It was called the Mille-Pattes, but it could have been called the Mille-Pneus. Indeed, in the early 70s, Michelin, the tire leader, equipped the majority of heavy goods vehicles and buses that were becoming more and more efficient and needed more and more efficient tires.
To meet demand, the equipment manufacturer Michelin had to test their prototypes of heavy-duty wheels over long distances. The idea of creating an analytical vehicle that could perform behavior and wear tests on different tires in similar conditions. Michelin then called on Citroën and created a monster 7.20m long and 2.45m wide. This size allowed the Citroën to be equipped with 10 wheels, hence the nickname "millipede". Well, more like 11, the last one being in the central position where a test laboratory was located.
By inventing the removable tire for bicycles in the early 1890s, Michelin did not know at the time that it would become a major player in the automobile industry in France. By duplicating the tire to the then-nascent automobile, Michelin became the first player to enter a car on tires in competition in 1895. Later, Michelin tires helped the Jamais contente break the 100km/h barrier! Then in the 1930s, Michelin took over Citroën and launched the TPV project which gave birth to the 2CV in 1949, the same year, the radial tire invented by Michelin was marketed and revolutionized the market!
Michelin was a brand in search of innovation, for this, the company built in 1965 a large complex north of Clermont-Ferrand comprising a circuit and various test tracks to test tires in all possible and imaginable conditions: fast tracks, rough roads, bends, wet roads... Michelin also acquired an impressive test vehicle fleet, from the simple 2CV to the most prestigious sports cars like a Porsche 904!
An exceptional automatic DS Break
The Mille Pattes can test up to 11 wheels simultaneously, in conditions close to those of fixed laboratories. The test station in the center of the vehicle houses the 11th wheel. The assembly allows the testing of a range of Michelin tires from Passenger cars to Heavy Goods Vehicles 12 R 22.5.
On the traction side, the vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic clutch, which remains a trademark of Citroën vehicles. This is coupled to an automatic gearbox transmitting power to the rear axle of the car.
A station wagon with ... explosive colors!
At the beginning, this impressive station wagon was delivered to the equipment manufacturer entirely in white. Clearly, the garish colors suited it much better: the choice of the orange / yellow combination was quite eclectic. However, it is its incredible appearance that will make this pioneering prototype go down in history.
After a long career on the Ladoux tracks, the DS Mille-Patte has long since retired, and fortunately for us, Michelin has decided to keep this vehicle, which is now visible in its museum in Clermont-Ferrand.
Technical characteristics:
Energy: GasolineEngines: Two Chevrolet V8sDisplacement: 5.7 liters each
Power: 200 hp at 5800 rpm each
Transmission: Rear-wheel drive with 3-speed automatic gearbox
Speed: Approximately 180 km/h
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