1985 Citroen BX 19GT overhaul
Discussion
S3_Graham said:
olly22n said:
S10GTA said:
driverrob said:
True.
How many cars of that era had an LCD display plus an on-board computer for fuel consumption, average speed etc?
Renault 25...Vauxhall Senator.... I'm stuck nowHow many cars of that era had an LCD display plus an on-board computer for fuel consumption, average speed etc?
ETA: ooh, the Maestro did have digital instruments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5zs6TU32pY
Further edit to add a link to a very comprehensive photo gallery of digital dashboards: http://www.doubleyoudigital.nl/~cars_digital%20das...
Edited by Jobbo on Thursday 2nd August 21:39
bob1179 said:
A mate of mine had one of these back in 1997. It was a little ratty even then! Great car though, I look forward to seeing how the overhaul goes. How easy is it to get hold of parts (especially any fiddly trim bits)?
Most parts are pretty easy Bob. The engine is largely the same as a 205 GTi and the BX had quite a long lifespan and isn't particularly desirable today, so there are lots of parts for peanuts around. The only tricky ones tend to be the mk1 specific stuff, like dashboard and exterior trim.But yeah, it is a bit rattly!
zedx19 said:
Kitchski said:
The whole car can be raised and lowered about a foot, not just the back end. The back end tends to sink to its lowest position once you park it up and switch the engine off, as gravity forces fluid in the cylinders back to the tank.
The system automatically adjusts vehicle height, regardless of load, as well as brake pressure depending on load. It has anti-dive on the front, which means when you stand on the brake pedal, the nose refuses to dip yet the suspension is still as compliant as always.
The hydraulics also power the brakes and steering.
And all these hydraulics still work? Back when I was 17, my mates parents had a Xantia that you could raise and lower, was extremely comfy but also unreliable lol went through more clutch cables then owt!The system automatically adjusts vehicle height, regardless of load, as well as brake pressure depending on load. It has anti-dive on the front, which means when you stand on the brake pedal, the nose refuses to dip yet the suspension is still as compliant as always.
The hydraulics also power the brakes and steering.
Some Xantias were very similar to the BX hydraulics-wise. Most are pretty reliable - I've had a crap one too though! And it's not the cable they eat, it's usually the plastic retaining clip on the cable at the pedal end, but lots of undesirable garages used to change the clip and then charge for a new new change.
liner33 said:
Dont think the radio cassette is original , Kays catalogue used to sell those in the early 90's i bought one for something i had
Not a fan of French stuff but interesting project nice to see them still going brings back some memories of mates who had them
No I always thought it looked a bit more modern than the car!Not a fan of French stuff but interesting project nice to see them still going brings back some memories of mates who had them
driverrob said:
I bought a 1986 BX GT Digit in 1989. Wonderful car to drive, attention-grabbing LCD display, wonderful load carrier.
By 1992 all the doors had rusted really badly near the bottoms and the high pressure fluid pipes had corroded so much they had started to leak.
I was extremely lucky to get a decent trade-in on a newer GTi, which lasted 12 more faultless, rust-free years.
You'd kick yourself now - mint ones are worth a fortune! The Digit was basically a GT, which some extra bits. I did drive one a few years back and videoed the dash on my then bang-up-to-date-but-now-sBy 1992 all the doors had rusted really badly near the bottoms and the high pressure fluid pipes had corroded so much they had started to leak.
I was extremely lucky to get a decent trade-in on a newer GTi, which lasted 12 more faultless, rust-free years.
t phone. Lamborghini must have had a go in one before they did the Reventon I reckon!S10GTA said:
MJK 24 said:
Will be watching with interest! Great cars and nice to see one undergoing a full restoration inspite of their low (but climbing!) values!
Agreed, but sometimes its more about sentiment rather than value.Jobbo said:
S3_Graham said:
olly22n said:
S10GTA said:
driverrob said:
True.
How many cars of that era had an LCD display plus an on-board computer for fuel consumption, average speed etc?
Renault 25...Vauxhall Senator.... I'm stuck nowHow many cars of that era had an LCD display plus an on-board computer for fuel consumption, average speed etc?
ETA: ooh, the Maestro did have digital instruments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5zs6TU32pY
Further edit to add a link to a very comprehensive photo gallery of digital dashboards: http://www.doubleyoudigital.nl/~cars_digital%20das...
Edited by Jobbo on Thursday 2nd August 21:39
Later cars ditched the trip computer, swapped tweed for CX GTi velour, got rid of some of the stickers and added side repeaters. Then the BX range was facelifted in 1986 and the GT became the TRS. They launched the 19GTi instead and then another year later the 16v arrived.
But......I have two trip computers, so we're looking into fitting one as part of the resto.
Kitchski said:
Although it was only produced for 18months or so, there are actually two versions of the BX GT. Early cars had the trip computer featured on the Digit, tweed seats, more decals and no side repeaters.
Later cars ditched the trip computer, swapped tweed for CX GTi velour, got rid of some of the stickers and added side repeaters. Then the BX range was facelifted in 1986 and the GT became the TRS. They launched the 19GTi instead and then another year later the 16v arrived.
But......I have two trip computers, so we're looking into fitting one as part of the resto.
I hadn't appreciated that; think I've lost all my catalogues from the time my stepfather was test-driving a 16RS.Later cars ditched the trip computer, swapped tweed for CX GTi velour, got rid of some of the stickers and added side repeaters. Then the BX range was facelifted in 1986 and the GT became the TRS. They launched the 19GTi instead and then another year later the 16v arrived.
But......I have two trip computers, so we're looking into fitting one as part of the resto.
What condition are your third side windows in? They are plastic, IIRC, and often looked pretty crazed even in the 90s when I spotted a BX with them.
Jobbo said:
....
Further edit to add a link to a very comprehensive photo gallery of digital dashboards: http://www.doubleyoudigital.nl/~cars_digital%20das...
What an astounding variety of displays! Good find.Further edit to add a link to a very comprehensive photo gallery of digital dashboards: http://www.doubleyoudigital.nl/~cars_digital%20das...
Edited by Jobbo on Thursday 2nd August 21:39
Anyway, back to the original post - good luck in your restoration. If you can keep major rust problems at bay it'll be worth the effort. Lovely car.
That's a GSA dash, although the speedo is the roller can type identical to those fitted in a BX.
This is a Digit dash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2k4ajC4uPM
And this is the standard mk1 dash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01h5zVW6Uoc
The GT one is pretty boring in comparision
But it was given standard analogue dials as it was the 'sporty' model!
This is a Digit dash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2k4ajC4uPM
And this is the standard mk1 dash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01h5zVW6Uoc
The GT one is pretty boring in comparision
But it was given standard analogue dials as it was the 'sporty' model!Great things!
Had a 16TRS many moons ago, bought as a stop-gap car and ended up keeping it for 2 years.
Got the notion when I was 18 and run a GS for a few months, then my ex fil had a couple of CX's.
Loved the thing and even fitted a towbar for a caravan holiday - best towcar ever!
The ride quality as previously mentioned, was unrivalled.
Drove a new XM a few years after and that was the last time I drove a 'proper' Citroen. Love 'em and nice to see a thread like this.
All the best with it.
Had a 16TRS many moons ago, bought as a stop-gap car and ended up keeping it for 2 years.
Got the notion when I was 18 and run a GS for a few months, then my ex fil had a couple of CX's.
Loved the thing and even fitted a towbar for a caravan holiday - best towcar ever!
The ride quality as previously mentioned, was unrivalled.
Drove a new XM a few years after and that was the last time I drove a 'proper' Citroen. Love 'em and nice to see a thread like this.
All the best with it.
Jobbo said:
Kitchski said:
Although it was only produced for 18months or so, there are actually two versions of the BX GT. Early cars had the trip computer featured on the Digit, tweed seats, more decals and no side repeaters.
Later cars ditched the trip computer, swapped tweed for CX GTi velour, got rid of some of the stickers and added side repeaters. Then the BX range was facelifted in 1986 and the GT became the TRS. They launched the 19GTi instead and then another year later the 16v arrived.
But......I have two trip computers, so we're looking into fitting one as part of the resto.
I hadn't appreciated that; think I've lost all my catalogues from the time my stepfather was test-driving a 16RS.Later cars ditched the trip computer, swapped tweed for CX GTi velour, got rid of some of the stickers and added side repeaters. Then the BX range was facelifted in 1986 and the GT became the TRS. They launched the 19GTi instead and then another year later the 16v arrived.
But......I have two trip computers, so we're looking into fitting one as part of the resto.
What condition are your third side windows in? They are plastic, IIRC, and often looked pretty crazed even in the 90s when I spotted a BX with them.
I've had a bit of experience of BX's; first was a BX "Challenger", which I am given to understand was a UK dealer variant of the BX19 (happy to be corrected). It remains the only vehicle I've ever had a serious accident in (as a rear passenger), the thing folded up and nearly snapped in half. Worrying. But, apart from seriously dented pride on the part of the driver, we all walked away.
The second was a colleague who had a late model GTi, that I had a go in. That was simply hilarious to drive, and pulled like a train.
If they weren't so rare in RHD form, I reckon transplanting an Mi16 Turbo engine into one would be a bit of a giggle.
Good luck OP, nice to see Gallic Quirkiness being preserved.
The second was a colleague who had a late model GTi, that I had a go in. That was simply hilarious to drive, and pulled like a train.
If they weren't so rare in RHD form, I reckon transplanting an Mi16 Turbo engine into one would be a bit of a giggle.
Good luck OP, nice to see Gallic Quirkiness being preserved.
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