interesting telegraph write up

[citroenxm]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/pic ... years.html?

[Aerodynamica]

Shame they missed out the GS - I think it was the most significant Citroen after the DS

[Vieil Homme]

Shame they missed out the GS - I think it was the most significant Citroen after the DS

So it is, but GS/GSA have never been in the "big leage"............

[Aerodynamica]

Bit they sold something like 1.3 million of them! it was the first all new product since the Traction avant, it brought power disk brakes and independant hydropneumatic suspension as standard across its range to the small-meduim car market (compare to the Ford Escort that had servo brakes as a cost option in 1970) and had the lowest aerodynamic drag of any car this side of a Farrari all in 1971. And that's before you even mention the styling and interior design. It wasn't perfect but it was unmatched in the market sector and was in my opinion, the most underrated car!

[Vieil Homme]

Bit they sold something like 1.3 million of them! it was the first all new product since the Traction avant, it brought power disk brakes and independant hydropneumatic suspension as standard across its range to the small-meduim car market (compare to the Ford Escort that had servo brakes as a cost option in 1970) and had the lowest aerodynamic drag of any car this side of a Farrari all in 1971. And that's before you even mention the styling and interior design. It wasn't perfect but it was unmatched in the market sector and was in my opinion, the most underrated car!

No argue from me.
I have had 2 GSA's. Fine cars; but more like a bigger AMI or Dyane.
I don't even place the BX in the "big car leage" and Xantia balance on the edge..........

No, no. "Big" Citroèn's is (in my world) ID/DS, CX and XM SI.
Hydroactive II +++, C5 I/II is invitation to the ones driving cars like maniacs ( ) with BIG low profile tyres......*lol*

PS. I am THE " man with hat". Arriving my destination just minutes behind the "maniacs". My back is soft.......and someone has already checked in the whole company with their card...........

[marc61]

Guys, I just checked the production numbers for GS as I thought they'd made a lot more than 1.3million. Citroen made nearly 2.5 million in 15 years. Kind of shows their popularity! They made (only!) 1.5 million DS in 20 years and just over 1 million CX in 17 years, so the rate at which they sold G's was pretty amazing.

I had several in the 1980s, GS, GSAs and an estate. They were underpowered, difficult to start in damp weather, awkward to work on and they rusted away like nothing on earth, but otherwise a quite brilliant design. They were well balanced and very smooth, the engine was almost turbine like when wound up on the motorway, just keep foot flat on the floor!

[citsncycles]

I must be lucky with my G - the only time I've ever had problems starting was when a set of pattern points closed up, it can keep up with traffic in most conditions, and held it's own in the alps alongside various BX's a couple of years ago. Once you get your head around the location of everything I find it easier to work on than the BX's I have too.

I must concede about rust though - just about every panel has been either repaired or replaced over the years.