Citroën produced the first monocoque-chassis delivery van, the Citroën H Van. Introduced in 1947, it used a frameless, unitary body rather than a conventional separate frame and body.
The H Van was developed in postwar France as a practical, low-cost front-wheel-drive commercial vehicle. Its monocoque construction helped keep the design light while creating a strong, spacious body. Front-wheel drive and independent suspension also allowed a low, nearly flat loading floor, a major advantage for tradespeople and delivery operators.
Its corrugated metal panels are among its most recognizable features. The ribs strengthened broad panels without adding much material, an approach inspired by corrugated aircraft construction. The van’s tall body could provide standing room, while rear doors and an optional side sliding door made loading easier.
Citroën produced the H family from 1947 to 1981, with versions commonly identified as Type H, HY, HZ, HW, and HP. The answer is sometimes confused with Renault or Peugeot because those companies also built important French commercial vehicles, but the pioneering frameless van described here is Citroën’s H Van.