In 1955, Guy Mismaque, a young French engineer formerly employed at Bugatti, sought to create his own unique brand of automobile. As with many of his peers, including Jean Rédélé at Alpine and René Bonnet at Deutsch Bonnet, Guy knew that punitive post-war French tax demands dictated that his car be small, quick, and economical. A very light and sleek body would be called for, then.

To keep development costs down, Guy quickly surmised that his car would rely on as many existing production parts as possible. He would call his cars "Squal," which means "shark" in French.

In his mind there would no hiding the Squal's inspiration: Bertone’s spectacular Alfa Romeo "BAT" (Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica) concept cars had already been introduced and were taking the automotive design world by storm: Each was a design sensation, and even Bertone's own international competition fell under the charms of the futuristic Italian trio. Guy himself was not immune to the little trio's charms.

Nor, it seems, was Citroën, who wanted to unveil a small sports car at the 1959 Parisian Salon de l'Automobile, with its lines a response to the striking, wing-like tail fins of the Bertone coupés. Young Guy was commissioned to draw the two-seater, and he gave it his all. The dramatic result was well received within the company. 

To that end, he spent three years building the prototype for his sports coupe, basing it on the existing Citroën 2CV drive train with a much-stiffened and lowered suspension. Its fiberglass body was of Guy's own design, built around a bespoke tubular chassis. It, too, was a product of Guy's own pen. His intent was to convince the company to underwrite production of 100 units in partnership with Jeanneau, a large builder of private yachts, with whom Guy had contacted about an initial batch of fiberglass bodies. 

In 1959, the first Citroën Squal was completed and displayed at the Paris Motor Show, where it caused a sensation. Nine chassis were completed, and at least three cars were assembled, two with 2CV drive trains. Weighing a mere 772 lbs. (350 kg), the Squal is tiny and much lower and shorter than the 2CV upon which it is based, with an anticipated top speed of 80 mph (120 kph). In all, not bad. 

Guy was firmly convinced that there would be a market for his creation in France. He and his family even went on a promotional tour, driving the Squal throughout Europe, with many well-placed ads in period magazines to support their efforts. And yes, the interest was there, as the letters to the editor demonstrated.

In the end, however, Citroën was unmoved. It did not open its pursestrings to approve the Mismaque Squal for series production. It languished in a garage for decades before being treated to a sympathetic restoration. It was the winner of the 2022 Octane Choice Award at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering.

In the mid-fifties, Bertone’s spectacular Alfa Romeo "BAT" (Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica) concept cars were a sensation in the world of car design. Even the competition fell under the charms of the futuristic Italian trio. Citroën wanted something similar: Enter Guy Mismaque and the Citroën Squal.