 8 NO 8

FRONTDRIVEA U S T R A L I A ’ S A U S T R A L I A ’ S N A T I O N A L N A T I O N A L M A G A Z I N E M A G A Z I N E FOR FOR C I T ROËN C I T ROËN OWNER S OWNER S AND AND EN T HU S I A S T S EN T HU S I A S T S

1716 A U S T R A L I A ’ S N A T I O N A L M A G A Z I N E F O R C I T R O Ë N O W N E R S A N D E N T H U S I A S T S

CITROËN IN CAMBODIA

GGiven the French infl uence iven the French infl uence in Indochina until their in Indochina until their exit in exit in , following , following

their defeat at Dien Bin Phu, it is their defeat at Dien Bin Phu, it is surprising how little information surprising how little information there is on the internet on the sub-there is on the internet on the sub-ject of Citroën’s presence in the ject of Citroën’s presence in the

region. Readers may remember region. Readers may remember the feature earlier in the year that the feature earlier in the year that focused on what was Vietnam focused on what was Vietnam [under the French] and South [under the French] and South Vietnam until Vietnam until . Other parts . Other parts of this outpost of the French em-of this outpost of the French em-pire [Laos and Tonkin, aka North pire [Laos and Tonkin, aka North

Vietnam] do not Vietnam] do not rate a mention rate a mention from the perspec-from the perspec-

Anti-clockwise from bottom left: Anti-clockwise from bottom left: Eoin Barnett’s Hanoi image of the Eoin Barnett’s Hanoi image of the now destroyed Citroën stained now destroyed Citroën stained glass window at glass window at bb Trang Th i Trang Th i that started the whole interest that started the whole interest in Citroën in Indochina for me.in Citroën in Indochina for me.The two Cambodian images The two Cambodian images of ex-patriot salesman Jacquesof ex-patriot salesman Jacques

Paris at a trade show in Bokor Paris at a trade show in Bokor and perched gently on the front and perched gently on the front mudguard of a mudguard of a cvcv. . Jacques Paris with a ‘wide-boy’ Jacques Paris with a ‘wide-boy’ dsds near Bangkok. Of course, unlike near Bangkok. Of course, unlike Indochina, Th ailand is a right-Indochina, Th ailand is a right-hand drive country.hand drive country.


THE PULL OF PROGRESS

tive of the history of Citroën.tive of the history of Citroën.Indeed, Pierre Jammes who Indeed, Pierre Jammes who

runs the website that is the prima-runs the website that is the prima-ry source for this type of material ry source for this type of material had not seen the Citroën stained had not seen the Citroën stained glass window in Hanoi that was glass window in Hanoi that was shown in that earlier edition of shown in that earlier edition of

‘Front Drive’. ‘Front Drive’. However, there is material on However, there is material on

the internet that provides some the internet that provides some background and history of Cit-background and history of Cit-roën in Cambodia. Th is article is roën in Cambodia. Th is article is derived from those websites and derived from those websites and from Julian Marsh’s from Julian Marsh’s ukuk-based -based Citronet site. Even here, with a Citronet site. Even here, with a single exception, the earliest refer-single exception, the earliest refer-ence points link to the ence points link to the dsds and and cvcv rather than any Traction images rather than any Traction images or history.or history.

In the early In the early s Citroën was s Citroën was represented in Cambodia and represented in Cambodia and Th ailand by George Desrues. But Th ailand by George Desrues. But the earliest reference to Citroën the earliest reference to Citroën activity in Cambodia is in activity in Cambodia is in . In . In

that year, Jacques Paris, a that year, Jacques Paris, a -year -year old salesman in the Export Sales old salesman in the Export Sales Department of Citroën at the Qui Department of Citroën at the Qui de Javel heard that M Desrues de Javel heard that M Desrues was looking for candidates willing was looking for candidates willing to go and help with sales in his to go and help with sales in his region. Yearning for an adventur-region. Yearning for an adventur-

ous life, Jacques ous life, Jacques applied and ar-applied and ar-rived the same rived the same year in Phnom-year in Phnom-

Penh. Here he looked after the Penh. Here he looked after the cvcv business until his transfer business until his transfer to Bangkok in to Bangkok in . He was sent . He was sent with a mission: introduce and sell with a mission: introduce and sell the the dsds in Th ailand. Siam Motor in Th ailand. Siam Motor Supplies, already Citroën’s local Supplies, already Citroën’s local importer and distributor, did its importer and distributor, did its best. But is had not been easy, to best. But is had not been easy, to say the least.say the least.

There are two pictures of There are two pictures of Jacques Paris at work in Cambo-Jacques Paris at work in Cambo-dia. Th e fi rst shows him in either dia. Th e fi rst shows him in either or or ’’ at what appears to an at what appears to an exhibition, or trade fair of some exhibition, or trade fair of some kind. On the stand at his side the kind. On the stand at his side the road sign indicates Bokor, a hill road sign indicates Bokor, a hill station not far from Sihanoukville. station not far from Sihanoukville.

On the table in front of him is a On the table in front of him is a catalogue or poster for the newly catalogue or poster for the newly unveiled unveiled dsds. Th e second shows . Th e second shows Jacques posing on the front mud-Jacques posing on the front mud-guard of a guard of a cvcv ~ my guess is he ~ my guess is he was sitting very carefully or he was was sitting very carefully or he was very light!very light!

One of young Jacques’ first One of young Jacques’ first customers was no less than Mar-customers was no less than Mar-shall Phibun Songkhram, the shall Phibun Songkhram, the long-time leader of pre- and post-long-time leader of pre- and post-war Thailand ~ he was Prime war Thailand ~ he was Prime Minister and virtual military Minister and virtual military dictator of Th ailand from dictator of Th ailand from to to and and to to . ‘I was . ‘I was asked to go and show the newly asked to go and show the newly arrived arrived dsds at the Government at the Government Palace’, explained M Paris, Palace’, explained M Paris, -year -year old when Pierre Jammes [owner old when Pierre Jammes [owner of the web site www.dsinasia.of the web site www.dsinasia.com, from when much of this com, from when much of this

information is sourced] met him information is sourced] met him in October, in October, . ‘Phibun was . ‘Phibun was there; he spoke French, and as I there; he spoke French, and as I was demonstrating how wide the was demonstrating how wide the trunk was, enough for an adult to trunk was, enough for an adult to fi t in, he jokingly asked me to try fi t in, he jokingly asked me to try and go inside I obeyed, of course, and go inside I obeyed, of course, but then he closed the trunk!’but then he closed the trunk!’

During the early During the early s, s , Phibun Songkhram’s govern-Phibun Songkhram’s govern-ment had become increasingly ment had become increasingly corrupt, and the parliamentary corrupt, and the parliamentary election of election of was blatantly was blatantly rigged to keep Phibun in power. rigged to keep Phibun in power. Public outrage and student pro-Public outrage and student pro-tests, accompanied by the known tests, accompanied by the known displeasure of Th ailand’s king, led displeasure of Th ailand’s king, led Sarit Th anarat to stage a coup in Sarit Th anarat to stage a coup in September September , but a serious , but a serious deterioration of his health led deterioration of his health led Sarit to fl y to the United States Sarit to fl y to the United States

Thai strong-man Marsha l l Thai strong-man Marsha l l Phibun Songkhram was a ds Phibun Songkhram was a ds owner. When he and his family owner. When he and his family fl ed to Cambodia, after the 1957 fl ed to Cambodia, after the 1957 coup their ds went with them. coup their ds went with them. Lef t: Phibun and his wifeLef t: Phibun and his wife

in the in the dsds. . Phibun with his wife and son in Phibun with his wife and son in Cambodia. Cambodia. R i g ht : C a m b o d i a n k i n g , R i g ht : C a m b o d i a n k i n g , Norodom Sihanouk a l ight-Norodom Sihanouk a l ight-ing from his ing from his dsds in Cambodia. in Cambodia.



of America for treatment, leaving of America for treatment, leaving Deputy Prime Minister Th anom Deputy Prime Minister Th anom Kittikachorn in charge. However, Kittikachorn in charge. However, economic troubles continued, and economic troubles continued, and in Octoberin October Sarit staged a Sarit staged a second coup, intended to thwart second coup, intended to thwart the undisciplined politicians by the undisciplined politicians by

imposing Martial law. Sarit felt imposing Martial law. Sarit felt that democracy had failed in that democracy had failed in Thailand and intended to rule Thailand and intended to rule according to ‘Th ai ideologies’, not according to ‘Th ai ideologies’, not imported Western political theo-imported Western political theo-ries, choosing as his model the ries, choosing as his model the

supposedly benevolent despots of supposedly benevolent despots of his country’s past.his country’s past.

But the best was yet to come…But the best was yet to come…M Paris told us, ‘Phibun had M Paris told us, ‘Phibun had several cars of course, but he several cars of course, but he chose the chose the dsds when he had to fl ee when he had to fl ee to Cambodia after the September to Cambodia after the September

coup.’ Chi- coup.’ Chi-rawat Panyara-rawat Panyara-chun, Phibun’s chun, Phibun’s daughter wrote a daughter wrote a

biography of her mother, Th an-biography of her mother, Th an-puying La-iad Bandhukravi. In puying La-iad Bandhukravi. In it she writes that Phibun person-it she writes that Phibun person-ally drove the ally drove the dsds to the port of to the port of Trat, where he boarded a ship for Trat, where he boarded a ship for Cambodia. Th e car, along with Cambodia. Th e car, along with

his diplomatic passport and other his diplomatic passport and other personal eff ects was later driven to personal eff ects was later driven to Cambodia by his son, Anan.Cambodia by his son, Anan.

M Paris’ version of the story M Paris’ version of the story is slightly diff erent. He maintains is slightly diff erent. He maintains that ‘Border police fi red at him… that ‘Border police fi red at him… I suppose he had to continue by I suppose he had to continue by foot, because we recovered the foot, because we recovered the

car a little while later, there were car a little while later, there were bullet impacts on the rear.’ Now bullet impacts on the rear.’ Now how about that? And you thought how about that? And you thought General de Gaulle was being in-General de Gaulle was being in-novative with his ‘Petit-Clamart’ novative with his ‘Petit-Clamart’ incident, fi ve years later!incident, fi ve years later!

Either way, photos exist taken Either way, photos exist taken by Chirawat Panyarachun of by Chirawat Panyarachun of



Continued on page 30

Phibun, with his Phibun, with his dsds in Cambo- in Cambo-dia. The first shows him with dia. The first shows him with his wife in the back seat and the his wife in the back seat and the second depicts him with his son second depicts him with his son Anan and on the extreme fi ght Anan and on the extreme fi ght his butler, Khun. Phibun stayed his butler, Khun. Phibun stayed for three months in Cambodia for three months in Cambodia

before exiling himself to Japan, before exiling himself to Japan, where he died in where he died in . When . When Phibun left Phnom Penh, his Phibun left Phnom Penh, his dsds stayed behind, but it whereabouts stayed behind, but it whereabouts is unknown. Jacques Paris liked to is unknown. Jacques Paris liked to

think that it was hidden away…think that it was hidden away…just waiting to be found today.just waiting to be found today.

While in Bangkok, M Paris While in Bangkok, M Paris was asked to demonstrate the was asked to demonstrate the dsds to King Norodom Sihanouk of to King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, who eventually used Cambodia, who eventually used one too. Th ere is a picture of King one too. Th ere is a picture of King

Sihanouk step-Sihanouk step-ping from his ping from his dsds in Cambodia.in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Meanwhile, back in Cambodia Georges back in Cambodia Georges Desrues had realised that the Desrues had realised that the cvcv was a far more suitable vehicle for was a far more suitable vehicle for the country than the the country than the dsds. As a re-. As a re-sult in sult in he established Société he established Société

Below: Th e winning team in the Below: Th e winning team in the 3rd Rally of Cambodia outside 3rd Rally of Cambodia outside the the skmaskma garage on Street garage on Street . . Opposite: Th e same building in Opposite: Th e same building in , courtesy of local resident , courtesy of local resident

and car enthusiast Tom Wind-and car enthusiast Tom Wind-elinckx. A more recent picture elinckx. A more recent picture [the lower image] shows that the [the lower image] shows that the Citroën signage has been painted Citroën signage has been painted over.over.



Continued from page 22Khmèr de Montage Automobile Khmèr de Montage Automobile to assemble locally a boxy version to assemble locally a boxy version of the of the cvcv. Sihanoukville, the port . Sihanoukville, the port city in the south of the country city in the south of the country was the site of its operations but was the site of its operations but it does not seem to have met with it does not seem to have met with

huge success and it was closed in huge success and it was closed in ..

Th ese pictures show diff erent Th ese pictures show diff erent versions of the versions of the cvcv assembled in assembled in Cambodia, including a pick-up Cambodia, including a pick-up covered by a canvas roof.covered by a canvas roof.

Having said that M Desrues Having said that M Desrues believed the believed the cvcv was more suited was more suited to Cambodia than the highly to Cambodia than the highly complex complex dsds, it was a , it was a dsds that that proved victorious in the proved victorious in the rd rd Rally of Cambodia. In the picture Rally of Cambodia. In the picture the Laquemant-Laquemant team the Laquemant-Laquemant team is shown in front of the is shown in front of the skmaskma ga- ga-rage owned by the Citroën agent rage owned by the Citroën agent

in Phnom Penh.in Phnom Penh.Phnom Penh was also the Phnom Penh was also the

home base for M Renart. He was home base for M Renart. He was a mechanic who, with his fam-a mechanic who, with his fam-ily, had been sent by Citroën to ily, had been sent by Citroën to Phnom-Penh. As well as work-Phnom-Penh. As well as work-ing in Cambodia, he regularly ing in Cambodia, he regularly

visited Bangkok visited Bangkok and trained the and trained the staff there in how staff there in how to keep the to keep the dsds on on

the road. Tricks included replac-the road. Tricks included replac-ing the regular hydraulic fluid ing the regular hydraulic fluid with locally produced castor oil with locally produced castor oil and fi tting an extra cooling device and fi tting an extra cooling device for the hydraulic system.for the hydraulic system.

Unfortunately we know very Unfortunately we know very little of this little of this skmaskma garage, however. garage, however. Indeed, very little information Indeed, very little information remains about any of Citroën’s remains about any of Citroën’s activities in Cambodia in those activities in Cambodia in those days. Tom Windelinckx, a lo-days. Tom Windelinckx, a lo-cal resident and car enthusiast cal resident and car enthusiast explains that during the Khmers explains that during the Khmers Rouges regime most, if not all, Rouges regime most, if not all, cars were destroyed, and very cars were destroyed, and very

few classic cars can be seen in the few classic cars can be seen in the country today. As far as former country today. As far as former Citroën employees in the region Citroën employees in the region could tell us, the country was could tell us, the country was certainly fi t for sales of certainly fi t for sales of cvcv-type -type ‘off -road’ vehicles, but defi nitely ‘off -road’ vehicles, but defi nitely not for the not for the dsds..

Tom kindly sent the interest-Tom kindly sent the interest-ing pictures of former shophouses ing pictures of former shophouses on Preah Vihear Street [Street on Preah Vihear Street [Street ] ] in Phnom Penh, taken back in in Phnom Penh, taken back in , still showing traces of retro , still showing traces of retro ‘Citroën’ signs. Compare with ‘Citroën’ signs. Compare with the other picture; this is with-the other picture; this is with-out doubt the same place. Tom out doubt the same place. Tom checked out again more recently, checked out again more recently, but two out of the three signs are but two out of the three signs are now covered with paint.now covered with paint.

While few examples of the While few examples of the dsds were sold in Bangkok by Jacques were sold in Bangkok by Jacques Paris, there is a photo of him with Paris, there is a photo of him with a wide-boy a wide-boy dsds there. In it he takes there. In it he takes a pose in front of a rather unusu-a pose in front of a rather unusu-ally decorated ally decorated dsds, at a seaside , at a seaside area near Bangkok, maybe Samut area near Bangkok, maybe Samut Prakan, or Ban Saeng, probably in Prakan, or Ban Saeng, probably in

the mid the mid ’’s. Th is is a fi ne example s. Th is is a fi ne example of a heavily ‘tuned’ of a heavily ‘tuned’ dsds in Asia, with in Asia, with air intake on the bonnet, two-tone air intake on the bonnet, two-tone paint on the front wing, ‘sabot paint on the front wing, ‘sabot d’aile’, and what looks like a British d’aile’, and what looks like a British number plate.number plate.

As always with information As always with information sourced from the internet one sourced from the internet one must be careful as the veracity of must be careful as the veracity of what one fi nds can be dubious. what one fi nds can be dubious. I did fi nd a picture, on http://I did fi nd a picture, on http://phnompenhplaces.blogspot.com.phnompenhplaces.blogspot.com.au of what purported to be a Cit-au of what purported to be a Cit-roën at Ankor Wat, in roën at Ankor Wat, in . Th e . Th e same site also claimed to depict same site also claimed to depict the main Citroën dealership in the main Citroën dealership in Phnom Penh during the French Phnom Penh during the French period. It is an exact duplicate of period. It is an exact duplicate of the Saigon dealership. Hmm… the Saigon dealership. Hmm… And suggests there was a second And suggests there was a second assembly plant on Street assembly plant on Street ..

But this site is also the source But this site is also the source of the image of a Traction in front of the image of a Traction in front of Wat Phnom in of Wat Phnom in ..Compiled by Leigh F Miles from Compiled by Leigh F Miles from the web sites listed in the article.the web sites listed in the article.

Far left: One Far left: One of the of the i m a g e s o f i m a g e s o f the Citroën the Citroën relief on the relief on the o l d o l d s k m as k m a garage. garage. A A po- po-hotgraph of hotgraph of a Tract ion a Tract ion in f ront of in f ront of Wat Phnom Wat Phnom i n Ph no m i n Ph no m Penh.Penh.

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