Which french car would you love to nut and bolt restore?

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 12 Feb 2010, 21:52

I'm with Homer on this one! Now here's a car that would be fabulous after
a thorough bit of TLC and I bet there's not much rust - it's complete and
look how straight the chromework and panelwork is!!

'77 1222 Pallas

http://www.leboncoin.fr/vi/92482534.htm?ca=7_s

250 € FFS - what can you buy for that kind of cash that's worth
doing a full resto!! It's even sporting the pukka period rear mudflaps...

Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 12 Feb 2010, 22:26

Or how about one of the rarest of rare barring a Birotor:

http://www.leboncoin.fr/vi/70190441.htm?ca=7_s

A Basalte!!

http://www.leboncoin.fr/vi/70190441.htm?ca=7_s

Wow, a Gs that not only isn't a pile of rusted debris, but one with a sunroof!!
OK, this one's 1 000 € though!

Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 12 Feb 2010, 22:37

Andrew

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 13 Feb 2010, 00:01

You have obviously done a bit of thiking itno this topic, Andrew?

Id like a S2 CX, preferably a Prestige, but certainly a saloon, in the blue/silver or the nice red/maroon colour.

Renault 4 would be nice and reasonably easy to do. Would have been nice to do our maroon one.

When you look back and think about all the cars you wish you still had, the three id like to have kept: 89 TRS CX, 95 Activa, 72 R4 TL.

Id like an early Xantia to do, a sinker with the early front and steering wheel. I was following a lovely maroon one the other day, Kreg, though it was somewhat lacking in the suspension department.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 13 Feb 2010, 00:13

In "Classic Car" magazine I saw (a week or so back so probably renewed
it now) a two sider spread about the GS where they said that out of
3 million examples manufactured in it's lifespan, only 30 still live in the
UK today!!? That's criminal. If you've never driven a G on a demanding
road you've seriously missed something - sure hydropneumatic cits
body roll but these cling on with astonishing sharp light steering and
handling yet smother bumps in a fabulous looking svelte body that
boasts a minimal road footprint! The packaging design is amazing too,
virtually everything a Cx does bar powered steering in less space!

I probably wouldn't be a Citroen addict now had I not been smitten
driving my first ever car purchased - yes, a GSpecial 1222!

Andrew

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 13 Feb 2010, 00:56

andmcit wrote:In "Classic Car" magazine I saw (a week or so back so probably replaced now) a two sider spread about the GS where they said that out of
3 million examples manufactured in it's lifespan, only 30 still live in the
UK today!!?

Not surprising considering the first GS my dad bought at 2yr old and it was already rusting through the rear arches.

The couple I worked on weren't so bad though, and they would have been knocking on for 10 years old by then, so there must have been some improvements in the bodyshell.

They had a reputation for being difficult to work on but compared to some of today's cars where you can't get a spanner between components in the engine bay they were a dream.

My 2nd choice would be a BX 16valve.

scratcher · Post by **scratcher** » 13 Feb 2010, 08:55

Hi, had to scroll down quite a way to find someone with the same taste as me. My GSA which I hope to get on the road soon. Gerry

davetherave · Post by **davetherave** » 13 Feb 2010, 10:43

To start off with ill go for a Cx prestige...

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 13 Feb 2010, 10:50

OK Dave, do we get to see any pictures of this very rare beastie?
Is this car going to be a donor or a full resto if you go for Robert's one!?
Is it complete or will you need difficult to find Prestige only bits?

Can't be many left now in any state.

Andrew

davetherave · Post by **davetherave** » 13 Feb 2010, 11:21

I Think the 79 one will become a donor for roberts one, So between the two of them i should get one complete one!

Will know more when it arrives tomorow!

What i do need though is a 2.5dtr engine....

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 13 Feb 2010, 11:58

Isn't that what's called a 'challenging resto"? Up until December I did
have a DTR 2 Safari that I was about to scrap as it's bodyshell was rotten
through. I say did as it was removed against my wishes by parties
unknown from outside my barn from a private field where I store and
work on my cars. The running gear was all perfect too - rare for a DTR2
so I'm gutted. If I'd known it would be spirited away I'd have happily given
it to a fellow enthusiast. Unfortunately, anything not bolted down to the
floor seems to be filched by an increasing underclass of scumbags
who prey on other straight honest folk...

to say I'm apoplectic would be an understatement.

Least yours appears to have the important brightwork and glass; specific
to the Prestige - DO NOT let anyone damage your rear side door windows
- IIRC, only around 500 Prestiges made it into the UK in RHD
- IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'LL EVER SEE!!

Incidentally, whilst it's difficult to make out from the picture and the peeling
vinyl roof, but that looks like a low roof Prestige - rare of the already very
rare - I'd consider restoring that over Robert's. In duress you can rebuild
using Safari rear doors and wings.

Andrew

Post by **myglaren** » 13 Feb 2010, 13:01

andmcit wrote:In "Classic Car" magazine I saw (a week or so back so probably renewed
it now) a two sider spread about the GS where they said that out of
3 million examples manufactured in it's lifespan, only 30 still live in the
UK today!!? That's criminal. If you've never driven a G on a demanding
road you've seriously missed something - sure hydropneumatic cits
body roll but these cling on with astonishing sharp light steering and
handling yet smother bumps in a fabulous looking svelte body that
boasts a minimal road footprint! The packaging design is amazing too,
virtually everything a Cx does bar powered steering in less space!

I probably wouldn't be a Citroen addict now had I not been smitten
driving my first ever car purchased - yes, a GSpecial 1222!

Andrew

Fully agree on all points Andrew, 'specially the last one - same here

Steering on that car was absolutely unique, no need for power steering it was so light an precise. Gearchange too, so slick and positive, the stick was only about three inches long and you only needed an inch to shove around with a finger and a thumb.

homer wrote:They had a reputation for being difficult to work on but compared to some of today's cars where you can't get a spanner between components in the engine bay they were a dream.

Again, couldn't agree more. Had to do my own work as garages all said they were too complicated to work on but I found the complete opposite, dead easy once you got the hang of the French engineering, much simpler than the home grown stuff.

As for which one to put at the top of a list for full restoration, there are too many vying for that honour but all of them have Citroen badges on them. I'm currently drawn to a CX Prestige after seeing one in particular at the CXM rally, cleverly avoided getting a decent photo of it or the owner/restorers name

Always been drawn to CXs but never had the wherewithall to snag one. Not sure I'm up to the challenge of owning/maintaining one now.

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 13 Feb 2010, 19:05

Thing is guys as cars become ever more complicated it makes old Cits look simpler now. Better info and guides on net plus cheaper and more extensive tools help too. All these factors and rust prevention all came too late for GS I think.

Car of the year too and yet the residuals made them throwaway from first five years. The Xantia has suffered the same but it has not been rust but the overall fall in S/H prices due to money and Credit being abundant those previous years. As a result fixes outweighd value of car.

GS is lovely.......first diesel car I ever had a shot of.

davetherave · Post by **davetherave** » 14 Feb 2010, 10:09

that looks like a low roof Prestige - rare of the already very
rare

Well i may end up restoring both of them

Id like to make roberts Cx how i want it..., then perhaps do a more purists restoration on the low roof one.
We shall see!

candy · Post by **candy** » 16 Feb 2010, 21:46

think if i had the money it would definately be a DS even though i work on them everyday id love to fully restore one for myself .... think i might have to sweet talk my boss