SOTW: Citroen CX

This week it's the last of the great Citroens...

We don’t get many Citroens gracing the pages of Shed and that’s because they are often (a) boring, (b) rubbish, or (c) both. But delve a bit deeper into Citroen’s history and it all gets a bit more intriguing. Or rather, it starts to border on the absurd. The SM, the DS, the 2CV – all great cars in their own right, and all utterly bonkers. Citroens of late have started to regain some of that wackiness and we hope that trend continues, but the last of the old-school greats has to be the CX. In fact, it was arguably the last ‘proper’ Citroen before Peugeot bought a majority stake in the company in 1976. Amazingly, these cars were produced from 1974 until 1991 but are now sadly becoming very rare.

The CX was launched at the Paris motor show in 1974 and featured a transversely mounted engine/gearbox assembly at the front, all-independent constant-height hydropneumatic suspension, power-operated brakes with front discs and double circuits, single wiper blade, concave rear window and futuristic instrument panel. It was a huge sales success and appealed to past and long-standing DS owners, who were drawn to its wacky looks and self-levelling suspension. It also used such innovations as the SM’s speed-adjustable power steering through its unique one-spoke wheel. The ride was impeccable but, at the same time, the handling was decent enough to make the CX feel much smaller than it actually was.

The early cars’ interiors took quirky to a whole new level, featuring a ‘spaceship’ dashboard and rotating drum speedometer. All this innovation, coupled to the CX’s otherworldly looks, means that these cars have become quite collectable and prices are starting to rise. So it was with some surprise that we stumbled across the example you see here. Okay, at first glance it may look like a huge claw is just out of shot, ready to pop it on top of a pile of old Mondeos. But the reality is that this may just be a piece of Shed gold. Not only does it have an MOT but it has also done just 67,000 (reasonably) genuine miles.

If the ad is to be believed, for ‘£695 ono’ you get a good, mechanically sound 1976 CX Pallas that just needs a decent clean and a bit of tidying up. Most half-decent examples of these cars fetch at least three to four times that amount, so if what the seller says is true, this could be a bargain. Everything works (okay, apart from the fuel gauge) and it is apparently solid and rust-free. It even comes in fetching two-tone green and grey bodywork and has a manual ’box. Beret and ability to write poetry unfortunately not included…

Ad on classiccarsforsale.co.uk says...

'CX 2200 Pallas, 1976, mot till November. Two tone paintwork dark green over grey. Straight honest car fitted with the Diravi system, complete with rear spats which are in the car. Drives well, but ideally needs painting as the paint on the roof and boot has flaked off making it look worse than it actually is. Would make a very easy rolling project. Condition supports the mileage (67000) and the bootlid, which normally rusts badly on these, is solid. Everything works (including the clock and the airhorns) but with the exception of the fuel gauge (possibly a sticking tank sensor.)

'Would benefit from a good valeting. Carpet needs re-gluing to the sides of the transmission tunnel where it's peeled back over time. Has just had the private reg no. removed, docs back from Swansea with new registration number, just needs new plates. Tax has just run out but could be re-taxed immediately as it's mot'd and driven home with confidence.

'With the greatest reluctance this (and several others vehicles, ask for list) have to go. What is frustrating is that it took two years to find one this good.
Solid examples of these are becoming rare and highly collectable with good examples fetching £3000 to £5000+. Any inspection or test is welcome.'

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G0ldfysh

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