Filed Under: News
Bonjour!
Now isn’t that a brilliant clue, French, yes. A few years ago when we were visiting an elderly aunt in London we decided to take the Eurostar for a day’s visit to Paris; wonderful trip, until we went on the metro. Being the charming people we are, I asked the man in the ticket office if he spoke English, no, was the swift answer followed by do you speak French? No, was my answer; end of conversation. Since that point I have been a tad weary of anything French.
However I have succumbed to writing about a very unique automobile, namely The Citroen GS.
Unfortunately like many French cars they come, make a few waves, then promptly disappear, forgotten for ever.
It would seem whether by luck or the tenacity of the French population to support their own products, the Far Eastern invasion did not cripple the automobile industry in France as in the UK.
The Citroen GS was actually voted European car of the year in 1971, it was introduced in 1970, and widely acclaimed as one the most technologically advanced car’s, plus of course Citroen’s legendry comfort and ride qualities.
The GS was replaced by a GSA model in 1979, between them they sold almost Two and a half million unit’s, the run was roughly 15 year’s.
Back to the beginning apparently planning started way back in 1960, and the new model was expected to fit in between the Ami and the DS, it took so long to develop that Renault without any collaboration copied and patented some of the innovative body work, well there was talk of industrial sabotage, but nothing came of it , sounds a bit like cloak and dagger stuff thank goodness they have got rid of the guillotine.
The engine was a flat four and air cooled, the power unit was a measly 1015cc, the French had no thought for export’s, the engine was to beat the taxation class; but it made the car under-powered, this was increased to 1129cc, partly due to motorway restrictions on cars of lower cubic capacity, still the car was not really performing well, so even more power was applied, as an option you could get a 1222cc unit, this gave Citroen the opportunity to change gear ratio’s.
As expected of a Citroen the GS had hydropneumatic suspension, and also came in a wide range of trim from basic to Pallas
Citroen have always, or had always been in the forefront of radical car design, the GS was like no other car on the market, it could be said the 2CV was also an oddball, let’s face it the DS shook the motoring world to it’s roots.
For a change I actually had friends who owned GS’s, yes, they gave a good ride, the inside was spacious, however they had problems, the disc brakes were inboard, which according to one of my friends, who was a mechanic of some note, an agony to change the brake pads. In truth his language was a slight more colourful.
It did not take the company long to introduce an estate and then a small van, there was of course a home market for such vehicles, especially as the GS had the ability to heighten the suspension, which was lacking on the 2CV and the Ami, as a result to keep the ride height, one had a somewhat scary roll going round bends, though whilst not appreciated in the UK, it seems the French accepted, which made it an ideal vehicle in difficult terrain often found in the French countryside. The GS did not have this problem, it was a much more stable car.
One of the great shame’s is that many of the Classic car writer’s have shunned the GS, they have written much about the Ami which the GS/GSA replaced and about the GS/GSA replacement the CX..
So much so there is very little comment. DVLA records show that as at 2011 there are only 34 GS cars registered in the UK and 36 GSA versions, which is a devastating loss of vehicles of this calibre.
As it was not a success I left it to last, the GSA was fitted with a wankel engine, disaster might be a better word, but at least they had the temerity to have a go. The GS Birotor was introduced in 1973 with a 107ps motor.
This was in fact a joint NSU and Citroen development, though we were aware the NSU wankel car engine was doomed to failure.
The GS version apparently had been designed more of a luxury car, the reports are that the engine was super smooth, well like all good intentions the costing could not be contained and the Birotor was costing more than the new CX.
Citroen took the unusual step of dropping the model with only 846 units made, it was such a disaster that Citroen actually attempted to buy all of the car’s back, however there a few knocking about, but they will be hard to find, you probably won’t be able to buy it even if found.
Before I forget we have two important birthday’s this year the Cortina, and the MG “B”, it is hard to believe both cars are now 50 years old, and that there is still a reasonable number in circulation. Though Ford cheated somewhat by having a variety of models bearing the Cortina monicker, somewhat akin to our Toyota Corolla, at least the “B” is a true 50 year old.
So we should look out for some fine spreads on both model’s, have we got enough to do anything to celebrate? It would be nice if all the clubs could get together to celebrate what is a very special year.
I know one Cortina that would not look out of place in a showroom, but if I had one in that condition would I want it on show?
Thanks again and nice to be with you again, roll on St Patrick’s day.
Ted Lay
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