The cars of Spirou and Fantasio

Cars is one of my passions and I have studied the change of cars through all the Spirou albums. I think that Franquin probably was the one that was most interested in cars. In almost every Franquin album you can find a Citrokn DS somewhere. The following authors didn't care so much about the cars and I think the series lost a bit of its charm here. A hero should drive a nice car, shouldn't he?

This is the first car used by Spirou and Fantasio! It's a Citrokn Type C,also called 5CV. A model produced between 1922 and 1926. Actually it was Fantasio's car. It was able to rise several meters over the ground, in order to make it easier to park. Not popular with the local police... by Franquin.

This is the first Turbot car, followed by two beautiful roadcars. This is a pure racecar, the Formula 1 car of that time if you like. Here Fantasio is taken out on a demonstration by a Turbot test driver. Obviously a hair-raising experience! by Franquin.

The Turbot-Rhino 1! Named after Spirou and Fantasio's Africa adventure in "La corne de rhinoceros". A front wheel drive turbo car, a technical masterpiece! This is in my opinion the most beautiful car Spirou and Fantasio have ever driven. It was introduced in 1952 and was given to Spirou and Fantasio by the Turbot boss after they had saved the blueprints for the car that some bad guys tried to lay their hands on. by Franquin.

The Turbot 2, the replacement for the Turbot 1. Almost as beautiful as the Turbot 1. This car was also given to Spirou and Fantasio (lucky guys!). But this time it was given by an eccentric millionaire that took Spirou and Fantasios Turbot by mistake and trashed it completely (it's a long story, read about it in "Vacances sans histories") It was introduced in 1957 and was as well as the Turbot 1 a technical masterpiece; with a simple pressing on a button the doors disappeared into the bodywork. It also had a button operated glass cabriolet that disappeared into the trunk. How was that solved? I have no idea! by Franquin.

It was actually Franquin that gave Spirou and Fantasio the Honda, in "Panade a Champignac". But with Fournier taking over the series, the era of fantasy cars was over. Fournier continued using the Honda S800 Sport. This is the first Honda-car ever produced. I don't know if the marketing staff from Honda were involved or Fournier just liked the car. But I think Fournier tried to keep up with the glamour of Spirou and Fantasio's cars. But couldn't he do better? You can also see Marsupilami's tail at the back of the car, this was the last album ("Le faiseur d'or") with Marsupilami together with Spirou and Fantasio. by Fournier.

A Lotus Europa. This is a more glamorous car than the Honda, but it also in my opinion is one of the ugliest Lotus ever made, ugly color too, but still better than the Honda. I wonder if Spirou and Fantasio buy these cars now, I mean a Lotus doesn't come cheap. by Fournier.

Now Fournier really disappoints me. He gives Spirou and Fantasio a Renault 5. No offense Renault, but I mean from having four luxury cars they get a R5. Maybe they are out of money, or maybe Fourier didn't care that much about what kind of car they drive. But a Renault 5 is NOT a car for heroes! But it gets worse... by Fournier.

When Nic and Cauvin took over the series for a while (three albums) they really hit the ground in the vehicle point of view. Spirou drives a motorcycle! Brand unknown, probably a Japanese. Spirou has to give Fantasio a lift at the back of the motorcycle, and Fantasio doesn't look to happy about it! He has my sympathy! by Nic and Cauvin.

It doesn't get much better in the last Nic and Cauvin album ("Les faiseurs de silence"), but at least they get a car, a Citrokn Visa! I like Citrokn very much, but I have to say that the Visa isn't my favourite. Coldn't they get a CX or something? by Nic and Cauvin.

Now we are in the 80's and Tom and Janry takes over the series. But they change back to the Renault 5 as Spirou and Fantasio's normal car. Here in "Virus" though, Spirou uses the company-car, a Citrokn C35 (info provided by my French friend PiF). But as I said Tom and Janry keep on going with the not so glamorous R5. by Tome and Janry.

In the last album " Luna fatale", Spirou gets a new car. I'm pretty sure that it is a Jeep Cherokee, I have talked with a lot of experts and they agree. It's obvious that the serie has moved into to a new modern era. Let's hope that in the next album Spirou drives a Ferrari or something. by Tome and Janry.

Here are two cars that Spirou and Fantasio didn't drive, but I like them very much and I think they played an important role in the series:

This car, the Citrokn DS, was never driven by Spirou and Fantasio but it seems to have been Franquin's favourite car. It very often shows up in the background and I think you can see some Citrokn-lines in the first Turbot. In this picture Zorglub uses an old Citrokn DS as his limo. A very good choice. by Franquin.

This is a picture of a Porsche 911/912. I asked a specialist and he couldn't tell if it was a 911 or a 912, "the door handle is to poorly drawn", he said! I included this one because I like the Porsches very much and it shows that Fournier tried to keep up with Franquin's glamorous car choice. Why couldn't he "give" it to Spirou and Fantasio? by Fournier.

© Caramel Productions 1996, 1997. All rights reserved.
© Dupuis, Carlsen/if and Interpresse
© Franquin, Fournier, Nic & Cauvin, Tome & Janry and S.E.P.P.
The pictures belong to the authors and Dupuis and they may not be reproduced without their authorization.

Page edited by Krister Nilsson
Latest update: 971020