'They don't make 'em like this anymore' encapsulates the Citroen AX GT. Fast and flighty by dint of its sub-800kg kerbweight, it's the kind of 80s tearaway that must have Euro NCAP feeling rather dizzy at the mere mention of its name.
Not a frequent sight in your mirrors now
But its effervescent nature proved the GT's undoing; like countless other fast French hatches, the AX begged to be thrashed but would also oversteer at the merest soupcon of a lift. As with the
205 GTI
and its Saxo VTS successor, many an AX-sized hole has been left in the British countryside.
Ally its handling characteristics to the AX's famously lightweight build quality and it's unsurprising so few survive in 2013. Even venturing beyond the realms of the PH Classifieds for similar cars proved fruitless, and howmanyleft.com states just 69 AX GTs remain in Britain today.
But the car that is available is truly spectacular. For sale at the veritable Aladdin's Cave that is 4 Star Classics, this black GT isn't far from showroom-fresh, a remarkable feat given it's now nearly 25 years old. It has had three owners since new and covered just 53,000 miles. It even comes with the original Citroen paint touch-up stick and laser immobiliser manual.
Where does the iPod connect then?
With even standard AXs seldom seen now, the pictures are a great reminder of just how dainty the car is, with the aerial going past the B-pillar and the skinny tyres (175/60 profile) wrapped around 14-inch wheels. And remember when red pinstriping automatically identified a performance variant? The AX wears its scarlet stripe with pride along with some 'AX GT' decals. There's an extremely modest pair of rear spoilers (the boot-mounted item is almost invisible!) and not even a prominent exhaust tip to mark out the GT.
The AX chose instead to display its prowess out on the road. A quick Google reveals anecdotes such as 'brilliantly agile' and 'the best handling car I've ever driven' whilst James May called it his 'best car in the world' back in 2005. Keep it out of the hedges and the AX GT was a blast, but then everyone knows that.
Just 86hp but just 722kg also
What everyone might not know is how much AX GTs now cost. Yes, this is probably one of the best in existence, but it's also mighty expensive at £6,495. Plus, as we've previously discussed with the
600-mile R34 Skyline GT-R
, the GT is a car for driving and not detailing; how long before value preservation goes out the window and it's being driven at every opportunity? And how much less fun would a
Shed-spec Saxo VTS
Okay, that last point may not be a fair comparison; the AX GT is a unique driving experience, but is it special enough to warrant that sort of price tag? The floor is open...
CITROEN AX GT
Engine: 1,360cc four-cylinder
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Power (hp):86@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 86@4,000rpm
MPG: 32.5
CO2: NA
First registered: 1990
Recorded mileage: 53,346
Price new: £7,914
Yours for: £6,495
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