Citroën C-15: the classic van that has become a legend

We already know that there are legendary models that go beyond what they represented as simple vehicles. They are models that have become something mythical, that have entered popular imagination. Only a few vehicles have earned this honour, and among them is the legendary Citroën C-15, a commercial vehicle that was manufactured at the Vigo plant from 1984 to 2005.

1,181,407 units were produced over this period, which shows that it was a highly sought-after vehicle designed for daily work. Its name came from its P.M.A., which was rated at 1,500 kg. That load capacity gave it its name. Its top speed was 140 km/h, which made it very efficient and allowed it to handle any job with ease.

A commercial version of the Citroën Visa

The van originated from the Citroën Visa, which was modified to serve as a transport vehicle. The Vigo plant provided the design and development services, which allowed the C-15 to become the first model of the brand to exceed one million units produced at this factory. In addition, thanks to its success, the night shift was started in the bodywork welding department of the plant.

The factory managed to position itself as a plant specialising in commercial vehicles, as a diesel-engined version of the C-15 was introduced, which brought it greater popularity. It was a vehicle that helped Citroën’s positioning throughout the world.

Another little-known fact about the Citroën C-15 is that the brand’s first electric vehicle was in fact a C-15. It was launched in 1987 and tested on the streets of Brussels. 402 units of this electric version were produced, which had a 10 kW electric motor, equivalent to 13 CV.

This motor was coupled to the gearbox, and its range was rated at 100 kilometres. This variant used very large batteries, which doubled the weight of the vehicle. The heating was powered by diesel stored in an auxiliary tank. Systems such as the windscreen wipers and the radio ran on a 12-volt, 55 Ah battery.

But the combustion-engined version was also on the road, and in 2000 it underwent a very important change. The engine was replaced by a more modern version that complied with the newly introduced European Union pollution standards. Citroën’s engineering team worked on the vehicle as a whole and managed to deliver the necessary solutions so that the model would perform adequately and remain on the market.

Today, the Citroën C-15 is no longer on the market, but it has become a classic that remains in use in many homes and businesses. A large number of motoring enthusiasts gather every year to pay tribute to the van built in Vigo, holding meetings where several dozen examples of this model are displayed.