Henri Chapron

Chapron was born in Nouan-le-Fuzelier (Sologne),[1] and began his career developing custom body designs for French luxury vehicles, like Talbot, Delage, and Delahaye, in the 1920s.

A news item in the 20 July 1961 Daily Variety noted that Cary Grant had "telephoned the French automotive company, Citroën, to order a new car for use in the film" That Touch of Mink.

The factory convertibles used a DS platform supplied by Citroën, which included all of the mechanics, front fenders, windshield and wheels.

These gigantic four-door convertibles were first used for the 1972 visit of Queen Elizabeth II to France and continued in use through the inauguration of Jacques Chirac in 1995.

The Entente Cordiale, signed in London on April 8, 1904, resolved a number of colonial disputes and helped to forge an alliance against a resurgent Germany.

It was given a notchback body with a small trunk lid, which at the rear end authentically took up the design of the original vehicle - especially the raised license plate.

Chapron developed a sedan that remained true to the design of the original model and ultimately represented an extended version of the SM Coupé.

[1] Less than five months after Chapron's own death the company presented a Landaulet bodied conversion constructed for a rich Dutch customer, based on a lengthened Peugeot 604.

[1] There were hopes this might lead to a low but steady production of similar conversions, as had happened during with Chapron's lengthened specials based on the Citroën DS.

[1] That did not happen, but the company did produce some special luxury versions (including landaulets) of the Citroën CX with lavishly equipped interiors.

[1][9] The Chapron workshops prepared several Landaulet (car) vehicles based on the CX 2400 Prestige, including a wedding car, delivered in 1981 and used for the first time for the wedding of Henri de Passau, Prince of Bourbon Parma and Grand Heir and Maria Teresa Grand Duchess.

[9] In the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Citroën appeared as a featured marque and was represented by many Chapron variants.