Developing the bottom end of the market, until the early 1920s occupied by the cyclecar, challenged Andre Citroen, his first truly outstanding design, the Type C, introduced in 1922.

'Motoring for the masses' French-style - the model was also known as the Cloverleaf because of its two-plus-one seating or 5CV after its tax rating - brought real car ownership within reach of the man in the street.

For the first time in France though, the marketing people decided to aim this car towards feminine clientele too, which paid off handsomely. Powered by a four-cylinder side valve engine displacing 856cc, the Cloverleaf was more renowned for longevity than speed. Indeed, an example was driven all round Australia in 1925 but, given the model's success, the decision to discontinue it by May 1926 appears hard to justify.

The arrival of the Citroen C3 Trefle in 1924 boosted sales further, the company soon producing 250 cars per day, sales reaching over 10,000 annually until production ceased, a total of 80,232 5CVs produced in all.