1927 Citroen Kegresse
Adolphe Kegresse designed his revolutionary rubber track system whilst working for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia before the Great War, and on his return to his native France after the revolution he developed the system for use on Citreons from 1921 until 1937. In fact his designs worked so well that the US Army Ordnance Department purchased several examples and from them developed the M2 and M3 military half tracks produced in large numbers in the Second World War.
The Kegresse system used a reinforced rubber band running over a powered drive wheel at the front and an idler at the rear, with a series of guide wheels in between. The drive was via the rear axle to an articulated bogie, and grip was obtained by fitting treads to the rubber band “tracks”.
The Citroen Kegresse was very successful in action, being used by a number of expeditions, notably the first vehicular crossing of the Sahara by a Kegresse convoy in 1922-1923, and a huge number of military varients were built and used in WW2 by a number of warring nations including notably Poland.
The Kegresse was based on current production Citreon cars, and this particular example is believed to be based on the C4 model, with a sidevalve 4 cylinder engine of 1628ccs giving 30 bhp, coupled to a 3 speed gearbox. An extensive history file includes much correspondence with Citroen Kegresse Ltd, London, and Mr WH Cox of Perthshire, including a quote dated October 1929 for a chassis at £315 or £360 with bodywork, but not including import duty at £67 for the bare chassis and £72 for a complete vehicle. At this time, the “endless rubber bands” could be supplied ex-works at Hammersmith for £20 each plus import duty.
It appears that the Citroen agents, Gardiners of Perth then supplied the vehicle to Mr Cox of Snaigow, Murthly at a cost of some £500 including a track type body as still worn today, and probably designed by the Royal Perth Golfing society, according to letters included. The large archive of correspondence and literature accompanying the lot includes catalogues, a handbook, maintenance plans, chassis drawings, parts lists etc, and an interesting insurance document quoting Registration No GS 2045 (Perth 1930), and giving the users address as the Glenquaich Estate Ltd, Perthshire.
The vehicle would seem to have been used on this private estate, probably for the carriage of beaters, as seats are still fitted in the truck body, until some time in the 1950s, when the Kegresse moved to Northern Ireland. At some stage WH Connolly, Citroen agents in Belfast became involved, but little is known of the intervening years until the Kegresse was purchased by a local enthusiast and celebrity musician who spent considerable sums over the years on maintenance, including some £3,370 in October 2007 with Toye Engineering for repairs to the engine etc.
The vehicle is now on the market only on the decease of the owner whose widow is keen to find an enthusiastic new keeper.
This is a most unusual vehicle, one of very few left and it still possesses enormous ability for cross-country work. Condition is generally very good, and it starts easily and runs well, with a top speed of some 18 mph on the road. The rubber tracks are in sound condition, and the vehicle is ready for use.
No Registration Certificate exists, but it is thought that as the original Perthshire number is known, it should be possible to retain GS 2045.
