Tuesday 4th July 2023

Citroen AX GT | Spotted

The very definition of fast and flighty French fun, yours for the price of a Sandero

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Citroen is a funny old car maker. Having been renowned for building some of the very best small, fast cars around, and famous the world over as one of the most successful ever rally manufacturers, it has somehow been content to leave driver-focused cars to everybody else. The old DS3 Racing was fine, but there was nothing to mark back-to-back Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships in the WRC; the C3 replacement also claimed victories, yet there was no road car recognition. A bizarre move - you only need consider the staggering popularity of the GR Yaris to see the appetite for a properly done hot hatch with motorsport influence.

Perhaps the advent of hybridisation and electrification will yield an exciting new future for great driving Citroens. It’s already rediscovered its funky side with recent models like the C5 X, so perhaps there’s hope. You'd imagine it must have an eye on cars like the reborn Renault 5 as well - surely Citroen won’t want to miss out on that hot hatch rebirth.

Certainly not with cars like the AX in the back catalogue. While current and more recent offerings leave something to be desired from the perspective of an enthusiast, the old heroes continue to charm. The AX really is old now, too, the very last of the near-2,500,000 made produced a quarter of a century ago. Development began 40 years ago, and the first arrived in 1986. It was the archetypal small, French city car: small, simple, practical and fun.

Also, in the finest French small car tradition, there was a fast one not long after launch. A few fast ones, in fact, beginning with the twin-carbed Sport in 1987 and later including a GTI in the 90s. Here we have a GT, perhaps the best-known variant in the UK, which shared a single-carb 1.4-litre engine with the Peugeot 205 XS. Its paltry 86hp sounds like the output for mild hybrid assistance in 2023, but was more than enough when shifting something like three-quarters of a tonne.

You only need glance at an AX to see why it weighs so little. Everything is so tiny and so slender, from the pillars to the wheels; its tippy-toe stance and huge gap between tyre and wheelarch appears quaint 35 years later, like it’s been delivered on temporary wheels to be swapped out. But that’s exactly how it’s meant to be, and very good it was as well: contemporary road test praised the AX for its willing performance and eager handling. Ultimately the little Citroen would go on to live somewhat in the 205 GTI’s shadow, but it remains a fine example of the genre.

This one looks a fantastic example, having recorded less than 80,000 miles since 1988 and survived the whole time without modification. The immaculate interior is a real treat, complete with zany upholstery and weird steering wheel; the outside has just been resprayed, too, so looks superb - even if a sombre grey is a bit flat for something so exciting. Regardless, the GT looks a little gem, the perfect reminder of when hot hatches were simple fun and Citroen were the masters of them. And it’s hardly like there are loads left out there to choose from…

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SPECIFICATION | CITROEN AX GT

Engine: 1,360cc four-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 86@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 86@4,000rpm
MPG: 32.5
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1990
Recorded mileage: 77,000
Price new: £7,914
Yours for: £13,000

See the original advert here

[Cakey Pig]

Had a red one, my first car back in 1991... E156 VUM. Loved it and it could shame quicker cars at the lights. As brittle as a Rich Tea left out in the sun for a week. Memories.

Edited by Cakey Pig on Tuesday 4th July 03:30

Edited by Cakey Pig on Tuesday 4th July 03:31

[Stuart70]

J451TAN, drove like an engine in a baked bean can.
Had it three years, it never ended in tears
Until I sold it to my brother in law, man. .

[Cbastien]

Looks like it is not a 1k car anymore

[mooseracer]

Very fond memories of mine, fantastic fun to drive. I had a GT and later a GTI which I got a bit carried away with (turbo VTS engine).

That is a very early one on an E plate - I would in a heartbeat.

[Scotter]

Had a ‘91 J plate in red for a couple of years some twenty five years ago before aquaplaning it into a lamppost.
It was a hoot to drive up to that point.
Woeful build quality and electrics didn’t take away from the fun.

[anonymous-user]

I thought the XS had a twin carb engine? Or a twin/heart-shaped ‘something’? Never drove the Citroen equivalent but my old XS was brilliant - loved it.

[sjabrown]

Stuart70 said:

J451TAN, drove like an engine in a baked bean can.
Had it three years, it never ended in tears
Until I sold it to my brother in law, man. .

There were a lot of AXs on J…TAN plates. Must’ve been a batch registered by Citroen altogether.

[sjabrown]

£13k seems ridiculous for this though. I’d think more a £4995 car if it really is unmolested and in top order with 80000 on the clock.

[Glasgowrob]

Yip had J57TAN. Met it’s end when someone jumped a red light and sideswiped it

Great cars and tremendous fun


But not at 13 grand

[coppice]

It was popular car in period , much praised in the press but the one I owned for a year was pretty awful .

For - grip, ride , steering , economy . That is it , nothing else

Against - shoddy build quality, noisy buzzy interior , seats designed for snake hipped Frenchman , awful thrashy engine, and toytown dash . But , worst of all , if you drove the thing on muddy country roads a lot the gearchange would get impossibly gritty and the rear brakes would stick on

I'd only drive another at gunpoint

[Drive Blind]

just posting to comment on the TAN plates, they were everywhere.

on the AX GT's, a mate had one for 6 months, hated it. He admitted it was quick, but the list of complaints was longer - build quality, seats, driving position.

[interstellar]

Had two. F27TBK and K110EYM. Great cars at the time.

Worth 5k but 13 er no!

[rossub]

Surprised at the comments on price. These are stupidly rare now and £13k is nothing these days for something with lots of nostalgia attached.

Can’t see it hanging around long.

[cerb4.5lee]

I have fond memories of these because one of my mates had one. I do remember the doors being about as thick as a serviette though, and I used to pray that we didn't crash in it! I remember the rev counter being really tiny as well. This is a proper blast from the past for me.

[Dombilano]

Cooler than a saxo, I remember liking these as a kid. Also liked the Suzuki Swift Gti of the period too

[Firebobby]

Brilliant little car, would make a great first timer for some up & coming boy/girl/LBGT/whatever/ racer. But not at that price! It's worth all of £5k at an absolute push.

[Bonefish Blues]

cerb4.5lee said:

I have fond memories of these because one of my mates had one. I do remember the doors being about as thick as a serviette though, and I used to pray that we didn't crash in it! I remember the rev counter being really tiny as well. This is a proper blast from the past for me.

It really is very little car for the money, isn't it.

[Pablo16v]

J326XSO – a white one bought new in August 1991, just before the GTi was due to be released, so it was heavily discounted and it came with free insurance for a year too. Fun car. I recall ordering a tuning catalogue which had quite a few bits and pieces for the AX GT, but for the life of me I can’t recall the name of the company.

[bigaoi]

DrBrule said:

I thought the XS had a twin carb engine? Or a twin/heart-shaped ‘something’? Never drove the Citroen equivalent but my old XS was brilliant - loved it.

Twin-choke carb. Yes, just awesome cars. Much missed as well.

[MBVitoria]

I will always have a soft spot for these. Dad had a 5 door version when we were kids and I remember bouncing down B roads in it, what a blast!

Shortly after he sold it, he received a call from the cops in Manchester as it had had been used as a getaway car in an armed robbery. Sadly no longer on the road.