In Memoriam — Claude Guillot (February 3, 1932 – January 18, 2022)

Today we received the sad news from our friends in Quebec that Claude Guillot passed away. The Citroën community has lost a passionately active member.

Claude was service manager for Citroën’s corporate office in Montreal until the company closed their operation and left Canada. From there, retirement wasn’t in the cards as he kept actively working on Citroëns, particularly the extensive collection of Louis Grenier. He regularly went to CitroExpo in Europe to buy spare parts for Louis and to make sure his 1957 DS 19 was in top form when he participated in the Mille Miglia in 2014.

Claude and Louis Grenier beside the very rare 1940 Traction Normale Cabriolet which Claude supervised the restoration of.
Claude taking pride showing the massive sorted and polished socket wrenches and spanners at Louis Grenier’s Citroen collection.

Claude was also a faithful regular member of the Vintage European Automobiles (VEA) Club in Quebec for their monthly dinners and was very often present for their outings, driving his sublime black DS 23.

André Verner noted today in the VEA bulletin;

Few of us have rubbed shoulders with our friend Claude from the days of Citroën Canada on Royalmount Street. I treasure the memory of a passionate and competent workshop manager of the brand. It was there that he met his Lucille and that he, by the same token, knew a host of Citroënists who appreciated him at that time and who have become sincere friends until today.

Claude was factory trained to be a Citroen mechanic in France, and was always proud to display his credentials:

In Quebec, Claude took his knowledge and applied it to keep Citroëns operating in the harsh Canadian winters, and sometimes at odds with what factory officials said should be the defacto service means. He recounted one amusing scenario to us back in 2019;

Montreal DS owners often had dead batteries in winter – the generator only produced about 100 watts in traffic, with the wipers, fan and headlamps on, the battery didn’t stand a chance of recharging. Some customers were getting pretty angry, and Claude got a mission from his boss, the general manager of Citroën Canada, to find a solution.

Requests to the head office did not result in any practical solution. Claude found an alternator that would fit from a Delco agent, designed a bracket, installed it on his company car, and showed the result to his boss. He was told to install the alternator on the car of the angriest customer. Of course, it was a success. The general manager then instructed him to make a similar installation every time a customer complained.

A few months later, the Export VP from Quai de Javel visited the Canadian head office. The general manager asked Claude to have a DS available to show the alternator installation. As Claude was showing the setup to the VP, he quickly felt that the VP was far from happy. Even before he could finish, the VP ordered the general manager “In your office. Right now.” His screaming could be heard even with the door closed; “You can’t do that! Only the bureau d’études can alter the design! You will hear about that!” and he left the place, almost ripping the door from its hinges as he stormed out.

Claude asked the general manager what he was now expected to do. The reply was; “Keep going!”. Claude tells me he installed well over a thousand before the factory introduced alternators on the 1968 models.

We found this press clipping from May 24, 1959 in Montreal showing Claude (working as a technician for Auto-France Ltée) greeting Mr. Jean Troublé who was traveling around the world in his 2CV.

His friend Richard Boudrias paid a most fitting tribute to Claude, saying;

The “Citroënists” have in fact lost the ultimate reference in brand authenticity and pointed skill in many restorations and repairs. Also, how many times have we seen him at the Saratoga Springs Rendezvous give technical explanations in his personal English to attentive Americans.

When I lose a friend of mine, what can I say… a big brother who tirelessly fixed my favourite toys so that I could make the most of my passion for the past thirty-five years. What a privilege I have had by my side. I will think of him every time I turn the key in my Traction ignition and also when I see oysters because yesterday, again on the phone, he told me he was really happy to be able to taste before leaving, the succulents oysters than his grandchildren had taken to the hospital.

Have a nice trip Claude.

You will be truly missed.

3 comments

  1. I will miss seeing Claude and visiting with him @ Rendezvous! His passion for Citroens and willingness to share his knowledge & stories was without parallel. I can hear his voice now regaling me with another tale of days gone by… With HUGE appreciation & love: Claude, you are already missed!!! 💕

  2. J’ai connu monsieur Guillot dans les années 1974-1980. Ils s’occupait de mes Citroën DS 21. Puis, je l’ai perdu de vue après avoir vendu mes Citroën pour le retrouver quelques années plus tard chez mon ami Louis Grenier. Quel plaisir de discuter avec lui encore. Toujours intéressant le monsieur!

    I knew Mr. Guillot in the years 1974-1980. He took care of my Citroën DS 21. Then, I lost sight of him after selling my Citroëns to find him a few years later with my friend Louis Grenier. What a pleasure to chat with him again. Always interesting sir!

  3. I was lucky enough to meet Claude GUILLOT several times in my life. He was really uncommon, so powerful, so sure to have the solution to your problem.
    That’s why I changed ” Mister ” in ” Master ” Guillot, it is his real Title : ” Master”.
    Master Claude, say Hello to André on behalf of us.
    Have a nice trip.
    Philippe LASSON
    TRACTIONS SANS FRONTIERES FRANCE
    ACI Delegate

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Close
Archives

Access further archives on our Archive Documents page.

Close

Citroënvie!

A community of Citroën enthusiasts with a passion for Citroën automobiles.

Citroënvie © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
Close