Citroen AX GT: PH Ad Break
Only Citroen could compare the AX to a heavyweight boxer!
And though the advert is old (the comment about unleaded petrol proves that), the meaning behind it remains relevant. Cars built small and light can comfortably compete with physically bigger, lardier, more powerful cars. They go down as 'giant-killers' in the motoring journalist's little red book of car categories.
Obviously we're not suggesting cars should be built like the AX again; they must pass proper crash tests now so there's no point on harking about that. But the latest C1 has a kerbweight of 840kg thanks to modern construction techniques. A 1.2-litre, 110hp three-cylinder turbo was introduced with the C4 Cactus recently. Using those figures you get 130hp per ton. If 'GT' doesn't suit, how about VTS? Come on Citroen, make it happen...
See the video here.
Had to get rid of it after 6 months as the offset seat, steering wheel and pedals and dodgy seat killed my back on my 1 hour each way commute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3FdnWU5ecg
God knows what the AX would have been like.
In comparison with today's Sherman Tanks, yes - this has the build quality of a McDonalds Happy Meal carton but so did everything else back then (barring real "heavyweight" stuff) and yet we, who drove them, are still here.
These, and their like (205XS, Metro GTA/i, 106 XSi, other cheap light performance cars) were cracking things to drive, sadly missing from today's model lineups.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3FdnWU5ecg
God knows what the AX would have been like.
I had a lot of fun in that car, god knows how I didn't kill myself, someone else or get nicked in it.
Also had a 1.0 spree as my first new car. Totally under powered but still good fun.
Wouldn't want to have a smash in one though.
Which is why I happily drive something that weighs about the same as an AX GT and has no airbags.
Your maths may vary. My brother has a 1 in 3000 chance of a crash, and bought his last car based on crash test data.
I loved my AX GT, when it worked. It also got through 4 rear windows, 2 of which exploded while it was parked.
I'm just re-building one of these at the moment for circuit race use, aiming for 200 bhp per ton, current spec gives me 135 bhp (188 bhp/ton) so with some weight loss and extra power will achieve 200.
Spec is twin dellorto 40' downdraft carbs /big valves / skimmed head, 4 brand manifold, uprated pistons, 1385 cc catcam camshaft, quaiffe diff, yoko ao48' tyres, adjustable suspension, black diamond disks, VTR rear ARB, OMP cage, compomotive alloys.
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