Citeria (Netherlands)

Citeria NV was a Dutch automotive manufacturer that operated briefly in the late 1950s. Founded by Puck van Beckum, the company aimed to produce a small hardtop convertible known as the Citeria. The vehicle was notable for its fiberglass two-door body, which could be equipped with either a soft top or a detachable hard top.

The Citeria was powered by a BMW 600 engine, a 30 horsepower twin-cylinder unit, coupled with a four-speed gearbox. This configuration was mounted at the rear of a tubular steel chassis, contributing to the car's lightweight design, which weighed only 500 kilograms (approximately 1,100 pounds). The Citeria achieved a top speed of 84 miles per hour (135 kilometers per hour), a performance highlighted during its launch at the Zandvoort racetrack, which was attended by the renowned racing driver Stirling Moss.

Despite its promising design and performance, Citeria NV faced significant challenges. The company never entered full production, primarily due to financial difficulties stemming from van Beckum's legal troubles, which included a prison sentence for attempting to forge checks. Additionally, the Citeria was considered too expensive to compete effectively in the market, particularly against similar models like the BMW 700, which was launched around the same time. As a result, the Citeria remained a prototype and did not achieve commercial success.