French Large ‘80s Saloon Week is finally here, folks – and it’s off to a great start, as I’m sure you’ll agree. After all, who doesn’t like a CX? But I’m going to keep the writing brief for this post, as it’s the sixth or seventh time I’m writing one of these up, so I’m kinda running on fumes, word-wise. But this one was too gorgeous to leave it languishing in my files.
What we have here is a Japanese-spec CX. These were sold here by Seibu (who also imported Saabs), and according to the brochures I could find online (see below), this 2.5 litre model was available in 1984-1985 as a so-called GTI, but it was closer to what Citroën called a “Pallas” in EU-spec.
The engine is also a little different, rated at a slightly milder 135hp – probably because of the catalytic converter. These were decently fast, but the GTI call-outs are a bit misleading.
In the summer of 1985, the plastic-bumper Series II was launched, and with it came the 168hp turbo version of the same 2499cc engine, turning the venerable CX into a 140mph road rocket. But I prefer the look of these older cars by a mile.
And I’m guessing the owner of this one does too, to the point of correcting some of Citroën’s attempts at making their CX appear more ‘80s. When this car was (obviously but expertly) re-sprayed, they had the flanks and tail were meticulously cleaned of those unsightly pieces of black plastic trim, also chroming the windows and the mirrors. Those wheel covers are also from a slightly older model. It all makes for a late ‘70s CX look, which is how these are best enjoyed, in my opinion.
Two very unusual things in here. First, the leather upholstery – a real rarity in this country, but perfect for the car. Second, it’s an automatic. In Europe, you just could not get a GTI with a slushbox. Only in Japan could such a strange combination exist.
Whoever ordered this car 40 years ago went a little loopy with the options list, even specifying rear electric windows, which is something you usually see on the LWB Prestige models, but is far less common on standard cars.
Oh, and there’s factory A/C, too! Odd placement, but then this is a Citroën. Normal just wouldn’t cut it.
At well over ¥5m a pop, these big Citroëns competed with the likes of the BMW 5-Series, lower-tier Benz W124s, well-optioned Volvos and the new Lancia Thema, to name but four of its most dangerous rivals.
As to JDM cars, we’re talking top-of-the-line 3-litre Cedrics and Crown hardtops for that kind of money. You really had to be a hard-core double-chevron devotee with LHM coursing through your veins to buy one of these in mid-‘80s Japan.
And equally, restoring one to this type of better-than-original condition shows a high level of dedication. I have known of some European collectors who de-trimmed their early ‘80s CX (or “de-vinyled” the roof of their Prestige) when getting their car re-painted, but this is an even more thorough attempt at addressing Citroën’s ill-judged, if understandable, monkeying around with the aesthetics of their flagship model. I don’t know whether to bow or raise a glass of Champagne in appreciation, so I might just do both.
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: 1982 Citroën CX Pallas IE – Hydropneumatifragilistic Pallasialidocious, by T87
Curbside Classic: 1984 Citroën CX Prestige – Stealth Spaceship, by T87
Cohort Classic: 1981 Citroën CX Pallas D – Modernism’s Last Stand, by Perry Shoar
Car Show Classic: 1985 Citroën CX 25 GTi Series 2 – Blue Is A Warmer Color Than Grey, by Nigel R. Tate
Curbside Classic: 1987 Citroën CX 25 TRI Wagon – Longing For A Break, by T87
Vintage Review: Citroën CX 2500 Diesel Pallas, by Yohai71
Car Show Outtake: 1982 Citroën CX 2400 GTi – Fuel Injected Flying Carpet, by Johannes Dutch
Vintage New Car Preview: Citroën CX – The New Big Citroën, by PN
Craigslist Find: 1976 Citroen CX 2200 Diesel Wagon – Not Your Typical Anything, by Eric703
CC Capsule: 1991 Citroën CX Evasion – Last Chance Wagoon, by T87
Car Show Capsule: 1983 Citroën CX Orphée by Deslandes – Hello Strangest, by T87
CC Global Outtake: Citroën CX Pickup with Integrated Cover – CXamino, by PN
Cohort Outtake: Citroën CX Break – Pretty In Pink, by PN
Cohort Outtake: 1983 Citroen CX24 IE Safari – Was This The Best Estate Car?, by Roger Carr
Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Citroen CX Break – Slammed, by PN
Lovely, lovely. One of my favorite cars.
There have been a number of series one CX with the Turbo engine. These had painted steel bumpers and were only available for a few months before the introduction of the series two. Here is a good example:
https://www.autoscout24.nl/aanbod/citroen-cx-25-gti-turbo-benzine-zilver-5e76e028-8833-4335-b63c-76e15e880dba
The series 2 cars had the GTi with automatic gearboxes outside Japan too. Not really sure about the s1. I was always more interested in the s1 with automatic, not so much in the GTi per se (never saw the CX as a fast sporty car, and did not care much about blacked out chrome of the GTi). The series one CX could be had with that same GTi engine plus auto gearbox as the 2.4 IE, 2.5 IE or Prestige. Many had electric rear windows as well.
I never was a fan of the big plastic mirrors, and prefer the chromed Prestige mirrors too but who would not?
That said I would keep the plastic/rubber side trims, in my opinion they enhance the lines even more. Without it the car seems naked, it looks too basic for me.
Whatever my preferences, it is always nice to see a CX. When I owned mine (three of them, 25-20 years ago), these cars were just at the bottom of desirability and few were restored. Happily that is more often the case now.
Having just passed out, I shall now comment.
Forgive my excitement – which sounds like a defence for a perv, but I digress – this is precisely my spec CX, made fast enough, but still the original chromed Opron masterwork. Mwaah!
This cobble of the CX’s greatest hits is EXACTLY what I’d do, probably adding only the five-speed instead of the auto. And a turbo, if pushed.
There’s clearly someone in Japan who thinks like me, the poor bastard. No, I’ll re-phrase, there’s someone in Japan who shares my taste. The poor bastard.
In Oz, we got our last-gasp of CXs exactly resembling this one, leather included, at exactly this time in history (no MkII’s after that, thank the deities various). I think we got 100 of them. The top local magazine, Wheels, compared one to a 5-cyl Audi 100, both auto, and concluded that one could have a hugely competent mile muncher in the Audi, or the same idea a bit noisier and a tad slower in what was the most comfortable car in the world. I’ve always remembered that latter quote, and wanted one ever since.
Your car Justy used to be parked on the street in Napier 2.5 turbo badging and manual trans,
This CX is an ancestor of my daily drive, I wonder if Tatra will find a MK2 C5 in his wanderings?
I remember when China first opened up in late 70s, this generation of CX was imported in large numbers (by then China standards that was about ten thousands?). Those days most Chinese thought it was better than Japanese automobiles such as Datsun Cerdic and Toyota Crown. But those CX were soon becoming wallflowers, its reliability were substandard, its shape was too vague for conservative Chinese party leaders who had tge right to ride on these vehicles. What bought down Crown and Cerdic was the Yan appreciation in 1990s, influx of Audi and later BMW and Mercedes.
A 140 mph CX, but then it’s got a head start it looks like it’s doing a solid 75-80 standing still. I can appreciate the owners tweaks, few designs improve over time and subsequent iterations. At the moment I have a real hankering for this cars little brother the GS, there’s a nice daily driver quality example on Les Annciennes for 2500 euros…
My owners manual states my Citroen will do 138 mph it may do more the other two I owned could exceed the base top speed, its not a feature I use.
You can twist and turn it however you want: This vehicle is not in its original condition.
Craft goods, so to speak. But to each their own.
As the owner of an S1 2400 GTi I’m not sure I entirely agree with you. Yes I could live without the side trims and chrome windows but why call it a GTi when it’s now closer to being a Pallas IE which it would have been in Europe with an automatic.
All GTis had alloys and the interior here looks like it’s been reupholstered locally. The pattern is Citroen but the leather fit is baggy and the door cards look to have been retrimmed too. My car has factory air conditioning but not the vents on the rear shelf – is that a second conditioner for hot climates and I wonder what it does for boot space which isn’t huge as it is…all looks as though it runs off the factory correct switch though.
Lovely but I’ll stick to my factory original thanks
I have never driven or even ridden in one of these. I have however been in the trunk of one!
About 30 years ago I worked in a hardware store and a customer arrived one day in a CX. Pretty sure I was the only one in the store who knew what it was. French cars are not common in Michigan, even in a college town.
Turned out he was looking for a way to mount a CD changer in the rear, so I ended up in the trunk figuring out what to use to attach the mounting brackets.
a top-heavy A-pillar is unusual, I think. I wonder why they did that?
Marching to the beat of a different drum here: I prefer the plastic bumper SII for looks!
As a kid in the 1980s I thought CXs were interesting, but the chrome made the avant-garde shape look a little fussy and old-fashioned. I was about 12 (1986ish) when I saw a blue SII zooming across a countryside intersection in the distance, and in the heat-haze its side elevation looked like a spaceship levitating its way past. I couldn’t work out why it looked so modern and smooth versus the other CXs in town, but once I’d spent a bit more time reading Wheels (including the issue St Justy of Baum mentions above) I realised adding the plastic bumpers and mirrors maximised the smoooooooothness of the profile and produced the ultimate form of that shape. Yes some of Opron’s detailing was hidden, but the overall smooth arrow shape was superb!