Rosengart Supertraction History

Introduced at the 1938 Paris Motor Show under the slogan 'The most beautiful French car,' the Supertraction (model designation LR539) was Rosengart's bid for the luxury segment. Lucien Rosengart negotiated directly with Citroën for a supply of Traction Avant running gear: the 1,911 cc four-cylinder engine, three-speed gearbox, front-wheel-drive layout, and fully independent suspension were all sourced from the Citroën 11 Perfo, giving the Rosengart a chassis far in advance of its tiny-car siblings.

The body — available as a cabriolet and a pillarless coupé — was styled with exceptional care: ultra-thin B-pillars, door handles that echoed the chrome hood flaps, and a characteristic Darrin-style swoop for two-tone paintwork. It competed for buyers against the Peugeot 402 and other mid-range French saloons, marking the first time Rosengart had aimed at that price point.

Volume production began in March 1939 and was cut short by World War II. Roughly 1,100 Supertractions were built in the spring and summer of 1939; a small trickle continued into early 1940 before the occupation halted output entirely. Fewer than 80 are believed to survive today, making the Supertraction one of the rarest pre-war French cars.